WW2 cleaning rods
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 12:39 am
Let's just get it out first and move on. As weird as it sounds, there is no sectional cleaning rod for the M1 rifle. Speaking of WW2 as the M10 came later. I'll diagram it.
For the M-1903, and M-1917, rifles, the sectional M-1916 and one piece M-1916 existed. With Ordnance changing to the MX model system in 1925, the M1 cleaning rod was the first under that model system. It's the sectional machine gun cleaning rod. The M2 was the one piece for machine guns. Machine guns have longer barrels than the M1 rifle, and thus it's too long for the rifle.
The M3 was the one-piece rod for the M1 rifle. See the note? (M3 cleaning rod only). Also the other note? (If longer cleaning rod than M3 rod is used, a rag should be stuffed in the breech to protect the face of the bolt). The M1 and M2A1 are too long.
M4. DWG C64102. The cleaning rod in the M-1912 pistol cleaning kit.
M5. DWG C64183. .45 caliber SMGs.
M6. .50BMG DWG unknown.
M7. DWG D35441. .50BMG
M8. DWG D44045. M1 carbine.
No sectional cleaning rod for the M1 rifle.
Carbine cleaning rod. M8.
Assembled. Handle section, short middle section, patch tip. The M1 had a longer middle section and the end section had an integrated slot for patches.
Now it makes sense right?
- m1andm2-1.jpg (61.5 KiB) Viewed 1433 times
For the M-1903, and M-1917, rifles, the sectional M-1916 and one piece M-1916 existed. With Ordnance changing to the MX model system in 1925, the M1 cleaning rod was the first under that model system. It's the sectional machine gun cleaning rod. The M2 was the one piece for machine guns. Machine guns have longer barrels than the M1 rifle, and thus it's too long for the rifle.
- m3.jpg (108.53 KiB) Viewed 1433 times
The M3 was the one-piece rod for the M1 rifle. See the note? (M3 cleaning rod only). Also the other note? (If longer cleaning rod than M3 rod is used, a rag should be stuffed in the breech to protect the face of the bolt). The M1 and M2A1 are too long.
M4. DWG C64102. The cleaning rod in the M-1912 pistol cleaning kit.
M5. DWG C64183. .45 caliber SMGs.
M6. .50BMG DWG unknown.
M7. DWG D35441. .50BMG
M8. DWG D44045. M1 carbine.
No sectional cleaning rod for the M1 rifle.
- m8-2.jpg (50.97 KiB) Viewed 1433 times
Carbine cleaning rod. M8.
- m8-1.jpg (29.55 KiB) Viewed 1433 times
Assembled. Handle section, short middle section, patch tip. The M1 had a longer middle section and the end section had an integrated slot for patches.
Now it makes sense right?