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Title:	LAUNCHER, GRENADE -  U.S. CARBINE GRENADE LAUNCHER M8
Maker/Manufacturer:	KNAPP MONARCH
Date of Manufacture:
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 4902
Measurements:	OL: 15.2CM 6"

Object Description:

U.S. CARBINE GRENADE LAUNCHER M8
Manufactured by Knapp Monarch, St. Louis, Missouri - The grenade launcher M8 is used fro launching grenades and ground signals from the cal. 30 carbines, M1, M1A1, or M2. It has a series of rings around the periphery of the tube. Various design changes have been made in the launcher. The most important is the substitution of a coiled spring in place of the retainer to hold the grenade or signal on the launcher. The launcher is attached to the muzzle end of the carbine by a clamp. When firing grenades with the auxiliary cartridge M7 assembled to the launcher, the butt of the carbine should be against a sandbag or rest or its equivalent and turned sidewise to prevent breaking the stock. The cal. .30 M1A1 should not be used for firing grenades except in an emergency. When firing grenades or ground signals from carbine M1A1, the metal stock must be folded and the butt end of the wood stock placed on the ground, trigger facing upward, in order to prevent breakage of the pistol grip. With the grenade in place on the launcher, the rings are used in conjunction with the angle of elevation to determine range. The greater number of rings exposed the shorter the range. As the angle of elevation is increased the range is decreased. Parkerized finish. Launcher weighs approximately 12 oz. Adopted in March 1943.

Markings: K-M CO-M8/LAUNCHER/CARBINE/CAL.-30.

Launcher transferred to the Museum on 8 March 1962. At that time launcher was appraised at $14.00

Notes: "MYTHS & REALITIES:
MYTH: The M1 Grenade Launcher was for use on the M1 rifle.
FACT: The five U.S. rifle grenade launchers used in WW2 with year of adoption are:
Launcher, Grenade, M1 (1940) - for use on M1903 rifles.
Launcher, Grenade, M2 (1940) - for use on M1917 rifles.
Launcher, Grenade, M7 (1943) - and M7A1 (1945) for use on M1 rifles.
Launcher, Grenade, M8 (1943) - for use on M1/M2 Carbines." - The Garand Stand Report, Fall, 2004.

References:
FM23-30, SNL B-39