This is an exceptional, all original Presentation Grade, type M1 Carbine that was manufactured by the Underwood Elliott-Fisher Company that remains in its original unaltered, like-new condition. During the early days of WWII at the start of start of production, several companies that manufactured M1 Carbines for the military set aside/reserved a specific block of serial numbers usually with a letter prefix of an X, E or both, as preproduction examples or test models. Later at the end of WWII these serial number blocks were just used to present specific M1 Carbines to senior members of the military as well as Senior Executives or Corporate officials. This early example is correctly serial numbered with an "E" prefix serial number of "E160" denoting it was a presentation example. These carbines were all hand built from early select parts and wood to make sure they not only looked good but functioned equally as well. It is estimated that typically 50-100 carbines were manufactured by several companies, with the majority of the known examples being manufactured by the Inland Division and Winchester Companies. This example is the first presentation grade Underwood M1 Carbine that we have ever seen. Any presentation example is highly sought by advance collectors today, as they usually remain in exceptional, like-new condition, such as this example. This carbine has the standard "U.S. CARBINE/M1" markings on the front receiver ring with the rear area stamped "UNDERWOOD/E160" with no other markings. The barrel is correctly unmarked and undated. It has mostly all early features such as the Type II receiver with the two dismounted receiver notches, type III receiver lug and the long skirt on the barrel with an original muzzle crown. It has a blue type 1 unmarked, blued flat bolt, with a type 1 unmarked barrel band and a type I two-position flip rear sight with the small "s" on the side with the blued leaf spring. It is also fitted with a type II operating rod slide with the square back cut. It is fitted with the early two-rivet handguard with the shallow sight groove that is stamped on the underside with "P-U" and a correct low wood stock with the late oval cut oiler slot. The stock is stamped with only a small "MU" in the sling slot. All these unmarked or undated parts are exactly correct as these were never intended to be presented or accepted by the military. It is complete with one blued magazine marked "IU" on the back side and another marked "SY-B".

Excellent plus with 99% of the original WWII Underwood factory parkerized finish with the only wear being on the top edge of the bolt where it has been hand-cycled over the years. The stock and handguard are also in excellent plus condition with the stock having a nice light brown colored oil finish with the handguard being a darker overall color; however, both are original. The stock shows a couple of very small dings on the very front sides of the where it probably sitting in a display rack. Truly a like-new Presentation Grade Underwood M1 Carbine.