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Wikipedia

Carbine

A carbine (/ˈkɑːrbn/ or /ˈkɑːrbn/)[1] is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length.[2] Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges.

A Security Forces Airman of the Ohio Air National Guard fires an M4 carbine (a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 rifle) during target practice, 2017

The smaller size and lighter weight of carbines make them easier to handle. They are typically issued to high-mobility troops such as special operations soldiers and paratroopers, as well as to mounted, artillery, logistics, or other non-infantry personnel whose roles do not require full-sized rifles, although there is a growing tendency for carbines to be issued to front-line soldiers to offset the increasing weight of other issued equipment. An example of this is the U.S. Army's M4 carbine, which is standard issue.

Etymology

The name comes from its first users — cavalry troopers called "carabiniers", from the French carabine,[3] from Old French carabin (soldier armed with a musket), whose origin is unclear. One theory connects it to an "ancient engine of war" called a calabre;[4] another connects it to Medieval Latin Calabrinus 'Calabrian';[4][5] yet another, less likely, to escarrabin, gravedigger, from the scarab beetle.[6]

History

Hand cannon

In 1432, the Joseon dynasty under the reign of Sejong the Great introduced world's first handgun, named Se-chongtong [ko] (세총통). The se-chongtong has a total length of 13.8 cm, inner diameter of 0.9 cm, and outer diameter of 1.4 cm. It is held by its cheolheumja (철흠자, iron tong-handle), which allows a quick change of barrel for the next shot, and fires chase-jeon (차세전, a contemporary type of standardized arrow) with a maximum fatal range of 200 footsteps (≈250 meters). Initially, Joseon considered the gun a failure due to its short effective range, but the se-chongtong quickly saw use after fielding to the frontier provinces starting in June 1437. Se-chongtong was used by both soldiers of different units and by civilians, including women and children, as a personal defense weapon. The gun was notably used by chetamja (체탐자, special reconnaissance), whose mission was to infiltrate enemy territory, and by carabiniers carrying multiple guns, who benefited from its compact size.[7][8][9]

Carbine arquebus and musket

 
Harquebusier, carbine-armed cavalry, 17th century
 
Carbine model 1793, used by the French Army during the French Revolutionary Wars

The carbine was originally developed for cavalry. The start of early modern warfare about the 16th century had infantry armed with firearms, prompting cavalry to do the same, even though reloading muzzle loading firearms while moving mounted was highly impractical.[10] Some cavalry, such as the German Reiters, added one or more pistols, while other cavalry, such as harquebusiers, tried various shorter, lightened versions of the infantry arquebus weapons – the first carbines. But these weapons were still difficult to reload while mounted, and the saber often remained main weapon of such cavalry. Dragoons and other mounted infantry that dismounted for battles usually adopted standard infantry firearms, though some favored versions that were less encumbering when riding – something that could be arranged to hang clear of the rider's elbows and horse's legs.

While more portable, carbines had the general disadvantages of less accuracy and power than the longer guns of the infantry. During Napoleonic warfare, pistol and carbine-armed cavalry generally transitioned into traditional melee cavalry or dragoons. Carbines found increased use outside of standard cavalry and infantry, such as support and artillery troops, who might need to defend themselves from attack but would be hindered by keeping full-sized weapons with them continuously; a common title for many short rifles in the late 19th century was artillery carbine.

Carbine rifle

As the rifled musket replaced the smoothbore firearms for infantry in the mid 19th century, carbine versions were also developed; this was often developed separately from the infantry rifles and, in many cases, did not even use the same ammunition, which made for supply difficulties.

A notable weapon developed towards the end of the American Civil War by the Union was the Spencer carbine, one of the first breechloading, repeating weapons.[11] It had a spring-powered, removable tube magazine in the buttstock which held seven rounds and could be reloaded by inserting spare tubes. It was intended to give the cavalry a replacement weapon which could be fired from horseback without the need for awkward reloading after each shot – although it saw service mostly with dismounted troopers, as was typical of cavalry weapons during that war.

In the late 19th century, it became common for a number of nations to make bolt-action rifles in both full-length and carbine versions. One of the most popular and recognizable carbines were the lever-action Winchester carbines, with several versions available firing revolver cartridges. This made it an ideal choice for cowboys and explorers, as well as other inhabitants of the American West, who could carry a revolver and a carbine, both using the same ammunition.

The Lee Enfield Cavalry Carbine, a shortened version of the standard British Army infantry rifle was introduced in 1896, although it did not become the standard British cavalry weapon until 1903.[12]

World Wars

 
M1 Garand and M1 Carbine

In the decades following World War I, the standard battle rifle used by armies around the world had been growing shorter, either by redesign or by the general issue of carbine versions instead of full-length rifles. This move was initiated by the U.S. Model 1903 Springfield, which was originally produced in 1907 with a short 24-inch (610 mm) barrel, providing a short rifle that was longer than a carbine but shorter than a typical rifle, so it could be issued to all troops without need for separate versions.[13] Other nations followed suit after World War I, when they learned that their traditional long-barreled rifles provided little benefit in the trenches and merely proved a hindrance to the soldiers. Examples include the Russian Model 1891 rifle, originally with an 800 mm (31 in) barrel, later shortened to 730 mm (29 in) in 1930, and to 510 mm (20 in) in 1938, the German Mauser Gewehr 98 rifles went from 740 mm (29 in) in 1898 to 600 mm (24 in) in 1935 as the Karabiner 98k (K98k or Kar98k), or "short carbine".

The barrel lengths in rifles used by the United States did not change between the bolt-action M1903 rifle of World War I and the World War II M1 Garand rifle, because the 610 mm (24 in) barrel on the M1903 was still shorter than even the shortened versions of the Model 1891 and Gewehr 98. The U.S. M1 carbine was more of a traditional carbine in that it was significantly shorter and lighter, with a 457.2 mm (18.00 in) barrel, than the M1 Garand rifle, and that it was intended for rear-area troops who could not be hindered with full-sized rifles but needed something more powerful and accurate than a Model 1911 pistol (although this did not stop soldiers from using them on the front line). Contrary to popular belief, and even what some books claim, in spite of both being designated "M1", the M1 Carbine was not a shorter version of the .30-06 M1 Garand, as is typical for most rifles and carbines, but it was a wholly different design, firing a smaller, less-powerful cartridge. The "M1" designates each as the first model in the new U.S. designation system, which no longer used the year of introduction but a sequential series of numbers starting at "1": the M1 Carbine and M1 Rifle.

The United Kingdom developed a "Jungle Carbine" version of their Lee–Enfield service rifle, featuring a shorter barrel, flash suppressor, and manufacturing modifications designed to decrease the rifle's weight[14] Officially titled Rifle, No. 5 Mk I, it was introduced in the closing months of World War II, but it did not see widespread service until the Korean War, the Mau Mau Uprising, and the Malayan Emergency as well as the Vietnam War.

