The M1 Carbine can be seen in the following films used by the following actors and video game:
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWorld War Two Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WW2, shown with khaki sling and oiler and a period twin magazine pouch for buttstockError creating thumbnail: File missingKorean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch. Most of the World War 2 variations of the M1 Carbine were sent back to the Military Arsenals and retrofitted with the Bayonet Lug and adjustable rear sight. This is the version seen after last 1945 and all the way until the 1960s. This version is seen most often in World War 2 movies, despite being anachronistic for most World War 2 battlesError creating thumbnail: File missingKorean War Era M1 Carbine, with M4 bayonet and twin magazine pouchError creating thumbnail: File missingThe Modern Manufactured version of the M1 Carbine, with standard stock, from Auto-Ordnance (affiliated with Kahr Arms and Thomson Arms). Chambered in .30 Carbine
The M1 Carbine was a lightweight, intermediate cartridge firearm, developed and adopted in 1941, as a supplement to the then standard Issue M1 Garand. The M1 Carbine was to take the place of pistols for vehicle drivers, members of crew served weapons, NCOs and other secondary roles to the frontline infantryman. Despite it's lack of 'knockdown' power, it was popular, primarily due to it's handiness and lightweight and was seen in front line usage in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II.
Contrary to what movie and TV viewers see, the M1 Carbine did not have a bayonet lug during World War 2. There is no photographic evidence of any soldiers carrying or using the M1 Carbine or M1A1 paratrooper Carbine between 1942 and early 1945, with a bayonet lug. The version with the bayonet lug, and the replacement of the "L" peep sight with the adjustable windage rear sight was an undesignated upgrade to the model and was not given a separate model number. This upgrade officially started in late 1944, but were only seen in the field in late 1945, in the very last months of the war. Occupation troops did, however, get this version of the gun.The upgraded version was used extensively during the Korean conflict and into the early years of Vietnam. The M1 carbine could still be found in US National guard and Army or Air force reserve unit armories on into the early 1970s, in addition it was a common police weapon from the mid 1950s into the late 1970s
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM2 Carbine. Select-fire version used primarily during the Korean War and also by ARVN forces during Vietnam. Note the 30rd magazine and wing-screw on muzzle-break. Chambered in .30 Carbine
