Unique M3 and M3A1 Grease Guns and Accouterments

[Talyn]

The .45 caliber M3 was conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Thompson submachine gun, which at the time the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, the Thompson design was 20 years old.

After the adoption of the M14 rifle, which (in theory) was replacing the M1 rifle, the carbine and the submachine gun. M3A1 submachine guns continued to be issued to Army Reserve armored units as late as 1999.

WWII Allied Advantage: Unique M3 and M3A1 Grease Guns and Accouterments - Small Arms Review

Just about every military small arms enthusiast is familiar with the U.S. M3 and M3A1 submachine guns, better known by the nickname bestowed upon them by GIs during World War II, the “grease gun.”

smallarmsreview.com

 

[Ascout]

At the Ordnance Museum when it was located at Aberdeen. Not mounted on the A1 is the flash hider.
As I was primarily a tanker in the early '70's we all shot them & they had mounting clips inside most AFV's but especially tanks into the early-mid '90's. They seldom left the arms room & would have rarely been the first choice for a personal weapon by the '70's. I was assigned to command an M113 ACAV in 2/11th Cav and it wouldn't have occurred to me to ask for one as my sole issued personal weapon even if I'd known it to be available.

 

[ChanceMcCall]

One of my favorite toys (when and where legal). They don't leave much meat but they are fun with running rabbits.

 

[Grayfox]

Back in 1973 I was at Ft. Hood in a 2nd Armored Air Defense unit. Chaparral missiles. I drove a M578 VTR. I was supposed to have a 1911, but we didn't have enough to go around. After breaking three M-16A1 stocks, our armorer found me a M3A1 to carry. I liked it!

 

[Cedric]

At the Ordnance Museum when it was located at Aberdeen. Not mounted on the A1 is the flash hider.
As I was primarily a tanker in the early '70's we all shot them & they had mounting clips inside most AFV's but especially tanks into the early-mid '90's. They seldom left the arms room & would have rarely been the first choice for a personal weapon by the '70's. I was assigned to command an M113 ACAV in 2/11th Cav and it wouldn't have occurred to me to ask for one as my sole issued personal weapon even if I'd known it to be available.

My experience it was classified as a "crew" weapon and was used until 1979 in 2/2 Cav. I/we would frequently carry them in patrols during training and on the East/West German border. We would live fire during trips to Graf and I personally liked it.

 

[Ascout]

My experience it was classified as a "crew" weapon and was used until 1979 in 2/2 Cav. I/we would frequently carry them in patrols during training and on the East/West German border. We would live fire during trips to Graf and I personally liked it.

My biggest gripe was that it could not be made to take an "aimed" shot. For cooling, it fires from an open bolt. Pulling the trigger first produces a large mass of movement that screws with aiming. Closed bolt weapons don't do this.

 

[Cedric]

My biggest gripe was that it could not be made to take an "aimed" shot. For cooling, it fires from an open bolt. Pulling the trigger first produces a large mass of movement that screws with aiming. Closed bolt weapons don't do this.

Yeah, max effective range is 80 meters. Still liked it though.

 

[rcurtner]

We had M-3's in Germany. Memory is a little foggy I think someone told me the stamped metal guns cost a little over 17 bucks to make. They had a slow rate of fire but were fun to shoot.