A Different Kind of Firepower
During World War II, the U.S. military faced a challenge: how to teach thousands of new recruits the mechanics of firearms quickly and clearly. Their solution was unexpected—build fully functioning training weapons at twice the normal size.
Training Tools You Couldn’t Miss
These oversized models were detailed, hands-on replicas of real guns, made at 2:1 scale. They didn’t fire, but their parts moved just like the originals. With cutaways and enlarged components, instructors could demonstrate every function to large groups all at once.
From M1 Garand to Browning Beasts
The lineup included the M1 Garand, M1918 BAR, M2 Carbine, and even the massive M2 Browning. The Training Aid M23 (BAR) reached 93 inches long, while the M24 (Garand) measured 86 inches. The M2 Browning model was so huge it used an electric motor to simulate firing.
Surplus Giants
Used through the Vietnam War, these tools faded as their real counterparts left service. Many were sold off, some ending up in gun shops and private collections. Today, they’re rare historical curiosities—reminders of an outsized training effort that helped arm a nation.
