The barrel is marked 'INLAND MFG DIV./ GENERAL MOTORS 5-44'. It has the standard markings on the front and rear of the receiver, which are deep and sharp with the large serial number used during this time frame, showing no evidence or having been polished or tampered with. With this low of a serial number, the receiver was probably produced in the first month of production in the very first US Army contract with the General Motors Corp. The carbine itself as noted has a very early, three digit serial numbered receiver that was later modified/up graded to the standard production configuration during the mid-1944 time frame which would be consistent with the time when the M3 mounting bar and Sniper Scope were being developed. The unique aspect of this specific mounting bar is that it is 100% machined on all surfaces and is void of any casting or drawing numbers, clearly leading us to believe that this was either a tool room sample or early preproduction prototype mounting bar. There have been numerous pictures of M1 carbines, noted in some of the collector books, with this type of scope set-up, however most were pictured with the standard wartime production M3 mounting bar. This is beautiful example of an extremely rare early three digit (173) serial numbered, WWII M1 Carbine as manufactured by the Inland Manufacturing Div of the General Motors Corp., that is fitted with an equally rare M3 Prototype sniper scope mounting bar and M73B1 Scope.
