Scovill wrote an article entitled "Musings on the 30-06" in May's Rifle magazine. Scovill's article is based upon his experiences in the Navy following college. He starts out writing about his experiences in boot camp, where he was issued a 1903 Springfield. He subsequently went to Pensacola, Florida, where he was issued an M-1 Garand.

He writes about the infamous "M-1 thumb," having to assemble the weapon from parts scattered about a mud hole, and shooting for qualification. His article is a rehash of so much of what my generation went through with one exception: All our M-1's fired eight (8) rounds from an enbloc clip, not seven like the one Scovill was issued.

While all of us are getting older, and our memories are not what they once were, I am never likely to forget the M-1 uses an eight-round, enbloc clip. That Scovill forgot this calls his experience into serious question. If his memory has been clouded by the passage of time, it seems someone editing his story would have caught his gaff.

Anyhow, it is another instance of Rifle "misfiring." Kudude

Kudude,

Magazines in general and Gun-Mags in particular are notorious for misstatements, misprints, and poor editing...and this was probably one more example of this. Trust me, the letters to the editor in the next issue will be full of people pointing this out to them.

I don't want to sound like a smart ass, but I have a hard time understanding how anyone gets a M1 thumb. You have to hook your thumb in front of the bolt and leave it there! My experience with them is not small either. I was 11 when my dad bought one and I am 59 now. I drilled with them during High School and College ROTC, and shot them in competition during 22 years in the Navy. I still own 2 along with a M1A. Never a smashed thumb. AND I AM LEFT HANDED when it comes to the shooting part. Lots of lead down range, 2 in the clip, shoot, reload with 8, scope the tgt and let them rip.

I think lots cases of “M1-Thumb†can be directly attributed to people who think its some kind of badge of honor to say that it has happened to them.

I saw one guy come real close and that was later found out to be a badly worn accelerator. As soon as the clip seated the bolt released.

Hello Thaine and good to see someone with XC experience!!Nothing like it and only in America to boot.!!
I also hear about the M1 Thumb, and we hold Garand Matches every month and have anywhere from 8-12 shooters show up and ages from juniors to old guys, and I do not think any of them have smashed their thumbs and won't if they simply do as instructed. I have a NM Navy built 308 Garand and shoot the crap out of it and it just keeps on 'keep'n on...." People are amazed at the scores these old war horses will produce out to the 600 yard line.

Stand By....In another Six Months to a Year.
another Gun Magazine will come out with the
same article,and mention the proper amount of
rounds held in a M-1 Clip."After saving one
year of Rifle Magazine Issues,I have all the
articles that will be written in the next Five
years."

My Dad tells me of getting his glove caught in the action of an M-1. Never his thumb. It was cold and he had the wool gloves on. Seems like the thumb of the glove caught and wsa closed in the action. This was during an inspection...not exactly his most shining moment.....

99% of "M1 Thumbs" came about when going from "Inspection Arms" to "Port Arms" during drill.

Clemson
2 garands now, and lots of drill experience with Winchester #1654818

Driver, Who built your M1? McCoy or is it after his time with SATU? They were sure a pleasure to use. I have a ratty "Blue Sky" reimport that I plan to turn into a Navy type just for nostalgia. XC also taught you how to shoot on your hind legs and to use a sling. One of my pet peeves (see people other than Rick 0311 have them) is the shooting stick craze. "I didn't get a shot off because I couldn't get my sticks set, etc crowd" drive me nuts. Learn to shoot!! Even the oft flamed Boddington wrote an article about doing that. One of the few I agreed with.

Having not remembered how one gets an 'm1 thoumb' I now recall taking out the Garand the last time around.

When you push the magazine down until it clicks... NOTHING HAPPENS. It requires a slight pull back of the bolt to allow the action to close.

Any happenings of someone smashing their thumb in a Garand must either be a mistake like a sleeve getting caught on the handle or someone not familar with the rifle.

An 'SKS thumb' I have experienced however though the couple of counts I attribute to brain farts.

-Spencer

I remember a guy in my Basic Training Co., Fort Ord, CA 1961, who had M1 thumbs and fingers! Poor bastard slammed them all. His finger nails were black & blue.
Also had a demonstator showing how to avoid it and he did to himself! Fortunately, I managed to avoid it.

quote:

99% of "M1 Thumbs" came about when going from "Inspection Arms" to "Port Arms" during drill.

And not giving enough pause between "port" and "arms".

quote:

Originally posted by ShopCartRacing:
When you push the magazine down until it clicks... NOTHING HAPPENS. It requires a slight pull back of the bolt to allow the action to close.
-Spencer

Not unless the weapon has been modified to manual bolt closing. Garands as issued had/have an automatic bolt closing feature that is activated when the clip is fully seated and the downward pressure of your thumb is released. As long as you don’t “linger†in there when releasing the pressure your thumb should be well clear of the closing bolt.

It’s a pretty simple modification to make a Garand function manually like an M14 in this regard if a guy is all that worried about it.