M6 aircrew survival weapon

Lore & Background

The M6 was originally developed in 1946 for the Air Materiel Command of the United States Army Air Forces by the United States Army Ordnance Corps. It was made of stamped sheet steel with a forged steel removable barrel assembly connected to the stock/action group by a removable hinge pin. Unlike nearly all other firearms, it had no butt stock or forearm; the only non-steel parts were the rubber butt plate and cheek rest. Aircrew were instructed to wrap the barrels with parachute cord as a field expedient fore-stock.

The M6 was a superposed combination gun with a .22 Hornet rifle barrel above a .410 bore shotgun barrel. It folded in half to a minimum size of 15 inches. A storage compartment in the stock held nine rounds of .22 Hornet ammunition and four shotgun shells. A firing pin selector allowed the shooter to choose which barrel would fire. Because most bomber crews operated in the Arctic region during the Cold War, a trigger bar was used that could be depressed while wearing mittens instead of a conventional trigger.

The M6 was issued in conjunction with the M4 Survival Rifle. Plans to replace both with the ArmaLite AR-5 (also known as the MA-1) never came to fruition, and in 2018 the M6 was instead replaced with the GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon in some instances.

Reader's Guide

The M6 aircrew survival weapon represents a specialized niche in military firearms: a compact, lightweight combination gun designed solely for survival rather than combat. Its folding design and storage compartment made it practical for inclusion in standard survival kits for pilots operating over remote Arctic regions. The use of a trigger bar instead of a conventional trigger reflected the practical needs of aircrew wearing heavy mittens in cold climates. Though originally produced only for the US military, the design was later replicated in civilian versions by Springfield Armory (as the M6 Scout), Chiappa, and TPS Arms, each adapting the concept with different calibers and features. The M6's long service life—from 1952 until replacement in 2018—underscores its effectiveness as a survival tool. Its legacy continues through these commercial derivatives, which preserve the basic over-under, folding configuration while updating materials and chamberings for modern users.

Did You Know?

• The M6 was designed to fit into the standard USAAF (later USAF) survival kit for pilots flying over the Arctic.
• It has a trigger bar that can be depressed while wearing mittens, rather than a conventional trigger.