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Make: Universal Firearms
Model: M1 Carbine
Serial Number: 39259
Year of Manufacture: Post 1961- Pre1967
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi-Automatic carbine fed by detachable magazines.
Markings:
The top-front of the receiver is marked “U.S. 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 “39259”.
The magazine release button is marked “M” and “WA” for Winchester
The Rotary safety is marked “CM” a post war rebuild part.
The slide is marked “7160091 N” and “PI” on the inside. For Packard Inland.
The rear sight is marked Shield “H”-Hemphill MFG. Co.
The side of the barrel above the gas block is marked with a “Y”.
The inside of the stock is marked “BWI 603 603”.
The inside of the upper handguard is also marked with “603”.
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 serrated windage knob dovetailed to the receiver. The sliding part of the sight, and the knob are both frozen in place most likely from the refinish. The left side of the receiver has been drilled and tapped for a Universal style scope mount.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a Hand Carved, select walnut “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 flared rosewood cap and maple spacer, straight comb and Blued Metal buttplate. The LOP measures about 13.5” from the front of the trigger to the back of the stock. The wood on the stock and handguard show minor handling and storage wear. The upper handguard shows a small scratch on the left and a small compression on the right. The rosewood cap shows some small nicks in the leading edge and a scratch on the bottom. The left flank of the butt also has a fine scratch that is only visible in the right lighting. The toe of the heel has a few small marks. The Metal buttplate retains almost all of its finish and shows some minor rust freckling mainly in the edges. There are no visible chips or cracks. As far as my research shows this is a one of a kind M1 carbine stock in about Excellent overall condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: None.
Type of Finish: Blued with a Gold colored trigger.
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 .10 or as the CMP would state it a 1. 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 very minor rust freckling. The front sight has turned a lovely shade of plum. The bolt shows some very minor rub wear on the friction surfaces and what appears to be pitting that has been finished over. The trigger has a few very small marks and retains the majority of the finish. The finish also has some areas that have some sort of glue stuck to them. I was able to remove most of it with a cloth. I believe with a thorough cleaning the rest should be easily removed. Overall this rifle is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This is the Gen 1 version of the Universal M1 carbines that follows the original M1 Pattern of construction and uses some original GI parts. 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 and the Serialized Universal firearms cardboard box.
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 Gen 1 M1 Carbine features a blued finish and incorporates several GI parts, including the rear sight, slide, magazine release, and safety. The standout feature of this rifle is its custom-made, hand-carved Monte Carlo-style stock with a rosewood pistol grip cap. This stock is, from my research, a one of a kind stock. This carbine represents a blend of historical authenticity and individual artistry originating from the personal collection of inventor, founder and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman, and may be of interest to collectors for this history.