Post World War II

 
FN FAL rifle – (left) full size, (right) carbine/paratrooper variant with a folding stock and shortened barrel

A shorter weapon was more convenient when riding in a truck, armored personnel carrier, helicopter, or aircraft, and also when engaged in close-range combat. Based on the combat experience of World War II, the criteria used for selecting infantry weapons began to change. Unlike previous wars, which were often fought mainly from fixed lines and trenches, World War II was a highly mobile war, often fought in cities, forests, or other areas where mobility and visibility were restricted. In addition, improvements in artillery made moving infantry in open areas even less practical than it had been.

The majority of enemy contacts were at ranges of less than 300 metres (330 yards), and the enemy was exposed to fire for only short periods of time as they moved from cover to cover. Most rounds fired were not aimed at an enemy combatant but instead fired in the enemy's direction to keep them from moving and from firing back. These situations did not require a heavy rifle, firing full-power rifle bullets with long-range accuracy. A less-powerful weapon would still produce casualties at the shorter ranges encountered in actual combat, and the reduced recoil would allow more shots to be fired in the short amount of time an enemy was visible. The lower-powered round would also weigh less, allowing a soldier to carry more ammunition. With no need of a long barrel to fire full-power ammunition, a shorter barrel could be used. A shorter barrel made the weapon weigh less, was easier to handle in tight spaces, and was easier to shoulder quickly to fire a shot at an unexpected target. Full-automatic fire was also considered a desirable feature, allowing the soldier to fire short bursts of three to five rounds, increasing the probability of a hit on a moving target.

The Germans had experimented with selective-fire carbines firing rifle cartridges during the early years of World War II. These were determined to be less than ideal, as the recoil of full-power rifle cartridges caused the weapon to be uncontrollable in full-automatic fire. They then developed an intermediate-power cartridge round, which was accomplished by reducing the power and the length of the standard 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle cartridge to create the 7.92×33mm kurz (short) cartridge. A selective-fire weapon was developed to fire this shorter cartridge, eventually resulting in the Sturmgewehr 44, later translated as "assault rifle" (also frequently called "machine carbines" by Allied intelligence, a quite accurate assessment, in fact). Very shortly after World War II, the USSR adopted a similar weapon, the ubiquitous AK-47, the first model in the famed Kalashnikov-series, which became the standard Soviet infantry weapon and which has been produced and exported in extremely large numbers up through the present day.

Although the United States had developed the M2 Carbine, a selective-fire version of the M1 Carbine during WW2, the .30 Carbine cartridge was closer to a pistol round in power, making it more of a submachine gun than an assault rifle. It was also adopted only in very small numbers and issued to few troops (the semi-automatic M1 carbine was produced in a 10-to-1 ratio to the M2), while the AK47 was produced by the millions and was standard-issue to all Soviet troops, as well as those of many other nations. The U.S. was slow to follow suit, insisting on retaining a full-power, 7.62×51mm NATO rifle, the M14 (although this was selective fire).

In the 1950s, the British developed the .280 British, an intermediate cartridge, and a select-fire bullpup assault rifle to fire it, the EM-2. They pressed for the U.S. to adopt it so it could become a NATO-standard round, but the U.S. insisted on retaining a full-power, .30 caliber round. This forced NATO to adopt the 7.62×51mm NATO round (which in reality is only slightly different ballistically from the .308 Winchester), to maintain commonality. The British eventually adopted the 7.62mm FN FAL, and the U.S. adopted the 7.62mm M14 rifle. These rifles are both what is known as battle rifles and were a few inches shorter than the standard-issue rifles they replaced (22-inch (560 mm) barrel as opposed to 24 inches (610 mm) for the M1 Garand), although they were still full-powered rifles, with selective fire capability. These can be compared to the even shorter, less-powerful assault rifle, which might be considered the "carbine branch of weapons development", although indeed, there are now carbine variants of many of the assault rifles which had themselves seemed quite small and light when adopted.

 
Bullet drop of the M16A2 rifle (yellow) vs M4 carbine (red)

By the 1960s, after becoming involved in war in Vietnam, the U.S. did an abrupt about-face and decided to standardize on the intermediate 5.56×45mm round (based on the .223 Remington varmint cartridge) fired from the new, lightweight M16 rifle, leaving NATO to hurry and catch up. Many of the NATO countries could not afford to re-equip so soon after the recent 7.62mm standardization, leaving them armed with full-power 7.62mm battle rifles for some decades afterwards, although by this point, the 5.56mm has been adopted by almost all NATO countries and many non-NATO nations as well. This 5.56mm NATO round was even lighter and smaller than the Soviet 7.62×39mm AK-47 cartridge but possessed higher velocity. In U.S. service, the M16 assault rifle replaced the M14 as the standard infantry weapon, although the M14 continued to be used by designated marksmen. Although at 20 inches (510 mm), the barrel of the M16 was shorter than that of the M14, it was still designated a "rifle" rather than a "carbine", and it was still longer than the AK-47, which used a 16-inch (410 mm) barrel. (The SKS – an interim, semi-automatic, weapon adopted a few years before the AK-47 was put into service – was designated a carbine, even though its 20-inch (510 mm) barrel was significantly longer than the AK series' 16.3 inches (410 mm). This is because of the Kalashnikov's revolutionary nature, which altered the old paradigm. Compared to previous rifles, particularly the Soviets' initial attempts at semi-automatic rifles, such as the 24-inch (610 mm) SVT-40, the SKS was significantly shorter. The Kalashnikov altered traditional notions and ushered in a change in what was considered a "rifle" in military circles.)

In 1974, shortly after the introduction of the 5.56mm NATO, the USSR began to issue a new Kalashnikov variant, the AK-74, chambered in the small-bore 5.45×39mm cartridge, which was a standard 7.62×39mm necked down to take a smaller, lighter, faster bullet. It soon became standard issue in Soviet nations, although many of the nations with export Kalashnikovs retained the larger 7.62×39mm round. In 1995, the People's Republic of China adopted a new 5.8×42mm cartridge to match the modern trend in military ammunition, replacing the previous 7.62×39mm and 5.45×39mm round as standard.

Later, even lighter carbine variants of many of these short-barreled assault rifles came to be adopted as the standard infantry weapon. In much modern tactical thinking, only a certain number of soldiers need to retain longer-range weapons, serving as designated marksmen. The rest can carry lighter, shorter-ranged weapons for close quarters combat and suppressive fire. This is basically a more extreme extension of the idea that brought the original assault rifle. Another factor is that with the increasing weight of technology, sighting systems, ballistic armor, etc., the only way to reduce the burden on the modern soldier was to equip them with a smaller, lighter weapon. Also, modern soldiers rely a great deal on vehicles and helicopters to transport them around the battle area, and a longer weapon can be a serious hindrance to entering and exiting these vehicles. Development of lighter assault rifles continued, matched by developments in even lighter carbines. In spite of the short barrels of the new assault rifles, carbine variants like the 5.45×39mm AKS-74U and Colt Commando were being developed for use when mobility was essential and a submachine gun was not sufficiently powerful. The AKS-74U featured an extremely short 8.1-inch (210 mm) barrel which necessitated redesigning and shortening the gas-piston and integrating front sights onto the gas tube; the Colt Commando was a bit longer, at 11.5 inches (290 mm). Neither was adopted as standard issue, although the U.S. did later adopt the somewhat longer M4 carbine, with a 14.5-inch (370 mm) barrel.

