In House Shipping:
Make: Universal Firearms
Model: Carbine
Serial Number: 100000
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi-Automatic carbine fed by detachable magazines.
Markings:
The top-front of the receiver is marked “CARBINE / CAL. .30 M1”.
The top of the receiver in front of the rear sight is marked “UNIVERSAL / HI ALEAH, FLA.”
The rear of the receiver is marked “100000”.
The magazine release is marked “H.I.” and “M”. for H&R Machine CO made for Inland Division.
The Rotary safety is marked “CM” a post war rebuild part.
The rear sight is unmarked
Barrel Length: 18"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade set between protective ears. The rear sight is the later style sliding aperture sight with a knurled windage knob dovetailed to the receiver. The left side of the receiver has been drilled and tapped for a Universal style scope mount.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a Universal Firearms, select walnut, high gloss finished “Monte Carlo” style, enclosed wood, M1 Carbine stock with a Universal Nose Cap, four rivet upper handguard with no sighting groove, semi pistol grip with fluted raised comb and Blued Metal buttplate. The LOP measures about 13.75” from the front of the trigger to the back of the stock. The upper handguard has a ¼ inch wide punch mark in the left side at about mid length. The stock shows some mild scattered lines, compressions, with several small chips and rub marks in the finish. There is a rub mark that goes around the entire butt of the stock from being stored in the cardboard holder in the box. There are no visible chips or cracks in the wood. The Metal buttplate retains almost all of its finish and shows some minor rust freckling. The checkering is sharp and the edges of the buttplate show some surface scratches. This style of stock was offered as an upgrade to Universal Firearms Carbines and is in overall Very Good condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: None.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original and refinished.
Bore Condition: The bore is very bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no fouling or erosion in the bore. The feed ramp is clean. This rifle appears unfired outside of perhaps being test fired. The muzzle reads at a .05 or as the CMP would state it a 0+. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of the blued metal finish. The surface of the gun shows scattered marks, lines, and very minor rust freckling mainly on the nose cap and where the nose cap contacts the barrel. The bolt shows some minor rub wear on the friction surfaces. There are several places where the original oil on the rifle has caked up that wipe off fairly easily with a cloth. The recoil lug has turned plum. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes a certificate of authenticity, Universal firearms cardboard box and sealed owner’s manual.
Our Assessment: The M1 Carbine, developed during World War II, was designed to provide U.S. troops with a lightweight, semi-automatic rifle that bridged the gap between standard-issue pistols and the heavier M1 Garand. Chambered in .30 Carbine, it featured a 15-round detachable magazine and became renowned for its portability and ease of use. Over six million units were produced between 1941 and 1945, serving various roles from frontline combat to support positions.
Post-war, the demand for M1 Carbines persisted, leading companies like Universal Firearms to produce civilian versions. Founded in 1961 in Hialeah, Florida, Universal initially assembled carbines using surplus GI parts. Early models, known as "Gen 1," closely mirrored the original military specifications and were compatible with GI components. As surplus parts dwindled, Universal began manufacturing their own, resulting in later models that diverged from the original design and had limited parts interchangeability.
This specific Universal Firearms Carbine with serial number 100000 was the first one produced of these redesigned carbines built with limited GI interchangeable parts. This new carbine uses a dual recoil spring system, a slide with exposed cam surfaces for the bolt and a newly designed trigger housing. The first production run of the new carbines also has a set screw in the slide that was removed after serial number 109000. Meaning this rifle is not only 1 of 9000 but the first one of the 9000 made with the set screw style slide and redesigned receiver. This rifle features a blued finish and the Universal style nose cap for the upper handguard with no sighting groove. The stock is another standout feature, these “Monte Carlo” style stocks were offered by Universal as an upgrade over their standard carbine stock. This rifle represents a very rare opportunity to own the first example of the Universal Carbine production run originating from the personal collection of inventor, founder and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman in as close as possible to new condition.