Canvas Muzzle Covers

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    Canvas Parts Markings 1  

Cover, Canvas, Muzzle, 
Rifle or Carbine
Used with the M1 Carbine, M1 Rifle, 03series rifles, shotguns, B.A.R.,  Thompson SMG, and any other small arms. It was used to cover the muzzle and keep dirt and foreign objects out the barrel. There are two snap locations to suit different weapons.

The earliest reference I have found so far for the "Cover, canvas, muzzle, rifle or carbine" is in Quartermaster Depot Units, Aviation book for the Quartermaster School at Camp Lee , VA in late 1943. 
"This publication has not been officially approved by the War Department. It has been prepared and is issued for instructional purposes only." 

What is interesting is that in earlier weapons manuals it states that "the use of canvas or similar covers are prohibited, as they collect moisture and rust the metal." 
This is referring to storage, which is not the purpose of the muzzle covers.
It has been reported from members that storing a carbine with the muzzle cover will promote rusting of the barrel. 

Below are the 38 variations that have been reported thus far, 7 of which we do not have pictures of and are looking for submissions. It is very possible there are other variations or dates. Please let us know if you have something not on the list

The covers were replaced with cellulose tape in 1944, Yet we see 1945 dated covers on the list.
This form of tape was actually in use and formally called nonhygroscopic tape and used for sealing apertures in materiel.

From another thread on the topic
http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/sr-muzzle-covers_topic6466_post53463.html#53463

 Matt_X wrote:

I was not familiar with Tape, Cellulose, Muzzle Cover.
Here's some photos which came from an original package sold on ebay at some point in the past.
Packaging

Box with instructions

Roll of tape

The tape above, as can be seen is Stock number 53-T-1085 Taper, cellulose, muzzle cover, 100 ft. per roll.  
As late as 1954, and probably later,  The tape is listed in "Quartermaster Substitute and Interchangeable Items" with the substitute being stock number 74-C-306 Cover, Canvas, muzzle, carbine or rifle. So though the tape replaced the covers, they were still in use.
The question here is if the covers were using that stock number in the WW2 time period?

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Edited by New2brass - Dec 14 2022 at 8:14pm