Make: Inland Division of General Motors

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 6274175

Year of Manufacture: August-November 1944, barrel date 9-44

Caliber: .30 Cal Carbine

Action Type: Semi-Automatic carbine fed by detachable magazines.

Markings:

Receiver: “U.S. CARBINE CAL. 30 M1 / INLAND DIV. 6274175”. The bottom lug “6”.

Barrel: Stamped with the typical Inland Hieroglyphic series of letters and numbers on bottom flat, top of the barrel is marked “P” and “INLAND MFG. DIV. / GENERAL MOTORS / 9-44”. The gas block is marked “I-I”.

Front sight: “N”, correct for Inland.

Barrel band: Triangle stamp.

Rear sight: “PI” Packard Inland

Slide: “7160091 U” and “PI” on the inside. For Packard Inland.

Trigger group: “INLAND”

Hammer: “H.I.” for Hemphill MFG CO.

Safety: unmarked

Magazine Catch: “M” and “E.I.” an Inland Division

Stock: Sling cut “IO”, inside the nose “IO”, right flank there is a faint ordnance wheel. Inland Overton Stock.

Handguard: “IO” for Inland Overton.

The Lug is unmarked.

The sear is unmarked.

Magazine: “K.I.” Keeler Brass

Barrel Length: 18"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade set between protective ears. The rear sight is the later style sliding aperture sight with a serrated windage knob dovetailed to the receiver.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an Oval cut, low wood stock, with a four rivet handguard, type two barrel band, a crossbolt safety and a checkered metal buttplate. The LOP measures about 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The wood has been sanded and refinished as a result the wood shows minor lines and compressions with a notable compression in the belly just in front of the magwell and on the left side of the magwell. The upper handguard on the left side of the nose has a small rough patch and a spot where a chip has been sanded smooth. There are a few small chips in the sling cut. There are no visible cracks. The metal buttplate has lost finish and shows rub marks around the edges with some minor oxidation forming and sharp checkering. Overall the stock is in Very Good condition.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: Includes one 15 round magazine.

Type of Finish: Parkerized / Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright with well defined rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: The rifle retains 98% of its metal finish. The finish has turned brown / green with age. The friction surfaces of the bolt and the receiver show minor rub wear from use. Some of the edges show very minor finish loss. The face of the trigger shows minor finish loss. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in Very Good+ to Excellent condition.

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 rifle includes the magazine and sling.

Our Assessment: This Inland Division M1 Carbine was produced in September of 1944, during one of the most intense periods of U.S. wartime small arms production. Inland, a division of General Motors, was the lead prime contractor for the M1 Carbine program and ultimately produced more carbines than any other manufacturer, over 2.6 million by the end of the war. This particular example is fitted with a correctly marked Inland barrel dated 9-44, and all of its components are consistent with Inland production standards of that time, including internal parts, furniture, and finish. The bore is exceptionally clean, rating a full 10/10, which suggests either minimal use or excellent preservation over the decades.

The M1 Carbine was designed as a lightweight, intermediate-power rifle to arm support troops, officers, and specialized units who needed something more powerful than a pistol but lighter than the M1 Garand. It became widely favored in every theater of WWII for its compact size, manageable recoil, and reliability under harsh conditions. Inland played a major role not only in production but also in design refinement throughout the war. This September '44 carbine reflects Inland’s matured production techniques with later features like a low-wood stock and type II barrel band while still maintaining original wartime character. Its excellent bore and matching Inland parts make it a desirable collector’s piece that also represents the height of mid-war U.S. ordnance manufacturing.