The E-series Garands were a series of prototypes made at Springfield Armory to test all sorts of different changes to the basic rifle design, from flash hiders to folding stocks. The M1E4 is a design that uses a new gas system developed by J.C. White in the 1930s, and adapted to the M1 by Earle Harvey (better known for his later work on the T25 rifle designed to replace the M1 after the war) in 1941. The was intended to remove the dog-leg bend from the operating rod to improve manufacturing efficiency. It is a gas expansion and cutoff system, and it was tested at Aberdeen in 1943.
The M1E4 did not pass initial testing, but the system was revisited in 1944 with some improvements as the M1E9. It is tested in 1945, but the war ends before development can be fully finished. However, Earle Harvey used the system in his T25, and it was also used in the T44 – which became the M14. The M1E4 here is the origin of the M14 (and M60) gas system.
Thanks to the Springfield Armory National Historic Site for giving me access to this truly unique specimen from their reference collection to film for you! Don’t miss the chance to visit the museum there if you have a day free in Springfield, Massachusetts:
https://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm
JC White Gas-Operated Prototype: https://youtu.be/rXAmnoMR2aI
JC White Prototype LMG: https://youtu.be/ZHR_kDlEUrw
JC White Prototype Toggle-Locked Rifle: https://youtu.be/I6o4TW36dBc
The best firearms reference books: https://www.headstamppublishing.com
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At Forgotten Weapons I think the most interesting guns out there are the most obscure ones. I try to search out experimental and prototype weapons and show you how they work, in addition to more conventional guns that you may not have heard of before. You’re much more likely to find a video on the Cei Rigotti or Webley-Fosbery here than an AR or Glock. So, do you want to learn about something new today? Then stick around!
