David Marshall (Carbine) Williams

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georgel

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While researching another thread I ended up reading on Carbine Williams. I guess I never bothered, because I had the Jimmy Stewart version in my head. I didn't realize his story goes beyond the M-1 carbine. He did work for Colt, Remington, Winchester as well as the US Ordinance Dept. You know that 1911 .22 conversion that Colt used to offer, the one that had the floating chamber to simulate recoil? That was his design. The Benelli inertia action shotguns, like the M1 Super90, reference his patents.

He was a trouble maker from the start. But, he was local Cumberland County boy. And as coincidence would have it, during his final year's ('72-'75) he was in Dorthea Dix Hospital. During a few of those same years I was literally straight across the road (Western Blvd.) at NCSU in Becton dorm.

Anyway, for this curious or bored enough to read, here's the Wiki...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Marshall_Williams
 
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There was a "permanent" display of his workshop at one of the downtown Raleigh museums. I dont remember which one or if its still there but more than likely its temporarily closed due to the Kung Flu. The Remington 550, made for 30 years was a Carbine Williams creation, floating chamber and all. https://www.remington.com/firearm-history/model-550
There was also a 20 to 30 minute video that Lee Kinard did when Carbine was still alive that you could buy at the museum. A friend of mine bought it and it wouldnt play on his DVD player but would play on a PC DVD player. The Carbine designed and built 22 belt fed machine gun is featured in the video.
 
The man that wrote his life story and spent Alot of time with him was from Camden, S.C. if I remember correctly. He had a ton of Carbine's stuff at his place.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
The man that wrote his life story and spent Alot of time with him was from Camden, S.C. if I remember correctly. He had a ton of Carbine's stuff at his place.
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he’s got a ton of guns in that museum as well

Ross E. Beard JR. The only reason David Marshall Williams agreed to talk to him was because of how he signed his letter: “REB”

Mr Beard is on up there in age and he signed this book the same way for me a few years ago:

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Mr Beard came from Florence SC and was a neighbor of famed FBI agent Melvin Purvis (hunted and/or caught John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Baby Face Nelson. My dad went to school with one of his sons), helping him to maintain his large firearms collection
 
Very interesting story, thanks. Led me down a few more rabbit holes.
 


Forgotten Weapons channel don't seem to like him very much. I got no dog in that fight.

One thing interesting about his life was how he went to prison. I like to tell people his story when I explain what "presentism" is, and why we can't just say that all people in the past were racist, it's more complicated than that.
 
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jimmyjames8 said:
. The Carbine designed and built 22 belt fed machine gun is featured in the video.
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Back in the late 80s early 90s, there was a guy that used to show up at either the greensboro or Raleigh gun show that had a belt fed 22. Was this the same one ?
 
Last time I was at the NC History Museum was about a year ago, but they had Carbine Williams workshop set up inside. You could see the tools he used, along with some of his prototypes and various projects he worked on.
 
RedneckFur said:
Last time I was at the NC History Museum was about a year ago, but they had Carbine Williams workshop set up inside. You could see the tools he used, along with some of his prototypes and various projects he worked on.
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That was always my favorite part of that museum.
 
A good friend of mine knew Marshall Williams. Gene's grandfather owned the blacksmith's shop in Godwin where Williams worked as a teenager.
 
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The Winchester Model 50 shotgun is another Carbine Williams design that's pretty easy to find and doesn't sell for too much on the used market. Another example of his many floating-chamber designs.

Supposedly, the ATF took issue with the first attempt at the design because it could be assembled and fired with no barrel, just the chamber piece, making it a short-barreled-shotgun.

Certainly the guy was an interesting character and a product of a different time.
 
B00ger said:
The movie was great, but about as accurate as comparing Disneys Alladin to the life of Salahadin.
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Obscure reference noted and researched. Under "How did Salahadin die?" Who volunteers to give me the bloodletting and clysters when I get the Covids?
 
cold1 said:
Back in the late 80s early 90s, there was a guy that used to show up at either the greensboro or Raleigh gun show that had a belt fed 22. Was this the same one ?
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Bought my house in Oak Ridge NC a few years ago and a neighbor told me about the original owner. Found this book in the garage. Interesting book. He was friends with carbine Williams and invented the belt fed 22 on the cover. He was known for being a moonshiner, and also owning Lisk Lures in Greensboro NC.
 

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Chad said:
Bought my house in Oak Ridge NC a few years ago and a neighbor told me about the original owner. Found this book in the garage. Interesting book. He was friends with carbine Williams and invented the belt fed 22 on the cover. He was known for being a moonshiner, and also owning Lisk Lures in Greensboro NC.
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Thats him. Thanks. I was beginning to think I was nuts because I couldn't find anything about the guy or the gun.
 
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