"Lock and Load" origin?

[Steelharp]

Always wondered about this. It always seemed backwards to me, for some reason. Then, I came across this:

The most common theory traces this order to the operation of the M1 Garand rifle. Before loading the ammunition clip into the rifle, the operating rod handle is pulled to the rear until the bolt is securely locked open. According to the M1 Garand Manual, loading the clip without first locking the bolt could result in an accidental discharge of a round. In the 1943 training film (Rifle Marksmanship with M1 Rifle) the instructor orders first "Lock" then "Load".

[Oh Shoot]

One credible explanation was that it was indeed originally "load and lock", and that the "lock" part had to do with engaging safety.

From an online forum (by Jim K), to keep me from typing it all as paraphrase:

"To begin with, "lock" has nothing to do with the locking the bolt, or with flintlock muskets. It means to engage the safety, that is to put it in the "ON" position. "Load" means to load a round into the chamber.

In the days of the Model 1903 Springfield, the command was "Load and lock", since the M1903 could not be made safe with the bolt open (the mid-position of the safety was used only for disassembly). The clip was inserted in the clip slot, the rounds stripped into the magazine, and the bolt closed. Then the shooter engaged the safety.

The M1 rifle could be loaded with the safety on, so when it was adopted, the command was reversed. "Lock" meant to engage the safety, and "load" meant (usually) to insert an 8-round clip and load the first round into the chamber."

- OS

[Garufa]

According to the M1 Garand Manual, loading the clip without first locking the bolt could result in an accidental discharge of a round.

That most likely, if you can pull it off, will result in a messed up thumb commonly known and M1 or Garand Thumb. It is very easy to "lock" open the bolt on the follower if you don't pull it back far enough.

[R1100R]

It is reference to locking your magazine into place then loading it by releasing the bolt to allow it to load. Followed by rotate the selector switch to fire and watch your lanes. This is for the Army on current range commands for a qualification range. This is they way it has been done for at least the last 35 years or my tours as a Drill.

The other reason for the command if for prior to going out. IE the wire/safe zone.

According to a good source that trained on the M14 and M1. The weapons were carried non chambered to the range with the bolt closed.

Hence lock was to lock the bolt to the rear and load to insert the e clip to allow it to go forward. On a M14 it was the same reason as listed above for the M16 family of rifles.

Edited November 19, 2011 by R1100R

[Oh Shoot]

It is reference to locking your magazine into place then loading it by releasing the bolt to allow it to load. Followed by rotate the selector switch to fire and watch your lanes. This is for the Army on current range commands for a qualification range. This is they way it has been done for at least the last 35 years or my tours as a Drill. ...

Quite a few references claim that the term did not exist until John Wayne said it in Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), and furthermore, he was actually supposed to say "load and lock", but blew the line and they left it in.

https://www.google.com/search?q=john+wayne+lock+and+load&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

- OS

[UncleJak]

Actually guys, I invented "lock and load " yesterday. I was just sitting at the house thinking of nonsense I could pawn off on others. It came to me in a dream and now "lock and load" is common gun vocabulary. I just wish I would have trademarked it.