Plainfield M1 Carbines Calico M1-II Twin Gatling-Style Semi-Auto System
SOLD FOR: $4,625.00
LSB#: LSB250521XX001 / LSB250521XX002
Make: Plainfield Machine Co. (two carbines); Calico Light Weapon Systems (M1-II frame kit)
Model: Plainfield M1 Carbine (mounted in Calico M1-II system)
Serial Number: 35180; 4754
Year of Manufacture: Plainfield carbines estimated 1970s–1980s; Calico M1-II kit c.1984
Caliber: .30 Carbine (7.62×33mm)
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Gatling-Style manually indexed dual-fire system
Barrel Length: 19″
Sights / Optics: Both carbines retain original front sight posts and adjustable rear aperture sights.
Markings: Each Plainfield receiver and barrel flat is marked with its respective serial number and Plainfield manufacturing marks. The Calico M1-II frame kit is appropriately marked for Calico Light Weapon Systems and consistent with factory production circa 1984. The original shipping crate bears Calico stenciling and hardware.
Configuration & Accessories: This lot includes two functional Plainfield M1 Carbines mounted side-by-side in the original Calico M1-II manually cranked dual-mount frame, the original Calico tripod, two 30-round magazines, the original Calico wooden shipping crate, and period Calico promotional materials consisting of a factory “Rapid Fire Weapon System” advertisement, the original factory instruction “NOTE” sheet, and a Calico-branded folder/marketing insert referencing military and law-enforcement applications.
Finish Originality: Original on all components. The Calico frame shows handling wear consistent with use; the carbines exhibit scattered finish wear and handling marks in keeping with age. The hardwood stocks remain intact with no visible cracks or repairs.
Bore Condition: The bores are semi-bright with strong rifling and light fouling. In this writer’s opinion, both bores rate 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: Good to Very Good. The Calico frame and tripod are mechanically sound with moderate handling wear and expected patina. The Plainfield carbines present honest service wear consistent with period use; stocks, metal, and hardware are intact and stable. The wooden crate shows expected aging but retains original hardware and stenciling. The accompanying promotional materials are unusually well-preserved and add significant provenance and display value.
Mechanics: The Calico crank system operates as designed, alternately actuating each carbine’s trigger when properly seated in the mount. Relist note: For full function, each carbine must be set forward in its cradle approximately one inch so the crank pawls reach the trigger shoes. As currently displayed, the rifles are just forward of the proper seating point, preventing the Pom-Pom action from fully engaging. A savvy operator will recognize this adjustment. Both rifles function properly under manual checks, and the mount and tripod remain solid. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning and inspection by a qualified gunsmith is recommended prior to firing.
Our Assessment: The Calico M1-II is a striking Cold War curiosity — a dual-carbine, crank-operated system designed to replicate Gatling-style fire using two semi-automatic M1 Carbines. Marketed in the 1980s as a rapid-fire solution for military and law enforcement, it never saw wide adoption, but its mechanical novelty and eccentric design secured its place in the pantheon of collectible oddities.
This example is remarkable for completeness. Not only does it include the tripod, crate, and dual mount, but it retains promotional materials seldom encountered today. For collectors of experimental systems, multi-barrel novelties, or Cold War-era ingenuity, this package represents one of the most desirable surviving examples of the M1-II system.
It is at once a functioning firearm system, a display-worthy collector’s centerpiece, and a conversation piece guaranteed to draw attention. This is a rare chance to own one of the most unusual firearm kits ever marketed in America. So bid high and bid firm. I highly encourage you to take a look at the condition of the revolver in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.
