Harrington and Richardson M4

Combat Aviator Bolt-Action Survival Rifle

United States | 1949

"The M4 Survival Rifle was a USAF development of the Cold War period and issued to American aviators as an game-hunting survival weapon."

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Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/10/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

One of the greatest dangers facing combat pilots is being downed over enemy territory. Having survived the ensuing crash, the pilot must then survive long enough to be rescued in some fashion. In the period following World War 2 (1939-1945), the United States Air Force (USAF) teamed with Harrington and Richardson Arms to develop a portable, small-caliber bolt-action-rifle for issuance to American aviators for the purpose of hunting game - this initiative producing the "M4 Survival Rifle". The company was founded in 1871 and is still in existence today (2022).

Based in the company's existing M265 sporting gun, the M4 was chambered in .22 Hornet and intended for the hunting of varmint-sized animals. It was operated through a manually-actuated bolt-action system (the lever set over the right side of the frame) and its overall arrangement was largely conventional. Design features included a 14"-long smooth, rounded barrel assembly (detachable), fixed iron sights fore and aft (blade and peep, respectively), wire pistol grip and trigger unit, magazine feed, and collapsing wire frame shoulder stock.

Weighing approximately 4 lb, the rifle could be made to have a smaller footprint by sliding the wire stock forwards along channeled blocks affixed to either side of the frame. The detachable magazine (taken from the Savage Stevens M23D) held four ready-to-fire cartridges.

The guns were manufactured in 1949 to the tune of 29,344 units solely for the USAF and Canada. The series was eventually superseded by the "M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon" (detailed elsewhere on this site) of similar battlefield scope.

An example of the M4 Survival Rifle is showcased behind glass at the armory exhibit of the United States Air Force Armament Museum in Florida.

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Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Harrington and Richardson M4. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

4
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

Physical
The physical qualities of the Harrington and Richardson M4. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

812 mm
31.97 in
O/A Length

356 mm
14.02 in
Barrel Length

3.97 lb
1.80 kg
Weight

Manually-Actuated Bolt-Action System.
Action

.22 Hornet
Caliber(s)

4-round detachable box magazine.
Feed

Iron rear peep with front blade.
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Harrington and Richardson M4 Combat Aviator Bolt-Action Survival Rifle family line.

M4 Survival Rifle - Base Series Designation.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Harrington and Richardson M4. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Harrington and Richardson Arms - USA

[ Canada; United States ]

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Image of the Harrington and Richardson M4

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Similar
Developments of similar form-and-function, or related, to the Harrington and Richardson M4 Combat Aviator Bolt-Action Survival Rifle.

Ithaca M6 Survival Rifle

Going Further...
The Harrington and Richardson M4 Combat Aviator Bolt-Action Survival Rifle appears in the following collections:

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