PAGE 4
“Grease Gun”

Field stripping the M3A1 Carbine
The M3A1carbine can be field stripped by the following steps.

1. Ensure removing the magazine unloads the weapon. Pull the bolt to the rear and look into the chamber to make sure there is no cartridge in there. Let the bolt go forward. Put the weapon on Safe (the 9 o’clock position).

2. Remove the two silver take down pins on the lower receiver. Slide the lower receiver to the rear and separate from the upper receiver.

3. Unscrew the Allen head set screw on the bottom of the receiver and unscrew the barrel from the upper receiver.

4. Withdraw the bolt, springs and spring guides.

5. Assemble in reverse order.

The carbine is easy to field strip and clean. Valkyrie Arms provides an instruction manual for this. The only small part is the barrel set screw and the only tool needed was the provided Allen head wrench.

With the spring guide assembly kept in one piece the M3A1 carbine field strips into8 pieces including the 2 take down and the barrel set screw.

Summary
At a cost of $750 dollars ($850 for the fake suppressor barrel version) the M3A1 carbine seems pricey but it is a low production, almost semi custom gun. Also it is about half the cost of the new HK USC .45 carbine.

To use this carbine as a serious defensive weapon, I would have the sights changed. I would have an adjustable ghost ring rear installed for iron sights. I’m sure a competent gunsmith could attach a weaver rail on the top of the receiver and mount any number of optics that would make the M3A1 carbine competitive with the HK USC .45. I would also ensure that I had a supply of magazines that would easily insert and remove from the carbine.

I think the Valkyrie Arms M3A1 carbine is interesting and fun to shoot. Balloons, watermelons or Osama Bin Laden targets would be a great afternoon of shooting entertainment. It will appeal strongly to WWII and Military history buffs, well-heeled plinkers, and those Walter Mitty types who cannot afford, or legally procure, the M3A1 submachine gun. For many shooters, it is as close to an M3A1 submachine gun as they will get. I would like to see a refined model correct the omissions of the stock guide tubes, oilier in the pistol grip, and geometry of the lower receiver. I would like to see a STEN type suppressor cover for the fake suppressor barrel.

It is reliable, durable, and powerful enough for close range self defense. These were strong points of the M3A1 submachine gun and the carbine is a worthy successor to this legacy. I feel I could effectively engage targets to 50 meters. The carbine uses 30 round magazines that are inexpensive and commonly available. Sights, weight, and limited range prevent it from being an effective hunting or foraging gun. In fairness, it was never designed to be one.

I consider it’s faults minor and I really liked the M3A1 carbine (Walter Mitty is myself in this case). Valkyrie Arms has done a good job in bringing to the market something that was previously unavailable. Similar to the Thompson Model 1927A1 carbine, or a vintage military weapon, it’s easy to lose oneself in the history and nostalgia of this piece. Plastic soda bottles and aluminum cans transform themselves into charging SS troopers at the Battle of the Bulge, Reds at the 38th Parallel, or Charlie in the wire. In any case the Valkyrie Arms M3A1 carbine will deal with them as did its ancestor, the M3A1 submachine gun.

PAGE 1 2 3 4

BACK TO TOP