Rewatching the episode, is the rifle Ethan holds up to John Locke the same as the ones the British soldiers have in TL?

Rewatching the episode, is the rifle Ethan holds up to John Locke the same as the ones the British soldiers have in TL?

Not the same rifle, but now you've made me curious. Havent identified Ethan's in a quick search, but may take it up again tomorrow if I have the time. His may simply be something not terribly indicative of a certain time frame or carrying any extra information with it, but I can tell you this:

Took a few moments to research the rifle. It appears that Jones had an M1 Garand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Garand_rifle

Came into service in the US in 1936 and saw use in WWII and later the Korean and Vietnam wars, so my guess is that places Jones and company in WWII post-1942 in the Pacific Theater. Its interesting to note that the rifle saw use in Australia "in small numbers by specialist troops and Australian army units attached to US ground units in the Pacific Theater." Might explain Jones' accent, even if they didnt quite get it right. I'm thinking they were intended to be Australian.

The best of the screen shots I took when trying to identify it:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c299/aeralure/jones.jpg

A better picture than found on wiki:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c299/aeralure/M1_garand.jpg

In the screenshot from the show, you can clearly see the distinctive front sight, the gas cylinder and bayonet stud below the barrel and the front hand guard. Rest of it looks right.

And then here is Ethan's:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c299/aeralure/ethan_rifle.jpg

Thank you for the photos. The two rifles look very similar though not exactly the same. I'm a weapons idiot and could use the help of some who know better.

Thank you for the photos. The two rifles look very similar though not exactly the same. I'm a weapons idiot and could use the help of some who know better.

I'm a weapons idiot too, actually. I know you hold one end and the other end shoots. :D I hardly know much more than that. I'm a graphic designer and a capable researcher that likes a good mystery. I've an eye for details. Looked like an interesting challenge so I thought I'd take it on. Turned out not to take that long to find the answer (you have to love Google and Wiki). It was a very funny moment for me last night when John quoted the exact make and model of the rifle! Haha.

You'll notice the main difference is that Ethan's rifle does not have the gas canister beneath (looks like a second barrel below the main barrel) as well as has a smaller, more normal looking sight.

Anyway, glad I could help you some. I havent taken up part II of the challenge yet to identify Ethan's because his is harder to place in time, as well as has less distinguishingly unique features about it. Might still give it a whirl though.

Ethan's rifle in the picture that you provided the link to is a M1 carbine. It is a shorter, lighter rifle
than the M1 Garand, which is indeed the rifle in the other link you posted. This is also the same
type of rifle that the girl that takes Daniel Fairaday to the H bomb has.

The carbine fires a smaller less powerful round than the Garand, and was intended to be an arm
for rear area personnel, such as cooks, truck drivers, ect., that needed to be armed with more than the Colt 1911 pistol, but whose duties made carrying
around a full-sized Garand inpractical.

Regards,

Scott