US WWII Inland Division General Motors M-1 Carbine .30 Cal Rifle 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,425
WOA#: WY240302RL002
Make: Inland Division of General Motors
Model: M-1 Carbine
Serial Number: 888809
Year of Manufacture: Receiver 1943, Barrel dated December 1950
Caliber: .30 Cal Carbine
Action Type: Semi-Automatic
Markings:
The top of the receiver is marked, “U.S. CARBINE / CAL. 30 M1 / INLAND DIV. / 888809”.
The magazine release is marked “M”.
The right side of the rear sight is marked with the Shield “H”.
The right side of the trigger group is marked with the Inland logo. The bottom of the trigger group is marked with “LGK ST / 1441”. Those markings denote use by the Landes Gendarmerie Kommando (Rural Police) of Steiermark located in Southeastern/Central Austria during the US occupation period 1945-55. As soon as the US occupation began, the Austrian Gendarmerie were issued US M-1 Carbines for patrolling the countryside.
The left side of the hammer is marked “IH”.
The slide is unmarked.
The barrel band assembly is marked “KI”.
The top of the barrel is marked “P” just behind the front sight, along with ”S A 12 50”, denoting manufacture by Springfield Armory in December 1950 (making the barrel a post-war replacement), and an Ordnance Department “crossed cannons” cartouche. The barrel is also stamped on the top with an “M”.
The front sight is unmarked.
The upper handguard is stamped “10” on the inside.
The left side of the receiver is stamped “SG”.
Barrel Length: 18″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade with protective ears. The rear sight is a sliding adjustable aperture sight dovetailed to the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a Type III low-wood with a 4-rivet upper handguard with a narrow groove, Type III barrel band with bayonet lug, and a checkered metal buttplate. The safety lever is a later switch instead of the earlier crossbolt safety. The slide is a Type IV. The LOP measures about 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock and handguard have small scrapes, scuffs, and compression marks throughout. There is a somewhat large chip out of the stock where the wood meets the metal buttplate. There is also a small punch mark in the left side of the stock about midway back from the nose. The metal buttplate has lost most of its finish and the checkering has dulled. Overall the stock and handguard rate in about Very Good overall condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one original US WW2 blued 15 round magazine marked “U” at the lower back spine, denoting manufacture by Union Hardware, and one original US WW2 “split back” blued 30 round magazine that’s unmarked. Both mags are in Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with well defined rifling and no visible erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of the original finish. There is some wear from use on the friction surfaces of the action. The bolt has some finish loss on the friction surfaces. Overall this rifle is in Very Good to Excellent condition considering its age for C&R.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This carbine includes the two magazines mentioned above.
Our Assessment: Early in WW2, the US military recognized the need for a lightweight rifle that would bridge the gap between the heavy M-1 Garand and the standard issue sidearm, the M1911A1 pistol. The goal was to provide troops with a compact, easy-to-handle shoulder arm that offered more firepower than a pistol but was lighter and more maneuverable than a full-size battle rifle. In 1941, the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Department contracted with various manufacturers, including Winchester and General Motors’ Inland Division, to develop and produce the M-1 Carbine. The rifle was designed by a team led by firearms designer David “Carbine” Williams, who drew inspiration from the successful Garand and the short-recoil action of the Thompson Submachine Gun. The M-1 Carbine featured a gas-operated, semi-automatic action and fired a .30 caliber cartridge known as the .30 Carbine. The cartridge, while less powerful than the standard .30-06 round used in the Garand, offered greater capacity and reduced recoil, making it more controllable and well-suited for short to medium-range engagements. The M-1 Carbine saw widespread use in World War II in the hands of US infantry, paratroopers, Marines, and support personnel, and was loved by the troops for its ease of use, compact design, and reliability. Many were reconditioned after the war, and used by US soldiers once again in Korea and Vietnam. Please see our photos and best of luck with your bidding!!! -R.L.
