Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

1950 - 1968, M38, M38A1, M170, modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial field mods.
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:34 am

It is all conjecture at this point, the M-38A1 was still in use after the introduction of the Nam issue rifle holder, and it is very probable that M-38A1 Jeeps still in use in combat areas may have had them installed. The greatest hurdle is overcoming the urge to drill new holes in an intact M-38A1 that is more original or accurate in appearance without the rifle rack. The Rifle holdersare not mentioned as items of issue inany of the M-38A1 supply manuals.
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by WesG » Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:07 pm

If it's early, like around 1960, I'd be good with that.

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by BlitzAttack » Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:24 pm

Anybody know who still sells these?

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:41 pm

Check the supplyline ads, Adirondack Surplus, BMG, and Beltfed who is a fellow G-503'er.
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by muttguru » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:50 pm

Hello folks,

just to mention that so far, I've never seen any instruction authorising the installation of a rifle holder on the M38A1. I have, however, seen instructions that specifically rule out an installation.

Has anyone found any evidence that gives the go-ahead?

Kind regards....
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:59 pm

Have never seen any evidence of rifle racks on the M-38A1, the Nam period ones look like hell. We always just set our Carbines, and Garands some where handy as they were never out of reach inside the Jeep.
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by Greg Lalonde » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:22 pm

i have two mounted in my 1952 m38a1.one on the wind shield frame and one mounted in front of the m31c pedestal mount, between the driver and passenger seat,mounted vertically.i carry two m-14s.installed by gregs motor pool. they look and work great.i have seen pictures of them mounted this way from the late 1950s.

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:53 pm

We had them in most of our 151s in several units I was in, so why not in an M38A1. If it was mine, I would not hesitate to install one. Or two. I got a set from Vintage Power Wagons.
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by 70th Division » Sun Aug 22, 2021 8:56 am

Hello,

That WW2 type M1 Rifle holder mounted on the windshield of that Danish Jeep is pretty nice.
It in fact held the M1 Garand Rifle
that was standard issue in Denmark.
The Danes took excellent care of all their M1 Garands !
A proper Rifle holder tends to do that, giving protection to the Rifle, and easy access for the Jeep crew.
Several years back, the Danish M1 Garand supply was returned to the USA via the CMP.
I bought several of them, pretty much in perfect condition, inside and out.
Very well maintained !!

I will likely use the leather M1 strap on scabbard as used in WW2 before a production Rifle holder was manufactured and standardized.
I plan to strap 2 in over the rear wheel wells, one over each wheel well. They should work perfectly !


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by muttguru » Sun Aug 22, 2021 9:46 am

Here's the spec on rifle brackets in the M38A1.

TB9-2300-209-20 of 11-Jun-1959 states that rifle brackets are not appropriate to the M38A1 Note the date. That TB was never rescinded for the M38A1.

The M151 introduced in 1960 WAS authorised to have the brackets.
It's your jeep so you can do what you want but if you are after historical accuracy, don't fit brackets. :)

Ken

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Aug 22, 2021 6:54 pm

If I wanted one, I would put it in the same place it goes on the M606, and WW2 Dodges; on the left side of the dash, vertically. Like this one on my M606:
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by 70th Division » Mon Aug 23, 2021 8:27 pm

Hello,

Thanks !
That is great information !!
It seems every Army Jeep had a provision to hold that most important item, safe and secure, except the M38A1.
That really makes no sense at all, because the Rifle would be bouncing all around, and getting damaged at all times.
But since it appears their was no provision for one, a big oversight in my opinion, I would guess that maybe they "could" have bagged the rifle in a canvas zip up, padded pouch . I have seen plenty of them around. But I wouldn't want to trash an M1 by just laying it on the floor.

Plus unlike that article writer, there is plenty of room to add rifle mounts if needed.
See the Danish Jeep :
willysm38a1_1(1).jpg
The Canadians also had rifle mounts.

The US could have even mounted WW2 type holders vertically behind the seat attached to the side of the wheel wells. That would allow easy access for driver, passenger, or rear rider to grab a secured rifle.
The rifle would be in a perfect position to be reached by the driver, and co driver.
The one little wiggle room in the article above is, "if the Commander ordered to add rifle holders to all the vehicles.
But it is a surprise that these great jeeps were not officially provided with a rifle storage mount !

I wonder if there was any Nato bulletins allowing a way to mount rifles in Germany based US Army M38a1 jeeps ?

Elvis had a .30 Browning on an M31-C mount.
I did find a pic of Elvis with his M1 laying propped up in his jeep.
Elvis-in-HQ31-Jeep-Soldier-Boy-Elvis(1).jpg
6e8a462992852edc887eb447408e0154--moving-out-running-away.jpg
I will study some ETO pics of these jeeps.

That carbine you mounted on your rare jeep looks great !!!

On the M38A1 it would have to go to the passenger side, as it would block the glove box.


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by Frank USMC » Mon Aug 30, 2021 1:38 pm

I am not near my M38A1C now, but dpcd67, if you mounted on the left side of the dash board, would that block the glove box door on the M38A1 series jeeps?
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I can check later as I have a few of the mounts just to set in the jeep

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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by dpcd67 » Thu Sep 02, 2021 1:57 pm

Ray already said that; and, yes, I forgot about the glove box. I never drive my 38A1; too modern looking.
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Re: Universal Rifle Rack location in an M38A1?

Post by mdainsd » Fri Oct 29, 2021 7:50 am

I cant imagine a worse place to mount it than on the left side of the dash vertically. Makes getting in and out all the more cumbersome and the rifle takes abuse.
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