Make: Inland Division of General Motors
Model: Paratrooper M1A1 Folding Stock Carbine
Serial Number: 5057738
Year of Manufacture: Receiver dates to ca. March 1944. Barrel is dated “3-44” (March 1944).
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi-Auto, Detachable Magazine
Markings: There is no import mark. The top of the receiver is marked “U.S. CARBINE / CAL. 30 M1” on the front and “INLAND DIV. / 5057738” on the rear. The top of the barrel is marked “INLAND MFG. DIV. / GENERAL MOTORS / 3 – 44” and “P”. The right rear of the Type III trigger housing is marked with an “INLAND” logo. The Type III hammer is marked “H.I”. The Type IV magazine catch is marked “M”. The inside of the Type IV slide is marked “PI”, the bottom is marked "T". The Type III bolt is marked “AI” on the left lug. The Type I-A front sight is marked “N”. The Type II rear sight is marked “H” in a shield (Winchester, Rockola, IBM, Standard Products). The Type II barrel band is marked “PI” in a triangle. The gas piston is marked "PI".
The 2nd Series "low wood" stock is marked "RI / 3" on the bottom of the grip with an Ordnance “crossed cannons” cartouche on the right. The inside of the slide well is marked "IO". The Type III handguard is marked "IO" (fat "O"). The front face of the buttplate is marked with the part number "B257614", the classic foundry symbol, and the mold position number “3”.
The magazine is marked "IS" on the spine.
Barrel Length: 18" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a post set between two protective wings. The rear sight is an aperture adjustable for windage and elevation in a base dovetailed to the rear of the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The Paratrooper M1A1 folding stock has scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is a more notable ding on the left of the stock where the buttplate rests while folded closed. The leather on the buttstock shows discoloration and light wear. The buttstock metal shows small scrapes and discoloration. The buttstock folds and extends properly. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized, Blued bolt and some small parts.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. Our gauge shows an ME of approximately 1. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout. There is a little edge-thinning and some minor scuffs, light nicks, and little scratches. There is a horizontal line of wear on the left of the receiver below the rear sight dovetail. The action shows minor operational wear. The markings are generally clear, the "INLAND" marking on the trigger housing is shallow and a couple of the other small markings are shallow. Overall, this carbine rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this carbine. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The carbine comes with an original US WW2 “C-Tip” OD canvas sling, an original US WW2 blued 15-round magazine marked “IS” on the spine, denoting manufacture by International Silver, one of the suppliers of mags to Inland, and an oiler stored in the folding stock opposite the cheek-rest.
Our Assessment: The short-stroke gas piston action of the M-1 Carbine, so the legend goes, was invented by federal prisoner David Marshall “Carbine” Williams in the late 1920s, and he was paroled for this service to his country. Williams was hired by Winchester in the late 1930s, and his refined designs were developed into the M-1 Carbine, which was adopted at the beginning of WW2 and produced by Winchester along with 9 other companies. The US military saw the success of German paratroopers in 1940, and quickly set about creating its own elite airborne units. US paratroopers jumped on Sicily in Operation Husky in 1943, dropped into Normandy during the D-Day invasion in 1944, fought through the hedgerows of France until the breakout at St. Lo, jumped on Holland in the ill-fated “bridge too far” attempt of Operation Market Garden, held the line at Bastogne during the “Battle of the Bulge”, and “jumped over the Rhine” in Operation Varsity in March 1945. Their exploits were legendary. US paratroopers of WW2 were all volunteers, pushed to top levels of physical fitness, mental toughness, and esprit de corps by rigorous jump training, and they played a pivotal role in the Allied victory. Those "devils in baggy pants" were issued a unique variation of the M-1 Carbine with a folding stock, produced by Inland, and designated the M1A1. For many of those drops, US paratroopers carried only a trench knife, Colt 1911, and an Inland M1A1 Carbine.
This US WW2 Paratrooper Airborne Inland M1A1 Carbine was made in March 1944 and is in Fine condition. It’s chambered in .30 Carbine, and features an 18” barrel, 95% of its crisp, original parkerized finish (the bolt and some small parts are blued), the classic folding metal wire stock with leather cheek pad and correct metal buttplate, an original US WW2 “C-Tip” OD canvas sling, an original “IS” marked International Silver made 15-round magazine, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling. This is a wonderful example of a scarce, original US WW2 Inland M1A1 Folding Stock Carbine.
RIFLE