This is a very nice example of a rare World War II Inland Division Presentation Grade M1 Carbine that was manufactured by the General Motors Corp., serial number "XC39". During the initial stages of WWII, General Motors designated a specific serial number block of M1 carbine receivers for use as either experimental or prototype carbines. At the end of the war, they utilized these "X" prefix serial numbered receivers for Presentation Grade M1 Carbines, intended as gifts for senior military members as well as General Motors executives. It is estimated that approximately 100 of the "XC" serial numbered receivers manufactured with any original example considered as very rare and highly desirable by advanced M1 Carbine collectors. They were usually hand built using left over/select production parts and wood to make sure they not only looked good but functioned equally as well. We do not have any history as to who this was presented to. The front receiver ring is marked "U.S. CARBINE/CAL. 30 M1", and the rear of the receiver is marked with the early larger style "INLAND DIV/XC39" under the rear sight. The barrel marked "INLAND MFG. DIV/GENERAL MOTORS/9-44" with a single small "P" proof stamped in the middle of the exposed barrel. It has a very late type three barrel band with the bayonet lug with a "Q" proof on the left side. It many late production parts mixed with several unmarked parts, such as a round blued bolt, a stamped, adjustable rear sight, a DA-Q marked reblued operating slide, a late production unmarked M1 trigger housing with unmarked internal components. It also has a unmarked push button safety and a unmarked blued magazine catch. It has a "HI' marked walnut stock and a four rivet "IO" marked walnut handguard. There are no U.S. Government acceptance proofs which is correct as this was never accepted by the U.S. Army. It has a green canvas sling and a parkerized "IS" marked 15 round magazine.
Very fine with 85% plus of the parkerized/blued finishes overall, edge and high spot wear, and thinning and finish loss on the exposed area of the barrel, top of the bolt and operating rod slide. The stock and handguard are both in fine condition with only minor handling marks and a light coat of varnish on the wood. The carbine is a little dirty overall from actually firing. A very scarce early Inland Division Presentation M1 Carbine serial number "XC39".
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