We traveled all over the eastern part of the U.S. in 1969-1970, and we frequently met other drill platoons from the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Most of the platoons stationed in the Washington, D.C. area were armed with M1 Garands. Exception was the the 3rd Army "Old Guard", and they had M14's.
To a man, all had stocks which were hand-finished, and altered to the individual's hands. Almost everyone had a cut-down, straight grip. Rifles are much easier to handle, especially when doing multiple spins, so-called "monkey drills", under- and over-hand tossing, etc. Of course, the down side is the rifle wrist is weakened from wood removal, and occasionally, the stock broke when the butt was tapped on the ground a bit hard.
We never used a bayonet-fixing drill. We always had bayonets fixed when we formed up, and we even used electrician's tape to insure they wouldn't come off the rifle if the stud cracked. Once we got used to it, the rifle was perfectly balanced with the bayonet fixed, and bayonet-less rifles seemed out of whack.
Once you got assigned a place in the line, it was just a matter of learning the various steps, and silent counts. Our POIC commanded, "Forward March", "Platoon Halt"; and on a silent two count, we did an eighteen minute silent drill routine, and finished by forming an anchor; and the anchor stock formed provided a 7-gun salute. Quite impressive in a school gym, or a small auditorium.