Modern history

Contemporary military forces

 
Steyr AUG rifle (508 mm (20.0 in) barrel)
 
Steyr AUG carbine (407 mm (16.0 in) barrel). Carbine conversion is achieved by changing to a shorter barrel.
 
Two M4 carbines stowed ahead of the flight instrument panel of a US Army OH-58D reconnaissance helicopter, over Iraq in 2004

By the 1990s, the U.S. had adopted the M4 carbine, a derivative of the M16 family which fired the same 5.56mm cartridge but was lighter and shorter (in overall length and barrel length), resulting in marginally reduced range and power, although offering better mobility and lighter weight to offset the weight of equipment and armor that a modern soldier has to carry.

In spite of the benefits of the modern carbine, many armies are experiencing a certain backlash against the universal equipping of soldiers with carbines and lighter rifles in general, and are equipping selected soldiers, usually designated marksmen, with higher-powered rifles. Another problem comes from the loss of muzzle velocity caused by the shorter barrel, which when coupled with the typical small, lightweight bullets, causes effectiveness to be diminished; a 5.56mm gets its lethality from its high velocity, and when fired from the 14.5-inch (370 mm) M4 carbine, its power, penetration, and range are diminished. Thus, there has been a move towards adopting a slightly more powerful cartridge tailored for high performance from both long and short barrels. The U.S. has experimented with a new, slightly larger and heavier caliber such as the 6.5mm Grendel or 6.8mm Remington SPC, which are heavier and thus retain more effectiveness at lower muzzle velocities.

While the U.S. Army adopted the M4 carbine in the 1990s, the U.S. Marine Corps retained their 20-inch (510 mm) barrel M16A4 rifles long afterwards, citing the increased range and effectiveness over the carbine version; officers were required to carry an M4 carbine rather than an M9 pistol, as Army officers do. Because the Marine Corps emphasizes "every Marine a rifleman", the lighter carbine was considered a suitable compromise between a rifle and a pistol. Marines with restricted mobility such as vehicle operators, or a greater need for mobility such as squad leaders, were issued M4 carbines. In 2015, the Marine Corps approved the M4 carbine for standard issue to front-line Marines, replacing the M16A4 rifle. The rifles are issued to support troops while the carbines go to the front-line Marines, in a reversal of the traditional roles of "rifles for the front line, carbines for the rear".

Special forces

Special forces need to perform fast, decisive operations, frequently airborne or boat-mounted. A pistol, though light and quick to operate, is viewed as not having enough power, firepower, or range. A submachine gun has selective fire, but firing a pistol cartridge and having a short barrel and sight radius, it is not accurate or powerful enough at longer ranges. Submachine guns also tend to have poorer armor and cover penetration than rifles and carbines firing rifle ammunition. Consequently, carbines have gained wide acceptance among United States Special Operations Command, United Kingdom Special Forces, and other communities, having relatively light weight, large magazine capacity, selective fire, and much better range and penetration than a submachine gun.

Usage

The smaller size and relative lighter weight of carbines makes them easier to handle in close-quarter situations such as urban engagements, when deploying from military vehicles, or in any situation where space is confined. The disadvantages of carbines relative to rifles include inferior long-range accuracy and a shorter effective range. These comparisons refer to carbines (short-barreled rifles) of the same power and class as the regular full-sized rifles.

Compared to submachine guns, carbines have a greater effective range and are capable of penetrating helmets and body armor when used with armor-piercing ammunition.[15] However, submachine guns are still used by military special forces and police SWAT teams for close quarters battle because they are "a pistol caliber weapon that's easy to control, and less likely to over-penetrate the target."[15] Also, carbines are harder to maneuver in tight encounters where superior range and stopping power at distance are not great considerations.

Firing the same ammunition as standard-issue rifles or pistols gives carbines the advantage of standardization over those personal defense weapons that require proprietary cartridges.

The modern usage of the term carbine covers much the same scope as it always had, namely lighter weapons (generally rifles) with barrels up to 20 inches (510 mm) in length. These weapons can be considered carbines, while rifles with barrels longer than 20 inches are generally not considered carbines unless specifically named so. Conversely, many rifles have barrels shorter than 20 inches, yet are not considered carbines. The AK series rifles has an almost universal barrel length of 16.3 inches (410 mm), well within carbine territory, yet has always been considered a rifle, perhaps because it was designed as such and not shortened from a longer weapon. Modern carbines use ammunition ranging from that used in light pistols up to powerful rifle cartridges, with the usual exception of high-velocity magnum cartridges. In the more powerful cartridges, the short barrel of a carbine has significant disadvantages in velocity, and the high residual pressure, and frequently still-burning powder and gases, when the bullet exits the barrel results in substantially greater muzzle blast. Flash suppressors are a common, partial solution to this problem, although even the best flash suppressors are hard put to deal with the excess flash from the still-burning powder leaving the short barrel (and they also add several inches to the length of the barrel, diminishing the purpose of having a short barrel in the first place).

Pistol-caliber carbines

 
Marlin 1894C .357 Magnum carbine

The typical carbine is the pistol-caliber carbine. These first appeared soon after metallic cartridges became common. These were developed as "companions" to the popular revolvers of the day, firing the same cartridge but allowing more velocity and accuracy than the revolver. These were carried by cowboys, lawmen, and others in the Old West. The classic combination would be a Winchester lever-action carbine and a Colt Single Action Army revolver in .44-40 or .38-40. During the 20th century, this trend continued with more modern and powerful smokeless revolver cartridges, in the form of Winchester and Marlin lever action carbines chambered in .38 Special/.357 Magnum and .44 Special/.44 Magnum.

Modern equivalents include the Ruger Police Carbine and Ruger PC Carbine, which uses the same magazine as the Ruger pistols of the same caliber, and the (discontinued) Marlin Camp Carbine, which, in .45 ACP, used M1911 magazines. The Ruger Model 44 and Ruger Deerfield Carbine were both carbines chambered in .44 Magnum. The Beretta Cx4 Storm shares magazines with many Beretta pistols and is designed to be complementary to the Beretta Px4 Storm pistol. The Hi-Point 995TS are popular, economical and reliable alternatives to other pistol caliber carbines in the United States, and their magazines can be used in the Hi-Point C-9 pistol. Another example is the Kel-Tec SUB-2000 series chambered in either 9mm Luger or .40 S&W, which can be configured to accept Glock, Beretta, S&W, or SIG pistol magazines. The SUB-2000 also has the somewhat unusual (although not unique) ability to fold in half.

