Deactivated WWII US M3 Grease Gun D-Day era

This is an early production WWII US M3 Grease Gun "D-Day" era. During WWII only Guide Lamp Division of General Motors Corp made the M3 & M3A1 guns totally 622,163. The M3 or "Grease Gun" as its most commonly referred to as was the Amercian's answer to a cheap mass produced machine gun. It proved very effective being chambered in .45acp, the same ammunition as the Thompson and Colt 1911A1. The M3 was the first varaint that was fitted with a bolt cocking handle. This was subsequently removed from the design on the revised M3A1.

According to US Infantry Weapons of WWII by Bruce N. Canfield the M3 was first issued in late 1943 but its first real use in combat was in the hands of the 82nd and 101st Airborne on D-Day. This example dates to early 1944.

Deactivated with tensioned cocking lever and trigger.