M1 grenade adapter

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The M1 grenade projection adapter was a simple add-on that let soldiers fire a hand grenade from an M1 rifle. It used a 22 mm stabilizer tube and prongs to hold a Mk 2 grenade, with a holder that kept the arming lever from releasing until the shot was fired. The unit attached to the 22 mm M7 grenade launcher on the rifle’s muzzle. By firing a high-powered blank, the shock caused the arming lever to release in flight, arming the grenade, which would explode when its fuse ran out. The adapter was considered clumsy but was popular with troops and eventually replaced by the 40 mm M79 launcher. It also replaced the older M17 rifle grenade in many cases.

Other rifles and launchers
- The Springfield M1903 used the M1 rifle grenade launcher.
- The Enfield M1917 used the M2 launcher.
- The M1 Garand used the M7 launcher series.
- The M1 Carbine used the M8 launcher series.
These were designed for different bolt-action or semi-automatic rifles. All launchers shared a set of six rings along their length to show how deeply the grenade was seated; deeper seating (lower numbers) meant higher range and more recoil, with position #6 barely over the muzzle and #1 near the base. “Full” seating meant the grenade was fully seated at the base of the launcher.

M7 booster and M2 chemical adapters
- The M7 Auxiliary Grenade Cartridge boosted the maximum range of rifle grenades.
- The M2 chemical grenade projection adapter was designed to launch cylindrical chemical grenades such as smoke, white phosphorus, and tear gas. The grenade fit into the base’s short prongs; a spring-loaded set-back band kept the arming lever from releasing. The unit mounted on the 22 mm M7 launcher, and after firing a blank, the shock caused the collar to slide off in flight, arming the grenade.