 
Ruger PC Carbine in 9×19mm Parabellum

The primary advantage of a carbine over a pistol using the same ammunition is controllability. The combination of firing from the shoulder, longer sight-radius, 3 points of contact (firing hand, support hand & shoulder), and precision offer a significantly more user-friendly platform. Carbines like the Kel-Tec SUB-2000, Hi Point 995TS, Just Right Carbines (JR Carbine) and Beretta Cx4 Storm have the ability to mount user friendly optics, lights and lasers thanks to them having accessory rails, which make target acquisition and engagement much easier.

 
Just Right Carbines (JC Carbine) in 9×19mm Parabellum with 3-9 X 42mm scope and red dot sight

The longer barrel can offer increased velocity and, with it, greater energy and effective range due to the propellant having more time to burn. However, loss in bullet velocity can happen where the propellant is utilised before the bullet reaches the muzzle, combined with the friction from the barrel on the bullet. As long guns, pistol-caliber carbines may be less legally restricted than handguns in some jurisdictions. Compared to carbines chambered in intermediate or rifle calibers, such as .223 Remington and 7.62×54mmR, pistol-caliber carbines generally experience less of an increase in external ballistic properties as a result of the propellant. The drawback is that one loses the primary benefits of a handgun, i.e. portability and concealability, resulting in a weapon almost the size of, but less accurate than, a long-gun, but not much more powerful than a pistol.

Also widely produced are semi-automatic and typically longer-barreled derivatives of select-fire submachine guns, such as the FN PS90, HK USC, KRISS Vector, Thompson carbine, CZ Scorpion S1 Carbine and the Uzi carbine. In order to be sold legally in many countries, the barrel must meet a minimum length (16 inches (410 mm) in the US). So the original submachine gun in given a legal-length barrel and made into a semi-automatic, transforming it into a carbine. Though less common, pistol-caliber conversions of centerfire rifles like the AR-15 are commercially available.

Shoulder-stocked handgun

 
Mauser C96 "Red 9" variant with attached shoulder-stock

Some handguns used to come from the factory with mounting lugs for a shoulder stock, notably including the "Broomhandle" Mauser C96, Luger P.08, and Browning Hi-Power. In the case of the first two, the pistol could come with a hollow wooden stock that doubled as a holster.

Carbine conversion kits are commercially available for many other pistols, including M1911 and most Glocks. These can either be simple shoulder stocks fitted to a pistol or full carbine conversion kits, which are at least 26 in (660 mm) long and replace the pistol's barrel with one at least 16 in (410 mm) long for compliance with the United States law. In the US, fitting a shoulder stock to a handgun with a barrel less than 16 inches (410 mm) long legally turns it into a short-barreled rifle, which is in violation of the National Firearms Act.

Legal issues

United States

Under the National Firearms Act of 1934, firearms with shoulder stocks or originally manufactured as a rifle and barrels less than 16 in (410 mm) in length are classified as short-barreled rifles. Short-barreled rifles are restricted similarly to short-barreled shotguns, requiring a $200 tax paid prior to manufacture or transfer – a process which can take several months. Because of this, firearms with barrels of less than 16 in (410 mm) and a shoulder stock are uncommon. A list of firearms not covered by the NFA due to their antique status may be found here[16] or due to their Curio and Relic status may be found here;[17] these lists includes a number of carbines with barrels less than the minimum legal length and firearms that are "primarily collector's items and are not likely to be used as weapons and, therefore, are excluded from the provisions of the National Firearms Act." Machine guns, as their own class of firearm, are not subject to requirements of other class firearms.

Distinct from simple shoulder stock kits, full carbine conversion kits are not classified as short-barreled rifles. By replacing the pistol barrel with one at least 16 in (410 mm) in length and having an overall length of at least 26 in (660 mm), a carbine converted pistol may be treated as a standard rifle under Title I of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA).[18] However, certain "Broomhandle" Mauser C96, Luger, and Browning Hi-Power Curio & Relic pistols with their originally issued stock attached only may retain their pistol classification.

Carbines without a stock and not originally manufactured as a rifle are not classified as rifles or short barreled rifles. A carbine manufactured under 26 in (660 mm) in length without a forward vertical grip will be a pistol and, state law notwithstanding, can be carried concealed without creating an unregistered Any Other Weapon. A nearly identical carbine with an overall length of 26 in (660 mm) or greater is simply an unclassified firearm under Title I of the Gun Control Act of 1968, as the Any Other Weapon catch-all only applies to firearms under 26 in (660 mm) or that have been concealed. However, a modification intending to fire from the shoulder and bypass the regulation of short-barreled rifles is considered the unlawful possession and manufacture of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.

In some historical cases, the term machine carbine was the official title for submachine guns, such as the British Sten and Australian Owen guns. The semiautomatic-only version of the Sterling submachine gun was also officially called a "carbine". The original Sterling semi-auto would be classed a "short barrel rifle" under the U.S. National Firearms Act, but fully legal long-barrel versions of the Sterling have been made for the U.S. collector market.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Carbine". Dictionary.com. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  2. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Carbine". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ "Carbine". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Carabin". Oxford English Dictionary.
  5. ^ "Carbine". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "Carbine". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fifth ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2018 – via thefreedictionary.com.
  7. ^ "세총통(細銃筒) - 한국민족문화대백과사전". encykorea.aks.ac.kr. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  8. ^ "보물 세총통 (細銃筒) : 국가문화유산포털 - 문화재청". Heritage Portal : CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  9. ^ 【ENG SUB】세계최초 권총형 총통 '세총통' feat. 화력대왕 '세종' Se-Chongtong, the Smallest of Korean Hand Cannons, retrieved 2022-02-25
  10. ^ Black, Jeremy, Cambridge Illustrated Atlas, Warfare: Renaissance to Revolution, 1492–1792, (Cambridge University Press|page=1996)
  11. ^ Pritchard, Russ A. (1 August 2003). Civil War Weapons and Equipment. Globe Pequot Press. pp. 49–41. ISBN 978-1-58574-493-0.
  12. ^ Skennerton, Ian (2007). The Lee–Enfield. Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-949749-82-6.
  13. ^ Sheehan, John (1 October 2006). "Battlefield tack driver: the model 1903 Springfield in WWI". Guns Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  14. ^ Wilson, Royce (May 2006). Jungle Fever- The Lee-Enfield .303 Rifle. Australian Shooter Magazine
  15. ^ a b Gurwitch, Jeff (December 11, 2011). "Submachine Guns (SMG's): Outpaced by Today's Modern Short-Barreled Rifles (SBR's)/Sub-Carbines, or Still a Viable Tool for Close Quarters Battle/Close Quarters Combat (CQB/CQC)?". Defense Review. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  16. ^ "Curios or Relics List — Update March 2001 through May 2005". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  17. ^ "Curios or Relics List — Update January 2009 through June 2010". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  18. ^ "ATF Rule 2011-4 pertaining to Carbine Conversion Units". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved November 16, 2015.

