New Made Item: This inert display completely non-firing replica is true to the 1941 original. The M1A1 carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1A1) is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S. and foreign military, paramilitary and police forces.

The military wanted a light gun that could pack a punch to help paratroopers get into a safe place without having to lug around more weight with the M1 Garand when they hit the dirt (paratroopers were fitted with everything in case of an emergency).

Use in WWII: the M1 carbine with its reduced-power .30 cartridge was not originally intended to serve as a primary weapon for combat infantrymen, nor was it comparable to more powerful assault rifles developed late in the war. Nevertheless, the carbine was soon widely issued to infantry officers, American paratroopers, NCOs, ammunition bearers, forward artillery observers, and other frontline troops. Its reputation in front-line combat was mixed. The M1 carbine gained generally high praise for its small size, lightweight and firepower, especially by those troops who were unable to use a full-size rifle as their primary weapon.

In the Pacific theater, soldiers and guerrilla forces operating in heavy jungle with only occasional enemy contact also praised the carbine for its small size, lightweight and firepower. Other soldiers and marines engaged in frequent daily firefights (particularly those serving in the Philippines) found the weapon to have insufficient stopping power and penetration. Reports of the carbine's failure to stop enemy soldiers, sometimes after multiple hits, appeared in individual after-action reports, postwar evaluations, and service histories of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. Aware of these shortcomings, the U.S. Army, its Pacific Command Ordnance staff, and the Aberdeen small arms facility continued to work on shortened versions of the Garand throughout the war, though none was ever officially adopted.

While the .30 Carbine cartridge was less capable of penetrating small trees and light cover when compared to the .30-06 rifle cartridge, the M1 carbine itself was markedly superior to the .45 caliber Reising and Thompson submachine guns in both accuracy and penetration. Also, troops armed with M1 carbines could easily carry 2 to 3 times more ammunition than with other weapons. Lt. Col. John George, a small arms expert and intelligence officer serving in Burma with Merrill's Marauders, reported that .30 carbine bullets would easily penetrate the front and back of steel helmets, and the body armor used by Japanese forces of the era.

IMA is proud to offer a full sized 1: 1 scale completely non-firing dummy M1A1 Carbine display rifle. This is the finest replica on the market today. It looks and feels are just like an original. Stock made from hard wood with sturdy metal (zinc) functional parts, the action functions (nothing can be chambered, clip is non-functional and hollow) and the cocked trigger gives a satisfying "snap". The wire stock folds and extends and the butt plates folds flat. NOTE: OD Cotton Sling is pictured for illustrative purposes only, and is not included.

This is a premier collector's replica, perfect for historical display, reenactment, or a burglar's decoy left just outside your gun safe! Pair it with a M1 Carry Case, OD Green cotton sling, butt pouch, sniper cheek pad for added wartime authenticity; all of these accessories and many more are available separately.

This version of the M1 Carbine does not have a bayonet lug.