AllOutdoor Review: Classic Guns of the World Series – The M1 Carbine Book
Sam.S 10.14.21
A little while ago Schiffer Publishing reached out to AllOutdoor to let them know that a book on the M1 Carbine was one of their latest releases. I was informed that it would have content regarding markings and variations which really piqued my interest since I run the Curious Relics segment and that kind of stuff is right up my alley. I usually avoid looking at these sorts of books because (judging a book by its cover) they typically come off looking like what I would call coffee table books where it is all pictures and little useful unknown information. Was I pleasantly surprised? Let’s jump right into The M1 Carbine by Roger Out!
Specifications: The M1 Carbine
As stated below this book’s contents were originally published back in 2001 in France, but have since been published through Schiffer Publishing back in August 2021. It was initially called L’ US M1: La carabine de la Liberation in its first publication. The book has a large picture book sort of size and only 80 pages of photos and information. Do not let that deceive you though, there is as much information as there are pictures if not more!
- Author: Roger Out
- Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
- Date Published: The Original French Version was Published in 2001
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 80 Pages
- Number of Chapters:
- Cover: Hardcover
- Illustrations: Yes, 300 color and b/w photos
- Formats Available: Hardcover
- Book Dimensions: 9″ x 12″
- ISBN13: 9780764361890
The MSRP of The M1 Carbine is $24.99 but this will vary since it is offered from multiple sellers and distributions. The book itself comes in the form of hardcover and inside one page was a bookmark from Schiffer Publishing. The cover itself features two M1 Carbine rifles and assorted accessories and US military memorabilia. The back cover shows off a full lineup of all the semi-auto M1 Carbine variants.
“The M1 carbine is a .30-caliber, semiautomatic rifle that first appeared in 1942 as a standard firearm for the US military during World War II. It was later used by US forces in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and continues to see worldwide use to this day. Produced in several variants by many manufacturers, it was and is still widely used not only by military forces, but by paramilitary and police units worldwide. Its design, construction, and variants—including the M1A1, M2, and M3—are shown in superb period photography and clear, up-close color images. Accessories such as magazines, ammunition, belts, pouches, and cleaning kits are featured throughout the book, as well as rarely seen World War II-related uniform and equipment items.”
First Impressions: The M1 Carbine
My first initial response to every picture of the book I saw was that this was going to be just another generic gun book that you find at a book store or sitting on a coffee table in a waiting room. The equivalent of a book titled “Sailboats” or something that you would find in the library when you were in middle school. I figured that it would give uber basic information on one of the US military’s most widely produced small arms and have a huge picture majority in the information to picture ratio.
Upon first impression and inspection, that jaded idea was blown away and it was a breath of relief. This book has content. Not just generic content, but potentially vital and valuable content. Instead of just vomiting out that generic information I talked about the table of contents mentions things like variations, markings, accessories, and even the bayonet. This is the kind of thing an M1 owner or history buff needs. These are the sort of books I lookout for when I am writing a Curious Relics article because it is not the monotonous garbage you find in other affordable gun books out there.
Makers & Manufacturers: The M1 Carbine
One of this book’s biggest deep dives is going into 12 whole pages of contractors and manufacturers of the M1 Carbine. It goes into particular and fine detail on Winchester and Inland, Underwood and Rock-Ola, I.B.M and Saginaw, and many more. It shows close-up high-resolution images of their receiver markings as well as factory production photos of stacks and stacks of rifles as far as the eye can see. It should be noted that this portion of the book does not just excerpt saying “Rock-ola made M1 Carbines”. It is while paragraphs diving into who made what and how they marked guns and awesome small valuable bits of information like the fact the Rock-Ola made M1 Carbine stocks for a bunch of other companies.
To The Point: The M1 Carbine
One sign of a good gun book to me is when it goes into details that are normally left out in order to save space or to stay on topic. This book does the right thing and talks about the accessories like magazines, tools, cleaning supplies, and blank fire devices. It talks about not just the bayonet but its development and implementation. It talks about a whole host of ammo types and the stripper clips and ammo cans, boxes, and crates. So much detail wrapped into a small unlikely package. In my opinion, this book looking the way it does and being in an easily readable format almost does it a disservice since it looks like a picture book on old guns. Do not judge it by its cover because it dives in and gets straight to the point on every last detail!
Final Thoughts: The M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine by Roger Out is fantastic. I realize that is an incredibly simple assertion but it is the truth. This book is one of those rare affordable resources that you see on eBay in 15 years going for ridiculous amounts of money. Take it from me, someone who biweekly writes about old guns and has to put in the work and research various firearms and buy books to help with that research…this book is worth a space on your gun bookshelf. It makes me wonder if Schiffer Publishing’s other gun-related books are similar. If this is the standard they set themselves to, then bravo!
In closing, I want to say thank you to Roger Out and Schiffer Publishing for compiling such a fantastic and refreshing complement of advanced information on the M1 Carbine and giving AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to review it! That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that this book of valuable history is something worth spending your money on? Would you sit down with a warm cup of joe and give it a read? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