Further reading

  • Beard, Ross E. Carbine : the story of David Marshall Williams. Williamstown, New Jersey: Phillips, 1997. ISBN 0-932572-26-X OCLC 757855022
  • Carbines : cal. .30 carbines M1, M1A1, M2 and M3. Washington, D.C.: Headquarters, Departments of the Army and the Air Force, 1953.
  • McAulay, John D. Carbines of the Civil War, 1861–1865. Union City, Tennessee: Pioneer Press, 1981. ISBN 978-0-913159-45-3 OCLC 8111324
  • McAulay, John D. Carbines of the U.S. Cavalry, 1861–1905. Lincoln, Rhode Island: Andrew Mowbray Publishers, 1996. ISBN 0-917218-70-1 OCLC 36087526

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For other uses see Carbine disambiguation Not to be confused with carbyne carbene or carabiner A carbine ˈ k ɑːr b iː n or ˈ k ɑːr b aɪ n 1 is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length 2 Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges A Security Forces Airman of the Ohio Air National Guard fires an M4 carbine a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 rifle during target practice 2017 The smaller size and lighter weight of carbines make them easier to handle They are typically issued to high mobility troops such as special operations soldiers and paratroopers as well as to mounted artillery logistics or other non infantry personnel whose roles do not require full sized rifles although there is a growing tendency for carbines to be issued to front line soldiers to offset the increasing weight of other issued equipment An example of this is the U S Army s M4 carbine which is standard issue Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Hand cannon 2 2 Carbine arquebus and musket 2 3 Carbine rifle 2 4 World Wars 2 5 Post World War II 3 Modern history 3 1 Contemporary military forces 3 2 Special forces 4 Usage 5 Pistol caliber carbines 5 1 Shoulder stocked handgun 6 Legal issues 6 1 United States 7 See also 8 References 9 Further readingEtymology EditThe name comes from its first users cavalry troopers called carabiniers from the French carabine 3 from Old French carabin soldier armed with a musket whose origin is unclear One theory connects it to an ancient engine of war called a calabre 4 another connects it to Medieval Latin Calabrinus Calabrian 4 5 yet another less likely to escarrabin gravedigger from the scarab beetle 6 History EditHand cannon Edit In 1432 the Joseon dynasty under the reign of Sejong the Great introduced world s first handgun named Se chongtong ko 세총통 The se chongtong has a total length of 13 8 cm inner diameter of 0 9 cm and outer diameter of 1 4 cm It is held by its cheolheumja 철흠자 iron tong handle which allows a quick change of barrel for the next shot and fires chase jeon 차세전 a contemporary type of standardized arrow with a maximum fatal range of 200 footsteps 250 meters Initially Joseon considered the gun a failure due to its short effective range but the se chongtong quickly saw use after fielding to the frontier provinces starting in June 1437 Se chongtong was used by both soldiers of different units and by civilians including women and children as a personal defense weapon The gun was notably used by chetamja 체탐자 special reconnaissance whose mission was to infiltrate enemy territory and by carabiniers carrying multiple guns who benefited from its compact size 7 8 9 Carbine arquebus and musket Edit Harquebusier carbine armed cavalry 17th century Carbine model 1793 used by the French Army during the French Revolutionary Wars The carbine was originally developed for cavalry The start of early modern warfare about the 16th century had infantry armed with firearms prompting cavalry to do the same even though reloading muzzle loading firearms while moving mounted was highly impractical 10 Some cavalry such as the German Reiters added one or more pistols while other cavalry such as harquebusiers tried various shorter lightened versions of the infantry arquebus weapons the first carbines But these weapons were still difficult to reload while mounted and the saber often remained main weapon of such cavalry Dragoons and other mounted infantry that dismounted for battles usually adopted standard infantry firearms though some favored versions that were less encumbering when riding something that could be arranged to hang clear of the rider s elbows and horse s legs While more portable carbines had the general disadvantages of less accuracy and power than the longer guns of the infantry During Napoleonic warfare pistol and carbine armed cavalry generally transitioned into traditional melee cavalry or dragoons Carbines found increased use outside of standard cavalry and infantry such as support and artillery troops who might need to defend themselves from attack but would be hindered by keeping full sized weapons with them continuously a common title for many short rifles in the late 19th century was artillery carbine Carbine rifle Edit As the rifled musket replaced the smoothbore firearms for infantry in the mid 19th century carbine versions were also developed this was often developed separately from the infantry rifles and in many cases did not even use the same ammunition which made for supply difficulties A notable weapon developed towards the end of the American Civil War by the Union was the Spencer carbine one of the first breechloading repeating weapons 11 It had a spring powered removable tube magazine in the buttstock which held seven rounds and could be reloaded by inserting spare tubes It was intended to give the cavalry a replacement weapon which could be fired from horseback without the need for awkward reloading after each shot although it saw service mostly with dismounted troopers as was typical of cavalry weapons during that war In the late 19th century it became common for a number of nations to make bolt action rifles in both full length and carbine versions One of the most popular and recognizable carbines were the lever action Winchester carbines with several versions available firing revolver cartridges This made it an ideal choice for cowboys and explorers as well as other inhabitants of the American West who could carry a revolver and a carbine both using the same ammunition The Lee Enfield Cavalry Carbine a shortened version of the standard British Army infantry rifle was introduced in 1896 although it did not become the standard British cavalry weapon until 1903 12 World Wars Edit M1 Garand and M1 Carbine In the decades following World War I the standard battle rifle used by armies around the world had been growing shorter either by redesign or by the general issue of carbine versions instead of full length rifles This move was initiated by the U S Model 1903 Springfield which was originally produced in 1907 with a short 24 inch 610 mm barrel providing a short rifle that was longer than a carbine but shorter than a typical rifle so it could be issued to all troops without need for separate versions 13 Other nations followed suit after World War I when they learned that their traditional long barreled rifles provided little benefit in the trenches and merely proved a hindrance to the soldiers Examples include the Russian Model 1891 rifle originally with an 800 mm 31 in barrel later shortened to 730 mm 29 in in 1930 and to 510 mm 20 in in 1938 the German Mauser Gewehr 98 rifles went from 740 mm 29 in in 1898 to 600 mm 24 in in 1935 as the Karabiner 98k K98k or Kar98k or short carbine The barrel lengths in rifles used by the United States did not change between the bolt action M1903 rifle of World War I and the World War II M1 Garand rifle because the 610 mm 24 in barrel on the M1903 was still shorter than even the shortened versions of the Model 1891 and Gewehr 98 The U S M1 carbine was more of a traditional carbine in that it was significantly shorter and lighter with a 457 2 mm 18 00 in barrel than the M1 Garand rifle and that it was intended for rear area troops who could not be hindered with full sized rifles but needed something more powerful and accurate than a Model 1911 pistol although this did not stop soldiers from using them on the front line Contrary to popular belief and even what some books claim in spite of both being designated M1 the M1 Carbine was not a shorter version of the 30 06 M1 Garand as is typical for most rifles and carbines but it was a wholly different design firing a smaller less powerful cartridge The M1 designates each