Why is everything an M1?

[CHS]

M1 Garand
M1 Carbine
M1A = M14

Why is everything an M1? And when and why did the civvy M14 become an M1A? (ok, I guess the 'why' is so that there is no full-auto confusion, but still)

Why didn't the M1 carbine get its own designation?

[AC Gould]

Because....

The government has no imagination.

[Casual Observer]

You forgot the M1 Thompson submachine gun.

The military switched from a year based designator (1903 Springfield, 1917 Enfield, 1911A1, etc) to a chronological designator just prior to WWII.

United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 was the first rifle to be adopted by the military using this new system.

The same applies to the M1 Carbine, the M1 Submachine gun, etc.

The same thing happened to US military aircraft in the late 1950's and early 1960's. That's why the aircraft go from a F-105 to F-4.

[Saigon1965]

Where did they get M9 from?

[vrylak]

There's also the M1A1 Abrams tank.

[ar15barrels]

Dupe...

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=102084

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Dupe...

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...d.php?t=102084

Trip...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ad.php?t=36920