THIS IS A FANTASTIC FIND FOR CARBINE COLLECTORS. THIS IS A MINT CONDITION LAST MONTH PRODUCTION (JAN 1945) M1A1 PARATROOPER CARBINE. THIS IS FROM THE FINAL MONTHS PRODUCTION OF THE SECOND RUN OF THESE GUNS THAT WERE MADE AT THE INLAND FACTORY. IT IS VERY EXCEPTIONAL INDEED AS IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW M1A1’S THAT WAS ISSUED WITH SUCH LATER FEATURES AS THE BAYONET LUG AND ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS. THIS IS NOT A REWORK; TO BE CLEAR THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN IN THE 6 MILLION SERIAL RANGE WITH ALL OF THE LATE FINAL PRODUCTION FEATURES. WHILE THERE ARE MANY M2 CARBINES AND SOME M1 CARBINES WITH THESE LATE FEATURES ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL OF THE PARATROOPER CARBINES HAD THESE LATE FEATURES MAKING THEM EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AS THEY ONLY APPEARED IN THE FINAL MONTHS PRODUCTION.
THIS WAS THE PERSONAL SIDE ARM OF VICE ADMIRAL” PEG LEG”, “UNCLE JOHN” HOSKINS DURING THE KOREAN WAR AND HE CARRIED IT WHEN ON SHORE. A HERO OF THE NAVY AND DISABLED VETS. DURING WW2 CAPTAIN JOHN HOSKINS LOST HIS FOOT IN THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF ON THE USS PRINCETON CV22 WHICH WAS SUNK DURING THE ENGAGEMENT. HE RECEIVED A PEG LEG AND FOUGHT TO REGAIN ACTIVE DUTY STATUS. HE BECAME COMMANDER OF THE NEW USS PRINCETON IN 1945 AND BECAME REAR ADMIRAL IN 1946 COMMANDING CARRIER DIVISION 17. HE PIONEERED JET AIRCRAFT USE ON CARRIERS AND LAUNCHED THE FIRST NAVY CARRIER STRIKES OF THE KOREAN WAR. STERLING HAYDEN PLAYED HIM IN THE FAMOUS 1955 MOVIE THE ETERNAL SEA. KNOWN AS THE PEG LEG ADMIRAL DURING THE 40’S AND 50’S HE WAS LATER PROMOTED TO VICE ADMIRAL. HE WENT TO DAVY JONES LOCKER IN 1964. HIS PERSONAL STAYED WITH THE FAMILY UNTIL RECENTLY AND WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN SOME OF HIS PERSONAL EFFECTS TO INCLUDE THIS ADMIRAL HOSKINS HAS LONG BEEN A HERO OF DISABLED VETERANS AND HIS CAREER IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT TODAY. HE MADE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NAVY AND TO WOUNDED SERVICEMEN THAT REVERBERATE TO THIS DAY. SO HERE WE HAVE A FREAKISHLY RARE M1A1 PARATROOPER CARBINE CARRIED BY A FAMOUS AMERICAN HERO. I PERSONALLY PURCHASED THIS GUN ALONG WITH OTHER FIREARMS AND MEMORABILIA FROM THE ESTATE OF HIS DAUGHTER IN JANUARY, 2013 AND WE WILL INCLUDE A LETTER FROM ME.
