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LOT 333
Rare Documented M1E6 Long Barrel Variant Serial
Number “XB16” Presentation U.S. Inland Mfg.
Div. M1 Semi-Automatic Carbine, Relief Carved
and Inscribed to Inland War Projects Coordination
Division/Test Firing Range Supervisor Robert M.
Longnecker, as Pictured in Larry L. Ruth’s Book
“War Baby III: The U.S. Carbine Into the 21st
Century” - Serial no. XB16, 30 Carbine cal., 22 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is both an
extremely desirable and unique “XB” prefix serialized
and embellished M1 semi-automatic carbine specially
made by the Inland Manufacturing Division of General
Motors Corporation for presentation to their valued employee Robert M. Longnecker in
1945 for his contributions to the wartime effort. It bears the presentation inscription “R. M.
LONGNECKER” on an inlaid brass plaque on the right of the embellished checkered stock,
with “1945” date carved on the left, a deep relief carved federal eagle on the right of the
buttstock, and fancy incised carved patterns throughout. Robert M. Longnecker (December
19, 1908-October 10, 1947) wore a variety of important hats at the Inland factory, as part
of the War Projects Division and also the Test Firing Range Supervisor during World War
II, and became the Plastics Division Supervisor in the immediate post-war era. During
Inland’s World War II production, a small amount of receivers were set aside and given this
specific “XB” prefix serial block, likely for experimental carbine developments. Towards the
end of Inland’s wartime production, these receivers were built up into complete carbines,
utilizing hand selected components and attractive grained wood, as presentation gifts
for senior members of the military and executives within the General Motors Corporation.
This exact presentation M1 Carbine is pictured on page 1148 of Larry L. Ruth’s Book “War
Baby III: The U.S. Carbine Into the 21st Century”. It has an unmarked M1E6 experimental
type Inland 22 inch barrel, in which one of the accompanying research documents states,
“The M1E6 experimental barrel was longer than a normal barrel made circa May-June
1943 and attached to a typical M1 carbine made specifically for the Frankford Arsenal for
use in testing powders for flash and smoke. Inland evidently had a few extra barrels that
wound up on 4 known presentation carbines.” The rifle also features a highly attractive
select grain low-wood pattern extended walnut stock and four-rivet handguard. “IO”
stamped in the sling inlet of the stock, “N” marked winged blade front sight and “PI”
marked type II adjustable peep rear sight, unmarked type II barrel band, “IO” blued
flat-top bolt, “PI” operating rod with serrated handle, an early production narrow
wall milled Inland trigger housing without the hammer spring recess, unmarked
checkered push button safety, unmarked serrated magazine catch, “H” in a shield
type I dogleg hammer, serrated trigger, and a “C-B” marked blued magazine. The
receiver heel bears the “INLAND DIV.” manufacturer roll-mark above the “XB16” serial
number. Includes a November 11, 2022 dated certificate of authenticity verifying
it was once a part of the personal collection and reference library of renowned M1
Carbine researcher Larry L. Ruth (1940-2022), the author of several publications.
Also includes various related research about this presentation carbine and Robert
M. Longnecker, including a
scanned copy of a photo of
the Inland employees of the
War Projects Division, his
obituary indicating he died
unexpectedly of a heart attack on October 10, 1947 while on a hunting trip in Montana,
and a scanned copy of the July 15, 1944 Dayton Journal newspaper article titled “Inland
Sharpshooters Hit The Bull’s-eye Consistently” that tells about the day to
day job of the Inland factory shooting range workers in which one section
in the article states, “To make sure the gun is safe before it reaches the
testers, each gun is placed in an automatic resting device and proof fired
with a cartridge one and a half times more powerful than an ordinary
cartridge. ‘If anything is going to happen to the muzzle of the gun, that will
be the time,’ Robert Longnecker, supervisor, said. ‘We make the guns as safe
as possible before our testers get them.’” This presentation M1 Carbine is a
strong testament to the importance of Robert M. Longnecker’s contributions
towards the war effort while at Inland. Only a small handful of other “XB”
prefix M1 Carbines have come through Rock Island Auction Co. in the past,
making any example immensely sought after by even the most
advanced U.S. military collectors.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% presentation grade high polish
blue finish, with some patches of minor pitting visible underneath the
finish on the barrel band. Stock is also excellent with highly attractive
tiger stripe grain, minimal handling evidence, and distinct carvings.
Mechanically excellent. This “XB” prefix Inland M1 Carbine, presented to
prominent figure Robert M. Longnecker, would make an outstanding
addition to any advanced U.S. military arms collection!
Provenance: Robert M. Longnecker;
The Larry L. Ruth Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
As pictured & described in
War Baby III: The U.S. Carbine
into the 21st Century by Ruth
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