where be duh bolts?

sam colt · February 11, 2013, 04:31 PM

This may be old, if so my apology.
Did anyone notice that during the inauguration day parade that the bolts had been removed from the Marines' M1s. Anybody know the reason why?

southjk · February 11, 2013, 05:12 PM

Wow, I didn't catch that before. I guess Obama doesn't trust the USMC.

Video of it here. Go to about 1:14 and you can see every Marine has no bolt in his rifle.

Brian Pfleuger · February 11, 2013, 05:14 PM

Standard practice.

There are reports of it from the Bush Administration... the Carter Administration....

Bart Noir · February 11, 2013, 07:21 PM

It was to protect our Devil Dogs from Garanditis, otherwise known as M1 Thumb

Bart Noir
Who greatly respects the USMC, the only ones smart enough to keep using the 1911, now called the M45.

Kreyzhorse · February 11, 2013, 07:34 PM

Never noticed that or heard of it before. Don't know why, but I learned something at least.

oldgunsmith · February 11, 2013, 10:56 PM

I thought it was because there wasn't a corpse-man around in case anybody got hurt.

sam colt · February 12, 2013, 12:43 AM

Sorry Brian, but at his 2009 inauguration parade. the Navy's M-14 had bolts. Why the difference?

KMAX · February 12, 2013, 01:14 AM

Maybe Obama or the SS knows how many members of the military feel about him and didn't want to risk it? One rogue Marine with his rifle could wreak a lot of havoc in a short amount of time if he so desired.

9mm · February 12, 2013, 01:58 AM

found link to video to see no bolts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuJRf7HNVSo

Newton24b · February 12, 2013, 07:48 AM

maybe its because every successful presidential assination since 1900 has been done by a marine?

Rainbow Demon · February 12, 2013, 08:13 AM

Back in the 60's a big wig was severely injured when walking past an honor guard.
He had a cold and turned his head to sneeze and a young soldier mistook his movement as being a motion to allow him to inspect his rifle.
The soldier brought his rifle into position to hand it off just as the man sneezed and somehow the bayonet ended up in the big wigs eye.

Been a long time, so I don't remember who the victim was, but I think he was with the defense department or the state department.

Some parade rifles are permanebtly disabled, with the bolt welded shut. Since the Garand is a favorite for firing salutes at funerals or special occasions they are less likely to be welded shut.
Removing the bolt and replacing it later is not difficult. removing the bolt gives a visual cue that the rifle is harmless. Also when the butt is grounded hard the bolt of an autoloader can fly back under inertia and snap shut, distracting the man doing the drill. So its probably best that the bolt either be imovable or removed during drills.

ScottRiqui · February 12, 2013, 08:44 AM

Quote:

maybe its because every successful presidential assination since 1900 has been done by a marine?

Almost, but not quite - you forgot McKinley in 1901.

hardworker · February 12, 2013, 05:59 PM

Probably because the Garands being used are drill rifles.They don't need bolts. Not everything is a conspiracy to disarm people.

Newton24b · February 12, 2013, 06:32 PM

didnt mckinley take a day or two to pass? thats not comepletely successful.

ScottRiqui · February 12, 2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

didnt mckinley take a day or two to pass? thats not comepletely successful.

Eh - dead is dead, even though it took eight days.

Maybe I'm missing the joke, but if you're not including McKinley, then doesn't "every successful presidential assassination since 1900" just mean Kennedy?

MLeake · February 12, 2013, 07:35 PM

Warren Harding may have been poisoned, but I think the suspicions of historical scholars have not fallen on a Marine in Harding's case..

February 11, 2013, 04:31 PM	#1
sam colt Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: nc Posts: 93	where be duh bolts? This may be old, if so my apology. Did anyone notice that during the inauguration day parade that the bolts had been removed from the Marines' M1s. Anybody know the reason why?

February 11, 2013, 05:14 PM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Standard practice. There are reports of it from the Bush Administration... the Carter Administration.... __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

February 11, 2013, 07:21 PM	#4
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	It was to protect our Devil Dogs from Garanditis, otherwise known as M1 Thumb Bart Noir Who greatly respects the USMC, the only ones smart enough to keep using the 1911, now called the M45. __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

February 11, 2013, 07:34 PM	#5
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Never noticed that or heard of it before. Don't know why, but I learned something at least. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

February 12, 2013, 01:14 AM	#8
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	Maybe Obama or the SS knows how many members of the military feel about him and didn't want to risk it? One rogue Marine with his rifle could wreak a lot of havoc in a short amount of time if he so desired. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC! Last edited by KMAX; February 12, 2013 at 01:24 AM.

February 11, 2013, 05:12 PM	#2
southjk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 468	Wow, I didn't catch that before. I guess Obama doesn't trust the USMC. Video of it here. Go to about 1:14 and you can see every Marine has no bolt in his rifle.

February 11, 2013, 10:56 PM	#6
oldgunsmith Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 278	I thought it was because there wasn't a corpse-man around in case anybody got hurt.

February 12, 2013, 12:43 AM	#7
sam colt Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: nc Posts: 93	Sorry Brian, but at his 2009 inauguration parade. the Navy's M-14 had bolts. Why the difference?

February 12, 2013, 01:58 AM	#9
9mm Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 2,834	found link to video to see no bolts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuJRf7HNVSo

February 12, 2013, 07:48 AM	#10
Newton24b Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Posts: 974	maybe its because every successful presidential assination since 1900 has been done by a marine?

February 12, 2013, 08:13 AM	#11
Rainbow Demon Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Posts: 397	Back in the 60's a big wig was severely injured when walking past an honor guard. He had a cold and turned his head to sneeze and a young soldier mistook his movement as being a motion to allow him to inspect his rifle. The soldier brought his rifle into position to hand it off just as the man sneezed and somehow the bayonet ended up in the big wigs eye. Been a long time, so I don't remember who the victim was, but I think he was with the defense department or the state department. Some parade rifles are permanebtly disabled, with the bolt welded shut. Since the Garand is a favorite for firing salutes at funerals or special occasions they are less likely to be welded shut. Removing the bolt and replacing it later is not difficult. removing the bolt gives a visual cue that the rifle is harmless. Also when the butt is grounded hard the bolt of an autoloader can fly back under inertia and snap shut, distracting the man doing the drill. So its probably best that the bolt either be imovable or removed during drills.

February 12, 2013, 05:59 PM	#13
hardworker Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2010 Posts: 820	Probably because the Garands being used are drill rifles.They don't need bolts. Not everything is a conspiracy to disarm people.

February 12, 2013, 06:32 PM	#14
Newton24b Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Posts: 974	didnt mckinley take a day or two to pass? thats not comepletely successful.

February 12, 2013, 07:35 PM	#16
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Warren Harding may have been poisoned, but I think the suspicions of historical scholars have not fallen on a Marine in Harding's case..