Original Item: Only One Available. The M8 grenade launcher, formally carbine grenade launcher, M8, was a 22 mm rifle grenade launcher attachment for the M1 Carbine that saw use throughout World War II and the Korean War. The M8 is a tube-shaped device, with one end slotting over the barrel of the rifle, the other end holding the grenade in place. Blank cartridges were loaded into the rifle prior to firing. When fired, the expanding gasses generated by the cartridges propelled the grenade forward with considerable force. Fragmentation, anti-armor and smoke grenades were all available for the M8.

This is an excellent condition M8 Grenade launcher. The launcher itself shows little to no sign of use, and still has the original arsenal grease inside much of it. It is clearly marked on the bottom clamp: USCB CO. GRENADE LAUNCHER M8. It measures 6” in length. Note that it was modified with an v notch.

A very rare M1 Carbine grenade launcher in great shape. These do not come by often at all!

The M8 grenade launcher is functionally the same as an M7 Grenade launcher, except it was designed to be mounted on the M1 Carbine, and not the M1 Garand Rifle. It utilizes a different attachment system, and utilizes the .30 Carbine M6 grenade cartridge. Users of the M8 needed to be careful to fire it with the M1 Carbine's stock braced sideways, as the recoil could crack or break the stock.

The M7 grenade launcher was a tube-shaped device with an overall length (including the mounting bracket) of 7.5 inches. One end fitted onto the barrel of the M1 Garand rifle enclosing the muzzle, and was held in place with the rifle's bayonet lug. The other end was cylindrical with a small clip that held the grenade in place by friction. To launch a grenade, a special high-powered cartridge made specifically for the purpose (the .30-06 Springfield M3 grenade cartridge) was chambered in the rifle. Using markings engraved onto the device to determine the desired range, the rifle grenade was slipped over the launcher. When fired, the resulting expanding gases propelled the grenade a considerable distance depending on the grenade type, the vertical angle that the rifle was held, and how far the grenade was positioned onto the launcher.

Fragmentation, anti-tank, and smoke grenades and pyrotechnic signals were available along with an adapter to enable the use of hand grenades. One to three M7 grenade launchers were issued to each rifle squad depending on period. It was also issued to support and headquarters elements.