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John Garand’s .30 Calibre Carbine

In 1938 the US Army Infantry Board requested a new Light Rifle, this was initially opposed by the US Ordnance Department who did not wish to complicate supply and argued all troops could be armed with the new M1 Garand. However, June 1940 the Secretary of War overruled them and in October 1940, the Ordnance Department issued specifications for a new lightweight carbine. This required that the rifle be select fire, fire from a 50-round magazine and weigh no more than 5 lbs unloaded.

A large number of manufacturers including the government-owned Springfield Armory were called upon to submit designs. In May 1941, Springfield Armory submitted two designs one by Clarence Simpson and the other by John Garand. While Simpson’s design was not tested by the Army Garand’s was. Five of the prototype rifles were submitted for testing where it performed well against other designs during the Light Rifle Trials.

Garand’s carbine was simple with just 44 parts and could be stripped in 81 seconds. It weighed just under 5 lbs, Garand’s carbine was the only one to meet the weight requirement, and was fully automatic capable of rates of fire of between 700-900 rpm. In order to conform with the original specification the rifle could fire from 5, 10, 20 or 50 round magazines.

The various Garand light rifle magazines, these capacities were requested by the Ordnance Department.

The layout of Garand’s carbine owes nothing to his earlier designs, instead it uses an unorthodox top mounted magazine which sits at a 45 degree angle to the receiver. Corresponding to this there was an ejection port beneath the receiver which later testing found threw spent cases on to the left arm of the operator (see image #4). The carbine’s charging handle sits horizontal at the side of the barrel and the weapon’s sights are offset to the left so the magazine housing does not obstruct the line of sight. Another feature was a combination rear sight and ejector piece which Garand patented in the late 1940s (see below).

The carbine impressed the Ordnance Department who liked its simplicity and found it functioned well in wet conditions. Garand’s gas system meant the carbine had good accuracy and low recoil. During the initial trials in May and June 1941, two Light Rifle’s impressed, Garand’s and one submitted by Bendix-Hyde.  

Garand’s first ‘top-loading’ carbine patents (source)

However, the Ordnance Department’s report made some suggestions for the improvement of the carbine. They requested that the bolt be adapted to prevent accidental discharge as well as realigning the charging handle from the vertical to the right. It was also suggested that the stock be strengthened and standard sling swivels be used instead of the stock cut out. It was also requested by some of the evaluators that the magazine housing be moved to the more conventional position below the receiver. Although many of those who fired the rifle did not dislike the original magazine position.  

These changes along with the incorporation of a short-stroke tapped gas piston system like that found in Winchester’s design (developed by David Marshall Williams) were made in what was designated the Model D. In September 1941 the final major round of testing began. Five rifles were tested including Springfield’s Garand, the Bendix-Hyde, a new entry from Winchester (which went on to be adopted as the M1), a rifle from an inventor - Turner, and the entry from Reising.

Ordnance Depart’s photographs of the Second Model Garand/Springfield Armory Light Rifle

Garand’s Second carbine patent (source)

Each rifle was put through testing with 8,000 - 10,000 rounds fired for accuracy, endurance and reliability under simulated combat conditions. Garand’s ‘improved’ carbine was found to be less reliable and more difficult to disassemble. Springfield Armory’s attempts to improve the carbine also led to making it heavier at about 5.37 lbs. The carbine was tested for the final time in April 1942 however, by this time Winchester’s design had been adopted as the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1.

Souces:

Springfield Armory Museum entries: 1 2 3 4 5

The M1 Carbine, L. Thompson (2011)

The Army Gets a New Rifle, American Rifleman (September 1941), Maj. E.H. Harrison

Garand Carbine (source)

War Baby! The US Calibre .30 Carbine, L. Ruth (1992)

This post is part of a series of collaborations with Chuck Kramer of Gunlab who was kind enough to provide the photographs used in this article.

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