Does anyone no about the invention of the carbine from a prisoner and wood? There was a movie on this but I forget the name. If I remember right this is from a 1960's American Rifleman . Enjoy,, Rick
Rick, although I can't cite the source, I read in an authoritative book that the "prisoner inventing the M1 carcine" story was an "urban legend". If you want me to look, I can.
Mr. Williams played a small part in the development of the carbine,the short-stroke piston and something else,that escapes me now. From what I have heard,he was hired by Winchester,(I think),and was kind of a pain-in-the-*****,wanting full recognition of it's development.
James Stuart played David "Marshall" Williams in the movie Carbine Williams. In the movie Stuart gets put into solitary and comes up with the idea of his short stroke piston design. Later he is working in the prison workshop and builds a rifle that the warden allows him to shoot right there in prision! Gotta love Hollywood! I never did find out how much of the movie was true. I can guess a good bit of it was, because I believe that Williams was alive at the time and I am sure they try to get it right, or close....you know, for Hollywood.
Here is the story and he was in prison. Go to this page and get a brief history on him. ANd below is a bit on his brother who is still alive and a little bit more about Carbine Williams. Rick B
