Inland M1 buying advice

[Carl in CT]

OK, this is gonna be a long one, sorry. I got a good look at it but the owner wasn't there, just his son so I didn't want to ask to take pics. Actually the gun shop part of the store was locked but he opened it up for me to roam around behind the counter to look at it. Since I've known them for 27 years or so and worked there in college I guess they trust me. Then I ended up helping a couple of customers so I got a little distracted.

Anyway, here is what I found out. It is an import via Arlington Ordnance. The stamp is heavy on the bottom of the barrel but not really large and it does not say Blue Sky anywhere. Seems like a mis-mash of parts. The barrel says Inland Div General Motors 2-43 and the receiver also says Inland Div with the serial number just below it. It has a bayonet lug (is 1943 too early for a bayo lug?) and the barrel band is fairly wide and looks to fit the hand gaurd and stock properly but it has SI stamped on it . The front sight also has SI as well as a B stamped on it. The tag he has on it says it has a Winchester bolt and operating handle but I didn't see markings, maybe I missed them. The stock didn't seem to have any markings at all on it other than a sideways M or W in the sling cutout. Oval sling cutout, not an I, not sure the stock and handgaurd matched as the stock was a medium-dark brown and the handgaurd was a medium-dark brown but with a hint of red to it. Stock was low wood and I think the handgaurd has the deep, wide sight groove. The handgaurd had two rivits at the back end, not four. Rear sight is the adjustable one for windage and elevation, not the two position flip sight. The tag also says low serial number, early 1943, serial number is 28xxx9.

So, being a greenhorn I'm not sure what all that means other than it's an import and refurbished in some way shape or form at least once, maybe more than once. Overall, it still looks decent but like an idiot I forgot my light so I didn't get a great look at the bore. I'm nervous about the heavy Arlington Ordnance stamp and the seemingly vast array of mis-matched parts so I think I'm definitely going to pass at $599. It is fun learning about these little pieces of American history though and if he comes down on the price I may still be interested. Honestly I don't want a safe queen but I don't want crap either and I'd rather not spend $600. If it's still there when the owner returns I'll see if he will let me take a few pics.

In the meantime any thoughts or comments are appreciated!

P.S. It's blued, not parkerized and the safety is the flip safety and the mag release had either an M or an underlinded M on it. I know I missed plenty but took notes on what I could remember to look for from what little research I could do today and the info I got here, thanks Jim! I forgot to see if it was the M1 or M2 stock.