Irwin-Pedersen M1 Carbine

Irwin-Pedersen Arms Company · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1942

Also known as: I-P M1 Carbine, Irwin Pedersen .30 Carbine

Overview

The Irwin-Pedersen M1 Carbine was the product of the Irwin-Pedersen Arms Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a prime contractor for the U.S. M1 Carbine. Plagued by tooling, quality, and management problems, Irwin-Pedersen assembled roughly 3,542 carbines but never had a single gun accepted by the U.S. government; in March 1943 its contract was cancelled and its plant handed to Saginaw Steering Gear. Saginaw later reworked many of the rejected Irwin-Pedersen guns and parts, accepting them under the 'S'G'' marking. Genuine Irwin-Pedersen-marked carbines are extremely rare. Mechanically it is a standard gas-operated, short-stroke piston semi-automatic in .30 Carbine.

Specifications

Weight (empty)2480 g (87.5 oz)
Weight (loaded)2770 g (97.7 oz)
Overall Length905 mm (35.63")
Barrel Length458 mm (18.03")
Height120 mm (4.72")
Width32 mm (1.26")
Action TypeGas Operated Short Stroke
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Magazine Capacity15 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity607 m/s (1991 fps)
Muzzle Energy1311 J (967 ft·lbf)
Effective Range275 m (301 yd)
Maximum Range1829 m (2000 yd)
Rate of Fire40 rpm
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist508 mm (20.00")
Number of Grooves4
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishParkerized

Calibers

Features

Base model

M1-Carbine

Service history

Operators

Conflicts

Production

Estimated total produced: 3,542 · Production years: 1942-1943

Approximately 3,542 assembled; none accepted by the government before contract cancellation; many later reworked by Saginaw

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: Frederick Humeston / William Roemer (Winchester)

Discontinued: 1943

Notes

Irwin-Pedersen failed to qualify a single accepted carbine; the contract was cancelled and the Grand Rapids plant taken over by Saginaw, which reworked the rejected guns under the 'S'G'' marking. True I-P-marked receivers are rare collector items.

Background

Irwin-Pedersen became the cautionary tale of WWII carbine production: it could not qualify a single acceptable gun before being shut down and replaced by Saginaw at the same Grand Rapids plant.