Iver Johnson M1 Carbine

Iver Johnson's Arms, Inc. · Carbine · Discontinued · 1978

Also known as: Iver Johnson M-1 Carbine, Iver Johnson .30 Carbine

Overview

The Iver Johnson M1 Carbine is a gas-operated, semi-automatic carbine chambered in .30 Carbine. It is a faithful commercial copy of the World War II U.S. M1 Carbine, built to the original military specifications. Iver Johnson manufactured these rifles after acquiring the assets of Plainfield Machine in 1978, producing them at its Middlesex and later Jacksonville, Arkansas facilities. The line was offered in blued and stainless steel, with American walnut or hardwood stocks, and in standard, Paratrooper folding-stock, and pistol-grip Enforcer configurations.

Specifications

Weight (empty)2950 g (104.1 oz)
Overall Length902 mm (35.51")
Barrel Length457 mm (17.99")
Action TypeGas Operated
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity15 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity600 m/s (1969 fps)
Muzzle Energy1283 J (946 ft·lbf)
Effective Range250 m (273 yd)
Maximum Range1800 m (1968 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist508 mm (20.00")
Number of Grooves4
Frame MaterialSteel
Slide MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Variants

Service history

Operators

Production

Production years: 1978-1993

Approximately 45,269 carbines produced at the Middlesex, NJ facility from 1977 to 1983; production later continued at Jacksonville, Arkansas through the early 1990s.

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: Iver Johnson's Arms (after the Winchester/U.S. Army M1 Carbine design)

Discontinued: 1993

Notes

Iver Johnson continued the M1 Carbine line acquired from Plainfield Machine, which had produced commercial carbines from 1960 to 1977. Roughly 45,269 carbines were built at the Middlesex, New Jersey plant from 1977 to 1983 before production moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas. A 50th-anniversary commemorative and a D-Day commemorative were among the later offerings.

Background

Iver Johnson, a maker famous for inexpensive revolvers and shotguns since 1871, kept the iconic M1 Carbine commercially alive for decades after WWII, offering it as an affordable civilian rifle long after the U.S. arsenals stopped building them.