Carbine Williams and the M1 Carbine
Justin Taylan, founder of PacificWrecks.com (a site well worth visiting), recently visited the South Carolina Military Museum and took these photos of the displays dedicated to David Marshall Williams aka. Carbine Williams. The information below was kindly provided by Chris Webb.
You probably know “Carbine” Williams, he’s a legend! He was expelled from the Blackstone Military Academy and serving time at the Caledonia State Prison Farm in Halifax County, North Carolina during the ‘30’s for second degree murder! His sentence was cut short so the the could design firearms for the US military.
“Williams related that the superintendent, H.T. Peoples, noted his mechanical aptitude and allowed him access to the prison’s machine shop where he demonstrated a knack for fashioning replacement parts for the guards’ firearms from pieces of scrap and automobile parts. In prison, he would save paper and pencils and stay up late at night drawing plans for various firearms. His skills in the machine shop permitted him to stay ahead of his assignments and allowed him time for his own hobby.”
Williams also designed several .22 cal versions issued firearms including the Browning machine gun and Colt automatic pistol for use during training exercises.
The U.S. patents for the highly successful Benelli Shotgun ( U.S. Patent 4,604,942) reference Williams’ U.S. Patent 2,476,232 for a recoil operated semi-automatic shotgun with a non-recoiling barrel.
In 1952, MGM released a film loosely based on his life starring James Stewart and Jean Hagen as his wife Maggie; Williams served as a technical advisor. The film was appropriately titled “Carbine Williams”.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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I grew up with my father telling me stories about williams and my great uncle. Im glad my family could be so close to such great history.
My Great Grandfather Bootlegged Shine With Carbine Williams His name Frank Gregory And inthat Movie My Great Grandfather was said to have died well he died in the 70s and was not pleased with that one bit My Great Grandfather was there that day the shooting went down truth be told the concept for the carbine was well in motion before williams went to prison both My Great Grandfather and Carbine Williams came up with the idea together before that raid cause the ran shine the distillery was put together by my Great Grandfather and Carbine Williams