StrawHat
Member
I was reading the November 1978 issue of the "American Rifleman" and saw a letter in the Dope Bag section. (I could not get it to post but will include a copy of the letter.)
.30 Carbine Revolver
I have been told that the u.s. Governmen once considered a handgun for the .30 MI carbine cartridge. If so, when did this happen and what were the circumstances.
Answer: At least one experiment of this nature is on record. The Record of Army Ordnance Research Vol. 1
Book 2 of January 1946 carried the following photograph and text which is self-explanatory:
"The Smith & Wesson Company developed a revolver to fire the car-bine cartridge and submitted this
weapon to the Ordnance Department for test in January 1944. The weapon weighed 42 ounces, unloaded.
"In test at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a total of 1,232 rounds were fired with no malfunctions or breakages.
The instrumental velocity obtained at 53 feet averaged 1,277 feet per second. A mean radius of 1.39
inches with an extreme spread of 4.18 inches was obtained by firing 10 targets of 10 shots each, at 25-yard
range, by a shooter using two hands, on a sand bag rest. The muzzle blast was very sharp and caused considerable
discomfort to the shooters without ear plugs. "Results of this test, together with the weapon, were presented to members
of Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, who stated that no military requirement existed for a weapon of that type."
In answer to an inquiry by the NRA Technical Staff, Mr. R. G. Jinks, the S&W historian, commented:
"Smith & Wesson produced a series of test revolvers in this caliber in late 1943. Several guns were submitted
for testing to the Aberdeen Proving Ground and some to the armory in Springfield. The experimental guns
were produced in both fixed and adjustable sights, and were designed to be used with cartridges and halfmoon
clips."
No other mention of .30 Carbine caliber handguns has yet been found in government records though, of
course, the cartridge has been successfully adapted to commercial handguns in recent years.-P.D.
They also included a picture of a 4" fixed sighted revolver which I now know is an "N" frame. I searched the forum and only found a couple of references in the archives. It is an interesting concept and makes me wonder if any got away from the Military and into private hands.
Kevin
.30 Carbine Revolver
I have been told that the u.s. Governmen once considered a handgun for the .30 MI carbine cartridge. If so, when did this happen and what were the circumstances.
Answer: At least one experiment of this nature is on record. The Record of Army Ordnance Research Vol. 1
Book 2 of January 1946 carried the following photograph and text which is self-explanatory:
"The Smith & Wesson Company developed a revolver to fire the car-bine cartridge and submitted this
weapon to the Ordnance Department for test in January 1944. The weapon weighed 42 ounces, unloaded.
"In test at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a total of 1,232 rounds were fired with no malfunctions or breakages.
The instrumental velocity obtained at 53 feet averaged 1,277 feet per second. A mean radius of 1.39
inches with an extreme spread of 4.18 inches was obtained by firing 10 targets of 10 shots each, at 25-yard
range, by a shooter using two hands, on a sand bag rest. The muzzle blast was very sharp and caused considerable
discomfort to the shooters without ear plugs. "Results of this test, together with the weapon, were presented to members
of Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, who stated that no military requirement existed for a weapon of that type."
In answer to an inquiry by the NRA Technical Staff, Mr. R. G. Jinks, the S&W historian, commented:
"Smith & Wesson produced a series of test revolvers in this caliber in late 1943. Several guns were submitted
for testing to the Aberdeen Proving Ground and some to the armory in Springfield. The experimental guns
were produced in both fixed and adjustable sights, and were designed to be used with cartridges and halfmoon
clips."
No other mention of .30 Carbine caliber handguns has yet been found in government records though, of
course, the cartridge has been successfully adapted to commercial handguns in recent years.-P.D.
They also included a picture of a 4" fixed sighted revolver which I now know is an "N" frame. I searched the forum and only found a couple of references in the archives. It is an interesting concept and makes me wonder if any got away from the Military and into private hands.
Kevin
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