WEAPONS OF THE 325TH GIR (WWII HRS)
It is an inescapable fact that your weapon will be the most expensive piece of your American soldier impression... unless you decide to buy a Sherman tank. Unlike Russian, British, or even German rifles, of which "reenactor grade" weapons may be acquired for under $150, the standard issue U.S. M1 rifle will probably cost you a minimum of $400, and most likely a great deal more. Before buying any firearm, always remember one thing... RESEARCH! If you don't know what you're looking at, you could very easily spend hundreds of dollars for something that is incorrect to our units impression. Talk to the guys in the unit, they will help you purchase the things you will need. Below is some basic information on a few of the weapons used by the Glider Infantry.
M1 GARAND - Officially adopted in 1936, the M1, as it was officially known, was not widely issued in the U.S. inventory until 1941. The M1 was the brain child of just one man: John C. Garand, and to this day his endearing creation is as frequently referred to by his name as it is its official military designation. Firing eight round from an en bloc clip as fast as the trigger could be pulled, the M1 was an amazing design.
It was the first semi-automatic service rifle adopted as standard issue in the world, and was called the "greatest battle implement ever devised," by no less than General George S. Patton himself. The M1 went on to become one of the legendary weapons of WWII; as much an enduring symbol of the GI as the jeep itself. Hard hitting, accurate, and reliable, it was copied by the Germans, Russians, and Japanese, but never improved upon by any other country. To this day the veterans who carried it fondly remembered the M1. During the war 4,040,802 Garands were produced, and even today the demand for the weapon on the collector market is high. If you want to portray the average American infantryman of WWII, then you have to buy an M1. It is the principal weapon that the 325th Glider Infantry carried, and as such should be your weapon of choice.
M1 CARBINE - Adopted in 1941. the carbine was an extremely popular weapon when it was first issued to the troops. It was lighter (5 lbs.  5 oz. compared to the Garand's 9.5 lbs.), shorter, and carried 15 rounds per clip compared to the Garand's eight.
However, the carbine was intended from the very start to be an alternative to the submachine gun and the pistol, not the rifle. Yet, in practice, most of the time it was misused as an alternative rifle. The carbine has an unusual history to it; the soldiers tended to either love it or hate it. Many complained that it had poor stopping power and not very accurate at ranges greater than 150 yards. The problem with purchasing a carbine for military reenacting today is that very few carbines have reatined their initial WWII configuration. NO carbines issued in the ETO during WWII had a bayonet lug under the barrel, and very few (probably none) had adjustable sights. Carbines are also not as easy to blank adapt as the Garand; one either "taps" the end of the barrel (ruining the value of the gun), or has to buy a rather large, bolt-on adapter that quite frankly, looks like crap! Our unit officially encourages all members to carry a Garand, but if you choose to carry a carbine, take the bayonet lug off before going into battle!
M1911/1911A1 - One of the, if not the, classic sidearms in U.S. military history. The .45 remained in front line service from its intro-
duction all the way to 1985; a legacy of ser-
vice umatched by any other pistol in history. The .45 has been in every battle fought by the U.S. from WWI to Desert Storm. WW2 pro-
duction (1911A1) totaled 1,878,742, with an additional 700,000 1911 models procured between 1911 and 1926. Although not officially issued to most troops, a surprising number of plain GI's
seemed to "acquire" them through any means available. Much appreciated for its stopping power, the .45 comforted many a soldier during some long lonely nights. Unfortunately, for the reenactor, for the most part a pistol is a rather useless expense. Emphasis being on expense; WW2 .45's sell for $400 and up. Another drawback is that, to work, a .45 must be blank-adapted, which requires a shot-out barrel and a new link-pin assembly (and most importantly, someone who knows how to do it).
[Home]  [325th History]  [325th Vets]  [Our Group]  [Uniforms]  [Links]