This is an example of an unusual early World War II Inland Division M1 Carbine that was manufactured by the General Motors Corp. The consignor has provided various pages from a reference book that note this specific example serial number "EA 26" as being manufactured as a "Shop Model" test carbine. The documents indicated that only a very small block of Inland M1 carbines manufactured in the "E" prefix serial number range were produced, with special funding guidelines from and monitored by Congress for testing purposes. These "E" series Shop Model carbines allowed the manufacturers to develop, design and produce modifications to the carbines and then submit them directly to Springfield Armory if they proved out. During the early stages of WWII, the General Motors Company used a variety of unusually numbered carbines as either experimental or prototype carbines, mostly within the "X" prefix. We did not find this specific serial number prefix; however, that doesn't mean its not legitimate. The receiver ring has the standard "U.S. CARBINE/CAL. 30 M1", and the rear of the receiver appears to be hand stamped "INLAND DIV/EA 26", behind the rear sight. The barrel marked "INLAND MFG. DIV/GENERAL MOTORS/4-43". The left side of the receiver is stamped with the larger "SG" indicating the receiver was manufactured by the Saginaw Steering Gear factory. It has the correct early features such as a flat blue bolt, flip rear sight, smooth face push button safety and magazine release, type 2, upright "INLAND" marked trigger housing with a "H" marked hammer. It is fitted with an early "I" cut high wood stock and early deep sight radius, two rivet handguard, both correctly "IO" marked. It is complete with a tan canvas sling, oiler and a blued five round magazine.