as the first model in the new U S designation system which no longer used the year of introduction but a sequential series of numbers starting at 1 the M1 Carbine and M1 Rifle The United Kingdom developed a Jungle Carbine version of their Lee Enfield service rifle featuring a shorter barrel flash suppressor and manufacturing modifications designed to decrease the rifle s weight 14 Officially titled Rifle No 5 Mk I it was introduced in the closing months of World War II but it did not see widespread service until the Korean War the Mau Mau Uprising and the Malayan Emergency as well as the Vietnam War Post World War II Edit FN FAL rifle left full size right carbine paratrooper variant with a folding stock and shortened barrel A shorter weapon was more convenient when riding in a truck armored personnel carrier helicopter or aircraft and also when engaged in close range combat Based on the combat experience of World War II the criteria used for selecting infantry weapons began to change Unlike previous wars which were often fought mainly from fixed lines and trenches World War II was a highly mobile war often fought in cities forests or other areas where mobility and visibility were restricted In addition improvements in artillery made moving infantry in open areas even less practical than it had been The majority of enemy contacts were at ranges of less than 300 metres 330 yards and the enemy was exposed to fire for only short periods of time as they moved from cover to cover Most rounds fired were not aimed at an enemy combatant but instead fired in the enemy s direction to keep them from moving and from firing back These situations did not require a heavy rifle firing full power rifle bullets with long range accuracy A less powerful weapon would still produce casualties at the shorter ranges encountered in actual combat and the reduced recoil would allow more shots to be fired in the short amount of time an enemy was visible The lower powered round would also weigh less allowing a soldier to carry more ammunition With no need of a long barrel to fire full power ammunition a shorter barrel could be used A shorter barrel made the weapon weigh less was easier to handle in tight spaces and was easier to shoulder quickly to fire a shot at an unexpected target Full automatic fire was also considered a desirable feature allowing the soldier to fire short bursts of three to five rounds increasing the probability of a hit on a moving target The Germans had experimented with selective fire carbines firing rifle cartridges during the early years of World War II These were determined to be less than ideal as the recoil of full power rifle cartridges caused the weapon to be uncontrollable in full automatic fire They then developed an intermediate power cartridge round which was accomplished by reducing the power and the length of the standard 7 92 57mm Mauser rifle cartridge to create the 7 92 33mm kurz short cartridge A selective fire weapon was developed to fire this shorter cartridge eventually resulting in the Sturmgewehr 44 later translated as assault rifle also frequently called machine carbines by Allied intelligence a quite accurate assessment in fact Very shortly after World War II the USSR adopted a similar weapon the ubiquitous AK 47 the first model in the famed Kalashnikov series which became the standard Soviet infantry weapon and which has been produced and exported in extremely large numbers up through the present day Although the United States had developed the M2 Carbine a selective fire version of the M1 Carbine during WW2 the 30 Carbine cartridge was closer to a pistol round in power making it more of a submachine gun than an assault rifle It was also adopted only in very small numbers and issued to few troops the semi automatic M1 carbine was produced in a 10 to 1 ratio to the M2 while the AK47 was produced by the millions and was standard issue to all Soviet troops as well as those of many other nations The U S was slow to follow suit insisting on retaining a full power 7 62 51mm NATO rifle the M14 although this was selective fire In the 1950s the British developed the 280 British an intermediate cartridge and a select fire bullpup assault rifle to fire it the EM 2 They pressed for the U S to adopt it so it could become a NATO standard round but the U S insisted on retaining a full power 30 caliber round This forced NATO to adopt the 7 62 51mm NATO round which in reality is only slightly different ballistically from the 308 Winchester to maintain commonality The British eventually adopted the 7 62mm FN FAL and the U S adopted the 7 62mm M14 rifle These rifles are both what is known as battle rifles and were a few inches shorter than the standard issue rifles they replaced 22 inch 560 mm barrel as opposed to 24 inches 610 mm for the M1 Garand although they were still full powered rifles with selective fire capability These can be compared to the even shorter less powerful assault rifle which might be considered the carbine branch of weapons development although indeed there are now carbine variants of many of the assault rifles which had themselves seemed quite small and light when adopted Bullet drop of the M16A2 rifle yellow vs M4 carbine red By the 1960s after becoming involved in war in Vietnam the U S did an abrupt about face and decided to standardize on the intermediate 5 56 45mm round based on the 223 Remington varmint cartridge fired from the new lightweight M16 rifle leaving NATO to hurry and catch up Many of the NATO countries could not afford to re equip so soon after the recent 7 62mm standardization leaving them armed with full power 7 62mm battle rifles for some decades afterwards although by this point the 5 56mm has been adopted by almost all NATO countries and many non NATO nations as well This 5 56mm NATO round was even lighter and smaller than the Soviet 7 62 39mm AK 47 cartridge but possessed higher velocity In U S service the M16 assault rifle replaced the M14 as the standard infantry weapon although the M14 continued to be used by designated marksmen Although at 20 inches 510 mm the barrel of the M16 was shorter than that of the M14 it was still designated a rifle rather than a carbine and it was still longer than the AK 47 which used a 16 inch 410 mm barrel The SKS an interim semi automatic weapon adopted a few years before the AK 47 was put into service was designated a carbine even though its 20 inch 510 mm barrel was significantly longer than the AK series 16 3 inches 410 mm This is because of the Kalashnikov s revolutionary nature which altered the old paradigm Compared to previous rifles particularly the Soviets initial attempts at semi automatic rifles such as the 24 inch 610 mm SVT 40 the SKS was significantly shorter The Kalashnikov altered traditional notions and ushered in a change in what was considered a rifle in military circles In 1974 shortly after the introduction of the 5 56mm NATO the USSR began to issue a new Kalashnikov variant the AK 74 chambered in the small bore 5 45 39mm cartridge which was a standard 7 62 39mm necked down to take a smaller lighter faster bullet It soon became standard issue in Soviet nations although many of the nations with export Kalashnikovs retained the larger 7 62 39mm round In 1995 the People s Republic of China adopted a new 5 8 42mm cartridge to match the modern trend in military ammunition replacing the previous 7 62 39mm and 5 45 39mm round as standard Later even lighter carbine variants of many of these short barreled assault rifles came to be adopted as the standard infantry weapon In much modern tactical thinking only a certain number of soldiers need to retain longer range weapons serving as designated marksmen The rest can carry lighter shorter ranged weapons for close quarters combat and suppressive fire This is basically a more extreme extension of the idea that brought the original assault rifle Another factor is that with the increasing weight of technology sighting systems ballistic armor etc the only way to reduce the burden on the modern soldier was to equip them with a smaller lighter weapon Also modern soldiers rely a great deal on vehicles and helicopters to transport them around the battle area and a longer weapon can be a serious hindrance to entering and exiting these vehicles Development of lighter assault rifles continued matched by developments in even