NRA Gun of the Week: Inland M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine

by
posted on December 19, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

During World War II, the Dayton, Ohio-based Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors became one of the largest firearm manufacturers in the U.S., and will be best remembered for its M1 Carbine, producing more than 2.5 million rifles—along with most of the tooling used by other companies producing this rifle—for the war effort. Eventually Inland returned to automotive manufacturing and left GM altogether in 1999, but in 2013 the company was revived under the name of Inland Mfg., and is located close to the original company’s Ohio headquarters. Its products are distributed by MKS Supply.

All of Inland’s carbines are 100-percent American-made with 100-percent American parts, and are faithful copies of the original Inland Manufacturing carbines, right down to part construction and stampings.

The M1A1 Paratrooper is modeled after a late production 1944 M1A1 Paratrooper model with a folding "low wood" walnut stock, type two barrel band, and includes the same adjustable sights that were actually introduced in 1944. It has a 15-round magazine capacity, but a 10-round mag is offered to comply with certain states’ laws.

Watch as American Rifleman’s Kelly Young takes our latest NRA Gun of the Week downrange and highlights many of the carbine’s authentic features.

Specifications 
Manufacturer: 
Inland Manufacturing, LLC.
Distributor: MKS Supply
Model: M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine
Action: gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Finish: Parkerized
Stock: folding wire with leather-wrapped cheekpiece; walnut pistol grip and handguard
Front Sight: fixed
Rear Sight: adjustable aperture
Trigger: 7-lbs., 5-oz. pull
Barrel Length: 18"
Overall Length: 36"
Weight: 5 lbs., 7.5 ozs.
Magazine: 15-round-capacity, detachable box
Twist: four-groove, 1:20" RH
Accessories: owner’s manual, shoulder sling, oiler
MSRP: $1,200

Latest

Gunsmithing gear
Gunsmithing gear

5 Must-Have Tools for DIY Gunsmithing

These gunsmithing tools make it much easier to work on your firearms, whether at home or in the field.

Garmin Acquires Applied Ballistics

Garmin has acquired Applied Ballistics, a leading provider of ballistic research, projectile data and integrated solver technologies dedicated to enhancing shooting accuracy.

NRA Leaders Attend White House Dinner as President Trump Signs Orders Expanding Access to Public Lands and Waterways

NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin and Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director John Commerford represented NRA members at a White House dinner hosted by President Donald J. Trump.

The America 250th Longrifle: Creating One Tribute to America's Semiquincentennial

As part of the America 250th celebrations this year, one longtime American Rifleman contributor had to have his own special tribute to our country's semiquincentennial.

The Long & Short of It: Rock Island Armory's Pak-Out Platform

One of the latest designs to come from Rock Island Armory is its Pak-Out, a folding shotgun that is offered in several different configurations.

Gun of the Week: The New Taurus Judge

For 2026, Taurus USA took a fresh look at one of its most popular platforms, the Judge revolver, and updated it with a new feature set while retaining the versatility that made it popular in the first place.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.