The "New" Inland M1 carbine
I read with interest the cover story article in the current Guns & Ammo magazine about the newly manufactured M1 carbine by a company called Inland Manufacturing. They are marketing three models, a "1944" with a type II barrel band and comes with a 10 round magazine for sale in the constitutional restrictive states, a "1945" model with type III barrel band with bayonet lug and comes with 15 round magazine for sale in the mostly free sectons of America. They are also manufacturing a M1A1 model.
Article claims new Inlands are true to fit and finish of the original USGI and parts are interchangable, though internal parts are marked accordingly so as to help deter "fraudary" when used on original M1 carbines. They come with milled rear sights, round bolt and a push button safety. From the pictures in the article they looked good. Priced at a little under $1,100 for the 1944 and 1945 models, just over $1,100 for the M1A1.
I wasn't impressed with author Garry James' brief history about the M1 carbine. Anytime someone supposedly in the know gives full credit to the M1 carbine's development to David "Marsh" Williams it's an indicator they probably got their information from Wikipedia.
I agree about buying this over a genuine item
The cast receiver is just the way things are done today. I suspect that almost all of the parts are cast as well. They can cast parts today with 8620 steel which is the same stuff that they made the Garand receivers from. Ruger has been making investment casting guns for 50 years with great success. I don't like cast part guns either but that's the way things are done today. Lowers scrap rate and machining costs.