lighter carbines In spite of the short barrels of the new assault rifles carbine variants like the 5 45 39mm AKS 74U and Colt Commando were being developed for use when mobility was essential and a submachine gun was not sufficiently powerful The AKS 74U featured an extremely short 8 1 inch 210 mm barrel which necessitated redesigning and shortening the gas piston and integrating front sights onto the gas tube the Colt Commando was a bit longer at 11 5 inches 290 mm Neither was adopted as standard issue although the U S did later adopt the somewhat longer M4 carbine with a 14 5 inch 370 mm barrel Modern history EditContemporary military forces Edit Steyr AUG rifle 508 mm 20 0 in barrel Steyr AUG carbine 407 mm 16 0 in barrel Carbine conversion is achieved by changing to a shorter barrel Two M4 carbines stowed ahead of the flight instrument panel of a US Army OH 58D reconnaissance helicopter over Iraq in 2004 By the 1990s the U S had adopted the M4 carbine a derivative of the M16 family which fired the same 5 56mm cartridge but was lighter and shorter in overall length and barrel length resulting in marginally reduced range and power although offering better mobility and lighter weight to offset the weight of equipment and armor that a modern soldier has to carry In spite of the benefits of the modern carbine many armies are experiencing a certain backlash against the universal equipping of soldiers with carbines and lighter rifles in general and are equipping selected soldiers usually designated marksmen with higher powered rifles Another problem comes from the loss of muzzle velocity caused by the shorter barrel which when coupled with the typical small lightweight bullets causes effectiveness to be diminished a 5 56mm gets its lethality from its high velocity and when fired from the 14 5 inch 370 mm M4 carbine its power penetration and range are diminished Thus there has been a move towards adopting a slightly more powerful cartridge tailored for high performance from both long and short barrels The U S has experimented with a new slightly larger and heavier caliber such as the 6 5mm Grendel or 6 8mm Remington SPC which are heavier and thus retain more effectiveness at lower muzzle velocities While the U S Army adopted the M4 carbine in the 1990s the U S Marine Corps retained their 20 inch 510 mm barrel M16A4 rifles long afterwards citing the increased range and effectiveness over the carbine version officers were required to carry an M4 carbine rather than an M9 pistol as Army officers do Because the Marine Corps emphasizes every Marine a rifleman the lighter carbine was considered a suitable compromise between a rifle and a pistol Marines with restricted mobility such as vehicle operators or a greater need for mobility such as squad leaders were issued M4 carbines In 2015 the Marine Corps approved the M4 carbine for standard issue to front line Marines replacing the M16A4 rifle The rifles are issued to support troops while the carbines go to the front line Marines in a reversal of the traditional roles of rifles for the front line carbines for the rear Special forces Edit Special forces need to perform fast decisive operations frequently airborne or boat mounted A pistol though light and quick to operate is viewed as not having enough power firepower or range A submachine gun has selective fire but firing a pistol cartridge and having a short barrel and sight radius it is not accurate or powerful enough at longer ranges Submachine guns also tend to have poorer armor and cover penetration than rifles and carbines firing rifle ammunition Consequently carbines have gained wide acceptance among United States Special Operations Command United Kingdom Special Forces and other communities having relatively light weight large magazine capacity selective fire and much better range and penetration than a submachine gun Usage EditThe smaller size and relative lighter weight of carbines makes them easier to handle in close quarter situations such as urban engagements when deploying from military vehicles or in any situation where space is confined The disadvantages of carbines relative to rifles include inferior long range accuracy and a shorter effective range These comparisons refer to carbines short barreled rifles of the same power and class as the regular full sized rifles Compared to submachine guns carbines have a greater effective range and are capable of penetrating helmets and body armor when used with armor piercing ammunition 15 However submachine guns are still used by military special forces and police SWAT teams for close quarters battle because they are a pistol caliber weapon that s easy to control and less likely to over penetrate the target 15 Also carbines are harder to maneuver in tight encounters where superior range and stopping power at distance are not great considerations Firing the same ammunition as standard issue rifles or pistols gives carbines the advantage of standardization over those personal defense weapons that require proprietary cartridges The modern usage of the term carbine covers much the same scope as it always had namely lighter weapons generally rifles with barrels up to 20 inches 510 mm in length These weapons can be considered carbines while rifles with barrels longer than 20 inches are generally not considered carbines unless specifically named so Conversely many rifles have barrels shorter than 20 inches yet are not considered carbines The AK series rifles has an almost universal barrel length of 16 3 inches 410 mm well within carbine territory yet has always been considered a rifle perhaps because it was designed as such and not shortened from a longer weapon Modern carbines use ammunition ranging from that used in light pistols up to powerful rifle cartridges with the usual exception of high velocity magnum cartridges In the more powerful cartridges the short barrel of a carbine has significant disadvantages in velocity and the high residual pressure and frequently still burning powder and gases when the bullet exits the barrel results in substantially greater muzzle blast Flash suppressors are a common partial solution to this problem although even the best flash suppressors are hard put to deal with the excess flash from the still burning powder leaving the short barrel and they also add several inches to the length of the barrel diminishing the purpose of having a short barrel in the first place Pistol caliber carbines Edit Marlin 1894C 357 Magnum carbine The typical carbine is the pistol caliber carbine These first appeared soon after metallic cartridges became common These were developed as companions to the popular revolvers of the day firing the same cartridge but allowing more velocity and accuracy than the revolver These were carried by cowboys lawmen and others in the Old West The classic combination would be a Winchester lever action carbine and a Colt Single Action Army revolver in 44 40 or 38 40 During the 20th century this trend continued with more modern and powerful smokeless revolver cartridges in the form of Winchester and Marlin lever action carbines chambered in 38 Special 357 Magnum and 44 Special 44 Magnum Modern equivalents include the Ruger Police Carbine and Ruger PC Carbine which uses the same magazine as the Ruger pistols of the same caliber and the discontinued Marlin Camp Carbine which in 45 ACP used M1911 magazines The Ruger Model 44 and Ruger Deerfield Carbine were both carbines chambered in 44 Magnum The Beretta Cx4 Storm shares magazines with many Beretta pistols and is designed to be complementary to the Beretta Px4 Storm pistol The Hi Point 995TS are popular economical and reliable alternatives to other pistol caliber carbines in the United States and their magazines can be used in the Hi Point C 9 pistol Another example is the Kel Tec SUB 2000 series chambered in either 9mm Luger or 40 S amp W which can be configured to accept Glock Beretta S amp W or SIG pistol magazines The SUB 2000 also has the somewhat unusual although not unique ability to fold in half Ruger PC Carbine in 9 19mm Parabellum Kel Tec SUB 2000 carbine in 9 19mm Parabellum The primary advantage of a carbine over a pistol using the same ammunition is controllability The combination of firing from the shoulder longer sight radius 3 points of contact firing hand support hand amp shoulder and precision offer a significantly