Lock and Load?
- Thread starter Geoff B
- Start date
Copied from WordOrigins.org
This imperative phrase originally referred to the operation of the M1 Garand Rifle, the standard U.S. Army rifle of WWII. Its meaning is more general now, referring to preparation for any imminent event.
To load a Garand, the bolt would be locked to the rear and a clip of ammunition loaded into the receiver. The command lock and load was immortalized by John Wayne in the 1949 movie The Sands of Iwo Jima:
Lock and load, boy, lock and load.
There are earlier uses of the command reversed, load and lock. This command, primarily used on firing ranges, referred to the loading of a single round into the Garand (or into another weapon). In this case, the lock referred to striking the bolt handle with the heel of the hand to ensure it was fully closed and locked into place. From Gene Gach’s 1942 In The Army Now:
One round, ball ammunition, load and lock!
There is even an instance of this usage going back the Spanish-American War; although it’s not certain if this was a phrase current at the time or just a coincidental use of the words. From the Annual Reports of the War Department, 1900, a dispatch from the Philippines, 15 June 1899:
The line was under strong long-range fire and the order was given to load and lock the pieces; investigation proved that the white objects seen were the marines returning to their ship.
The term lock in this phrase is a different use of the word than in references to the firing mechanism of a weapon, as in flintlock.
http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/comments/lock_and_load/
This imperative phrase originally referred to the operation of the M1 Garand Rifle, the standard U.S. Army rifle of WWII. Its meaning is more general now, referring to preparation for any imminent event.
To load a Garand, the bolt would be locked to the rear and a clip of ammunition loaded into the receiver. The command lock and load was immortalized by John Wayne in the 1949 movie The Sands of Iwo Jima:
Lock and load, boy, lock and load.
There are earlier uses of the command reversed, load and lock. This command, primarily used on firing ranges, referred to the loading of a single round into the Garand (or into another weapon). In this case, the lock referred to striking the bolt handle with the heel of the hand to ensure it was fully closed and locked into place. From Gene Gach’s 1942 In The Army Now:
One round, ball ammunition, load and lock!
There is even an instance of this usage going back the Spanish-American War; although it’s not certain if this was a phrase current at the time or just a coincidental use of the words. From the Annual Reports of the War Department, 1900, a dispatch from the Philippines, 15 June 1899:
The line was under strong long-range fire and the order was given to load and lock the pieces; investigation proved that the white objects seen were the marines returning to their ship.
The term lock in this phrase is a different use of the word than in references to the firing mechanism of a weapon, as in flintlock.
http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/comments/lock_and_load/
The Wizard
CGN Regular
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
If my memory serves me right as an Range OIC my commands were: "READY ON THE RIGHT", "READY ON THE LEFT", READY ON THE FIRING LINE", "LOCK AND LOAD ONE THIRTY (TWENTY) ROUND MAGAZINE", "WATCH YOUR LANE". In this context "LOCK" means to insert a loaded magazine into the rifle's (M14/M16A1) magazine well and make sure it is secure. "LOAD" means to retract the bolt and chamber a round of ammunition.
The army uses many terms held over from CENTURIES past. They still call standard ammunition "BALL" ammo and they haven't used REAL BALL ammunition since 1865.
The army uses many terms held over from CENTURIES past. They still call standard ammunition "BALL" ammo and they haven't used REAL BALL ammunition since 1865.
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I believe that the term "ball' ammunition came from the French "balle" that they named their new bullet being the first jacketed or coated bullet.
We of course just applied it to the English "ball" meaning a jacketed or coated bullet.
Interesting how these terms arise...
We of course just applied it to the English "ball" meaning a jacketed or coated bullet.
Interesting how these terms arise...
lock & load is a american term. not for the ranges, more as a section (squad) term befor a gaurd duty, safe patrol ect. refers to the m16. the m16 is cocked (because the m16 cant be put on safe unless cocked) put on safe, then the mag is loaded. lock (make safe) load (load). other wise men are walking around with the rifle on semi or aoto with a mag that maybe loaded or empty. SAFETY
This is a widely misunderstood phrase, that many people attribute (wrongly) to John Wayne in the 1949 movie "The Sands of Iwo Jima", reversing the US military firing line instructions as from "Load and Lock" to "Lock and Load" because it sounded better.
However, I have also heard that the original US Army field manual on the M1 Garand gave instructions for loading En Bloc clips as to first LOCK the bolt back, the LOAD the En-Block clip. Hence, "Lock and Load".
There does not seem to be a definitive answer on this, and I lost the PDF copy of the M1 Garand manual I had that confirmed this. Someone should be able to google it.
However, I have also heard that the original US Army field manual on the M1 Garand gave instructions for loading En Bloc clips as to first LOCK the bolt back, the LOAD the En-Block clip. Hence, "Lock and Load".
There does not seem to be a definitive answer on this, and I lost the PDF copy of the M1 Garand manual I had that confirmed this. Someone should be able to google it.
i just gave you a answer, from time served with the u.s. army, 80's & 90's. not read from a manual, not seen in a movie, real active service. the actual term may have been used befor vietnam but it was used alot in that time frame and carried on until the early 90's.
- Location
- Northern Ontario, Canada
They're trying to figure out its origin, not everywhere it was used.
Lock and Load if Flintlock term!
Really guys! Wizard was right. The term dates from the early 18th century and is the command for loading your musket. 1 - lock hammer at half-#### (some had dogs to positively engage this) 2 - tear open paper cartridge and place a few grains in the pan, close frizzen 3 - pour remaining powder down barrel 4 - wad paper up, insert in muzzle, top with ball 5 - ram the ball and wad down. Naturally you remove the ramrod and replace it under the barrel. Now go to full #### and fire on command. The term has merely continued in use as a convenient term, all else is modern distortion. Check Forester's novels of the Iberian campaign to find the term in use in Wellington's army.
Dr Jim
Really guys! Wizard was right. The term dates from the early 18th century and is the command for loading your musket. 1 - lock hammer at half-#### (some had dogs to positively engage this) 2 - tear open paper cartridge and place a few grains in the pan, close frizzen 3 - pour remaining powder down barrel 4 - wad paper up, insert in muzzle, top with ball 5 - ram the ball and wad down. Naturally you remove the ramrod and replace it under the barrel. Now go to full #### and fire on command. The term has merely continued in use as a convenient term, all else is modern distortion. Check Forester's novels of the Iberian campaign to find the term in use in Wellington's army.
Dr Jim
The Wizard
CGN Regular
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
FM 23-8, M14 and M14A1 Rifles and Rifle Marksmanship, Dated April 1974, Chapter 9 Record Fire, Section II Record Fire - Daytime, Paragraph 98 Conduct of Fire, (f) Fire Commands the following is written "LOCK; WITH ONE MAGAZINE OF TEN ROUNDS, LOAD. WATCH YOUR LANES.
