Jump to content

XM3 bipod for the M16


Sabrejet
 Share

Recommended Posts

The XM3 "clothes pin" bipod for the M16 rifle, seen here in its carrying case, circa 1970, was designed to provide a stable firing platform for the M16 thus enabling it to be used in the role of a light MG for close range fire support, in the manner of a BAR. The carrying case has a single slide-keeper for attaching it to the equipment belt. I believe the small zippered pouch was intended to carry the rifle's cleaning kit as first generation M16s lacked a butt compartment for this purpose. However, I gather from some of our members who previously served in the US military that the bipod was little used and was eventually dropped from the inventory. Nevertheless, it's an interesting accessory to add to to my VN collection.

 

post-8022-0-00240300-1446536646.jpg

post-8022-0-98248800-1446536654.jpg

post-8022-0-21207600-1446536668.jpg

post-8022-0-00768700-1446536680.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Ian. I'm glad you posted this because it has resurfaced a question that I have had sine I first acqired mine more years ago than I can remember. First, I have never received a difinitive answer of what goes in the zippered pouch. Cleaning kit rod sections? O.K., how many sections and what are their lengths? The rod sections from my M16 cleaning kit are too long and will not fit. Then secondly, what is the long narrow pouch on the side for?

 

I also attach a pic of the nomenclature on my bipod and on the reverse of the case.

 

Thanks, Al

post-12790-0-60387800-1446562829.jpg

post-12790-0-04040900-1446562836.jpg

post-12790-0-47286900-1446562841.jpg

post-12790-0-73361500-1446562847.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great post and full of great information. I found one a couple of years ago and now it sits with my m16 clone that I did up to look like my dad's from Vietnam. I even have some pics of him with his m16 and even with his bipod attached back in 1967.

post-159863-0-34313700-1446575124.jpg

post-159863-0-93304300-1446575138.jpg

post-159863-0-13062400-1446575162.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IIRC, the long thin pocket is for the rod sections and the zippered pouch for bore & chamber brushes, patches, RBC & LSA.

 

I still have 2 of the bipods. 1 I modified so it would fit the thicker M16A2/A4/M4 barrel profile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Linedoggie is correct. The side pouch with the pull over flap is for the two piece cleaning rod that did not last long and are hard to come by. The zippered pouch on the front were for the brushes and the patch packs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Linedoggie is correct. The side pouch with the pull over flap is for the two piece cleaning rod that did not last long and are hard to come by. The zippered pouch on the front were for the brushes and the patch packs.

 

Great information from all. Does anyone have a picture of the two piece cleaning rods and how long they are?

 

Thanks, Al

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2j34l68.jpg

Sorry, I misspoke, it is not a two but a three piece cleaning rod as opposed to the four piece of the newer cleaning kits. I put a newer shorter rod on the ruler for comparison. These three piece rods are shiny, almost look nickle plated.

 

Here are a few more pictures of the rest of the kit.

 

fbye6b.jpg

14k8d42.jpg

zm1pib.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2j34l68.jpg

Sorry, I misspoke, it is not a two but a three piece cleaning rod as opposed to the four piece of the newer cleaning kits. I put a newer shorter rod on the ruler for comparison. These three piece rods are shiny, almost look nickle plated.

 

Here are a few more pictures of the rest of the kit.

 

fbye6b.jpg

14k8d42.jpg

zm1pib.jpg

 

Great pictures Terry. Will the section with the folding handle fit in the pouch to allow the snap closure to close? It looks to be too long, based on measuring mine folded over and snapped shut. The two other rods look fine.

 

Thanks, Al

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I never carried one with my M-16 as it was extra weight. So it stayed in my footlocker until I rotated out. I turned it in with my rifle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was issued one from the Arms Room when I was both a RTO and an Automatic Rifleman in the spring of 1982 in the AK, carried it few times out in the field as I was required to, would got chewed out by all and sundry in the platoon higher ups if I left it behind in the barracks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

post-34986-0-45020600-1378872905.jpg

 

 

Can't see it of course but case on the right rear of my belt, most of the time I just attached it to the side of my ruck. As I recall, the case had none of the stuff posted in the poskets, just the bipod, but having said that I carried no more then two times .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They are a little tight, my pouch has a odd little fold at the bottom preventing it from going further down. But when it is in a different pouch, it's not much looser. I have seen pouches with holes in the flap as they are made tight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 years later...
  • 3 months later...

Unfortunately some of the photos in the thread were links and are no longer valid but I picked up these two cleaning kits yesterday which appear to be a 67 and 68 kit.  However on the 67 kit the rods appear to be too long for the side pouch but I don’t want to open the bag. The XM3 pouch is not dated so I assume it is early 67 or pre 67 as I have found on other forums.  Is this 67 rod the correct rod for this pouch? 

IMG_3944.jpeg

IMG_3942.jpeg

IMG_3939.jpeg

IMG_3941.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...