Originally manufactured in the first half of 1945 by the Inland Division of General Motors, it was rebuilt at a later date by Rock Island Armory of Geneseo, Illinois. An evolution of the M1 Carbine, the M2 was intended to give America's "second line" soldiers a boost in firepower without excessively disrupting the logistics train or manual of arms. Essentially a "drop in" assembly, the auto-fire components of the M2 could be swapped in or out as needed; most M1s so equipped were converted back to semi-auto after the M2 was retired, and few factory-original M2s can be found intact and with proper registration. Blade front and "PI" marked adjustable rear sight, with a "KI" bayonet lug, round bolt, "U" operating rod, milled Inland trigger guard, "I-I" hammer, "E.I." switch safety and "E.I." magazine catch. The stock is the "perch belly" style cut to accept the selector switch, with an "IO" marked 4-rivet handguard, an "IO" and "crossed cannons" marked buttstock, green canvas sling and a checkered steel buttplate. With a U.S. marked soft case.