more user friendly platform Carbines like the Kel Tec SUB 2000 Hi Point 995TS Just Right Carbines JR Carbine and Beretta Cx4 Storm have the ability to mount user friendly optics lights and lasers thanks to them having accessory rails which make target acquisition and engagement much easier Just Right Carbines JC Carbine in 9 19mm Parabellum with 3 9 X 42mm scope and red dot sight The longer barrel can offer increased velocity and with it greater energy and effective range due to the propellant having more time to burn However loss in bullet velocity can happen where the propellant is utilised before the bullet reaches the muzzle combined with the friction from the barrel on the bullet As long guns pistol caliber carbines may be less legally restricted than handguns in some jurisdictions Compared to carbines chambered in intermediate or rifle calibers such as 223 Remington and 7 62 54mmR pistol caliber carbines generally experience less of an increase in external ballistic properties as a result of the propellant The drawback is that one loses the primary benefits of a handgun i e portability and concealability resulting in a weapon almost the size of but less accurate than a long gun but not much more powerful than a pistol Also widely produced are semi automatic and typically longer barreled derivatives of select fire submachine guns such as the FN PS90 HK USC KRISS Vector Thompson carbine CZ Scorpion S1 Carbine and the Uzi carbine In order to be sold legally in many countries the barrel must meet a minimum length 16 inches 410 mm in the US So the original submachine gun in given a legal length barrel and made into a semi automatic transforming it into a carbine Though less common pistol caliber conversions of centerfire rifles like the AR 15 are commercially available Shoulder stocked handgun Edit Mauser C96 Red 9 variant with attached shoulder stock Some handguns used to come from the factory with mounting lugs for a shoulder stock notably including the Broomhandle Mauser C96 Luger P 08 and Browning Hi Power In the case of the first two the pistol could come with a hollow wooden stock that doubled as a holster Carbine conversion kits are commercially available for many other pistols including M1911 and most Glocks These can either be simple shoulder stocks fitted to a pistol or full carbine conversion kits which are at least 26 in 660 mm long and replace the pistol s barrel with one at least 16 in 410 mm long for compliance with the United States law In the US fitting a shoulder stock to a handgun with a barrel less than 16 inches 410 mm long legally turns it into a short barreled rifle which is in violation of the National Firearms Act Legal issues EditUnited States Edit Under the National Firearms Act of 1934 firearms with shoulder stocks or originally manufactured as a rifle and barrels less than 16 in 410 mm in length are classified as short barreled rifles Short barreled rifles are restricted similarly to short barreled shotguns requiring a 200 tax paid prior to manufacture or transfer a process which can take several months Because of this firearms with barrels of less than 16 in 410 mm and a shoulder stock are uncommon A list of firearms not covered by the NFA due to their antique status may be found here 16 or due to their Curio and Relic status may be found here 17 these lists includes a number of carbines with barrels less than the minimum legal length and firearms that are primarily collector s items and are not likely to be used as weapons and therefore are excluded from the provisions of the National Firearms Act Machine guns as their own class of firearm are not subject to requirements of other class firearms Distinct from simple shoulder stock kits full carbine conversion kits are not classified as short barreled rifles By replacing the pistol barrel with one at least 16 in 410 mm in length and having an overall length of at least 26 in 660 mm a carbine converted pistol may be treated as a standard rifle under Title I of the Gun Control Act of 1968 GCA 18 However certain Broomhandle Mauser C96 Luger and Browning Hi Power Curio amp Relic pistols with their originally issued stock attached only may retain their pistol classification Carbines without a stock and not originally manufactured as a rifle are not classified as rifles or short barreled rifles A carbine manufactured under 26 in 660 mm in length without a forward vertical grip will be a pistol and state law notwithstanding can be carried concealed without creating an unregistered Any Other Weapon A nearly identical carbine with an overall length of 26 in 660 mm or greater is simply an unclassified firearm under Title I of the Gun Control Act of 1968 as the Any Other Weapon catch all only applies to firearms under 26 in 660 mm or that have been concealed However a modification intending to fire from the shoulder and bypass the regulation of short barreled rifles is considered the unlawful possession and manufacture of an unregistered short barreled rifle In some historical cases the term machine carbine was the official title for submachine guns such as the British Sten and Australian Owen guns The semiautomatic only version of the Sterling submachine gun was also officially called a carbine The original Sterling semi auto would be classed a short barrel rifle under the U S National Firearms Act but fully legal long barrel versions of the Sterling have been made for the U S collector market citation needed See also Edit Look up carbine in Wiktionary the free dictionary List of carbines Personal defense weapon Short barreled rifleReferences Edit Carbine Dictionary com Retrieved October 8 2014 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Carbine Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press Carbine Merriam Webster Online Dictionary Retrieved September 26 2018 a b Carabin Oxford English Dictionary Carbine Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved September 26 2018 Carbine The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language Fifth ed Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2016 Retrieved September 26 2018 via thefreedictionary com 세총통 細銃筒 한국민족문화대백과사전 encykorea aks ac kr Retrieved 2022 02 25 보물 세총통 細銃筒 국가문화유산포털 문화재청 Heritage Portal CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION in Korean Retrieved 2022 02 25 ENG SUB 세계최초 권총형 총통 세총통 feat 화력대왕 세종 Se Chongtong the Smallest of Korean Hand Cannons retrieved 2022 02 25 Black Jeremy Cambridge Illustrated Atlas Warfare Renaissance to Revolution 1492 1792 Cambridge University Press page 1996 Pritchard Russ A 1 August 2003 Civil War Weapons and Equipment Globe Pequot Press pp 49 41 ISBN 978 1 58574 493 0 Skennerton Ian 2007 The Lee Enfield Gold Coast QLD Australia Arms amp Militaria Press p 90 ISBN 978 0 949749 82 6 Sheehan John 1 October 2006 Battlefield tack driver the model 1903 Springfield in WWI Guns Magazine Retrieved 22 April 2015 Wilson Royce May 2006 Jungle Fever The Lee Enfield 303 Rifle Australian Shooter Magazine a b Gurwitch Jeff December 11 2011 Submachine Guns SMG s Outpaced by Today s Modern Short Barreled Rifles SBR s Sub Carbines or Still a Viable Tool for Close Quarters Battle Close Quarters Combat CQB CQC Defense Review Retrieved September 26 2018 Curios or Relics List Update March 2001 through May 2005 Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Retrieved November 13 2015 Curios or Relics List Update January 2009 through June 2010 Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Retrieved November 13 2015 ATF Rule 2011 4 pertaining to Carbine Conversion Units Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Retrieved November 16 2015 Further reading EditBeard Ross E Carbine the story of David Marshall Williams Williamstown New Jersey Phillips 1997 ISBN 0 932572 26 X OCLC 757855022 Carbines cal 30 carbines M1 M1A1 M2 and M3 Washington D C Headquarters Departments of the Army and the Air Force 1953 McAulay John D Carbines of the Civil War 1861 1865 Union City Tennessee Pioneer Press 1981 ISBN 978 0 913159 45 3 OCLC 8111324 McAulay John D Carbines of the U S Cavalry 1861 1905 Lincoln Rhode Island Andrew Mowbray Publishers 1996 ISBN 0 917218 70 1 OCLC 36087526 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carbine amp oldid 1130997862, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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