Author Topic: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?  (Read 1303 times)

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Offline mannyrock

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What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« on: June 17, 2010, 08:44:54 AM »


Dear Guys,

 What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S. to its troops.  Was it the Krag carbine??   (I don't count the so-called "Tanker Springfields,"  of WWII, but maybe that is the correct answer?)

Thanks, Mannyrock

Offline trotterlg

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2010, 10:02:43 AM »
I think some bolt guns are still being issued.  Some of the .50 snipers and even some 30-06's and 308's.  Larry
A gun is just like a parachute, if you ever really need one, nothing else will do.

Offline mannyrock

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2010, 12:24:17 PM »

  I asked about "carbines" Larry, "carbines".   :-)

Offline spruce

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2010, 03:51:29 PM »
As there were no carbine versions made of the M1903, 03-A3, or the M1917 Enfield I would have to say the Krag carbine was the last one.

Were you thinking of the "Tanker" Garands?  That was just a nickname given to postwar shortened Garands.  They were never even part of the Government arsenal.  WWII tankers were mostly issued M3 "Grease guns", at least in the latter stages of the war.

Offline Swampman

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2010, 04:00:12 PM »
I believe it was the Model 1898 Krag Carbine.
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Offline myarmor

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2010, 03:40:19 AM »
This is a very good question I am glad someone brought it up. Is it weird to anyone else why in close to 100yrs why a carbine bolt action hasn't been made for certain said troops here? I know the Jungle Enfields were real popular and overseas many bullpup designs have taken off well with certain Mil. and Police but over here, it's kinda over looked huh ???




-Aaron

Offline securitysix

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2010, 10:22:28 AM »
This is a very good question I am glad someone brought it up. Is it weird to anyone else why in close to 100yrs why a carbine bolt action hasn't been made for certain said troops here? I know the Jungle Enfields were real popular and overseas many bullpup designs have taken off well with certain Mil. and Police but over here, it's kinda over looked huh ???




-Aaron

Carbines are still issued to US troops, just not in a bolt-action variety.  The US issues the M-4 Carbine, which is basically a 14.5" M-16 with a telescoping stock.  I know, that's oversimplified, but it makes the point.

As for bullpups, most of them have a limitation I, personally, find unacceptable.  Most bullpups either cannot be used left-handed, or require a conversion which makes them unable to be used right-handed.  While this may not be a big deal for most, 1 in every 6 shooters, myself included is left-handed.  If you convert to left-handed use, a right-handed person can't, in an emergency, pick up the bullpup and use it.  In the military, this could be very devastating.

FN has come up with a solution to this in their P-90 and FS2000 bullpups, and hopefully that will catch on. 

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2010, 10:27:33 AM »
Not a bolt gun but forget not the 30 cal carbine .
I will ask another question Why would you issue one after the self loader came out ? Even the Barret 50 is a self loader and it seems the sniper rifle will go self loader . And no its not a cut to the org. ?
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Offline S.S.

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2010, 06:08:47 PM »
It was a suppressed bolt action in .45 caliber ACP I think.
The de-lile or something like that. Very special purpose.
There is also the bolt action survival rifles.
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Offline mannyrock

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2010, 04:55:21 AM »


 Just some further info.  I have a definitive hardback book on the 1903 Springfield rifle.  And it shows troops in jungle settings in the Pacific Islands in WWII, carrying 1903 A3 CARBINES.   It states that these were issued in very limited number to troops in late WWII.  These were perhaps experimental, or just issued as trials.  At any rate, they are the absolute rarest of the 03-A3 Springfields.   This is what I meant by "Springfield Tankers."  :-)

  Sounds like the Krag carbine was the last general issue bolt carbine.

  Thanks, Mannyrock

Offline securitysix

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2010, 09:24:48 AM »
It was a suppressed bolt action in .45 caliber ACP I think.
The de-lile or something like that. Very special purpose.
There is also the bolt action survival rifles.

The De Lisle was actually British in origin and was used by the Brits and the Commonwealth Nations, but not the US.

De Lisle Carbine.

Offline spruce

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2010, 01:34:10 PM »
Interesting.  I wonder if those 03-A3's left the Remington factory as carbines?  Or perhaps were arsenal reworks, or "field expedient" modifications done at Corps or Division level armorers, or?????

That's what makes this site so great - something new to learn everytime I visit!

Offline bcp

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2010, 03:54:28 PM »
People who mentioned Springfields probably were thinking of these:

From:
http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4607

1903 Springfield "BushMaster"

During 1942 the 158th Infantry of the Oklahoma National Guard were stationed in the Canal Zone of Panama with this carbine style of 03. The mods were done by the ordnance shops in Panama, & did not have Parkerizing capability, so all the barrels were blued after being cut down to 18 inches. (Reference was from 'The Springfield 1903 Rifles' by Lt. Col. William S Brophy)
Does anyone know how many of these rifles were produced? Other than the obvious barrel and forward stock modifications, were there any other alterations done to this rifle. The book entitled 'Springfield Armory/Shoulder Weapons 1795-1968' by Robert Ball have some great pics of this rifle as well, but not much info. Any info would be appreciated. Here's a pic of a copy I found on the net:

Bruce

Offline mannyrock

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Re: What was the last bolt action carbine issued by the U.S.?
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2010, 12:53:47 PM »

  Yes, this is the carbine to which I was referring. Sorry I called it a "Tanker", which is just plain wrong.

Mannyrock