2000

Desirable WWII Inland T-3 Carbine with Original Weaver M73B1 Sniper Scope and Sling

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 8,500.00 USD
Desirable WWII Inland T-3 Carbine with Original Weaver M73B1 Sniper Scope and Sling
This is an excellent example of a very rare early T-3 carbine as produced by the Inland company in early 1944. These T-3 carbines were originally issued with the M2 Infrared sniper scope, power pack, battery and various accessories. The infrared system was originally developed in late WWII and early Korea to be able to conduct night sniping operations. These T-3 carbines were specifically intended to be used with ONLY the M2 infrared scope only. Later the US Army developed an updated version (the M3) that could be retrofitted to a standard M1 carbine using a scope mounting bar that was attached in the rear sight slot with a front mounting position on the barrel. This conversion allowed any standard carbine to be converted into an Infrared version and back into a standard M1 carbine, thus ending the need for any T-3 configuration carbines. Consequently 99.9% of all the T-3 carbines were demilitarized or destroyed in the late 1950/1960s, with complete original unaltered examples being extremely rare today. This specific example of T-3 carbine was originally demilitarized by the Government and has now been professionally re-welded back together and given a very nice GI looking green style parkerized finish. The rear of the receiver is correctly marked "INLAND DIV./0234" and the right rear side is marked "U.S.CARBINE CAL .30 T3". The barrel has the standard markings of "INLAND MFG DIV./GERNERAL MOTORS/3-44". It has the correct Inland marked trigger guard, hammer, flat blued bolt, and operating slide with an Inland marked stock and hand guard with "P" on the pistol grip, Ordnance cartouche on the right buttstock and a green canvas sling. This lot does not come with the original M2 sniper scope, however it is currently fitted with an original WWII Weaver M73B1 sniper scope that was originally intended for the Model 1903A4 sniper rifle, which could be used on this model also.
BBL: 18 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 30 Carbine
Finish: parkerized
Grips:
Serial Number: 0234
Condition: Restored, rewelded and assembled with 99% of the professionally applied green GI style parkerized finish remaining overall, with slight wear and finish loss on the edges and high spots and the top of the bolt from handling and cycling the action. As noted it has most of the various correct Inland parts that also have a nice matching green parkerized finish. The stock and handguard are also in excellent condition with only minor handling marks overall. The original weaver M73B1 sniper scope is in excellent condition with 99% original blue finish with minor edge and high spot wear with crystal clear optics with a set of blued weaver rings. The markings are sharp and distinct. The re-welding and machining was very professionally done and this carbine would still make an excellent example of a very scarce T-3 carbine.