Click on the image above to learn more about the M1 Carbine
|
Nice Universal |
Post Reply |
Author | |
coyotejoe
Recruit Joined: May 12 2016 Location: Troy, MT Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: May 19 2018 at 3:59pm |
I have a Universal carbine which seems a cut above the normal, serial number 44xxx. First off, it has a very nicely finished walnut stock & handguard. The gas port is welded to the 12 groove barrel but a bit nicer than the square box on some. Trigger housing is aluminum but sculped like the GI version, not the slab sided sort. It is secured with a roll pin. It has a flat bolt. It shoots very nicely with any round nose soft point or FMJ and even feeds the Speer 110 grain flat nose hollow point which I find is as deadly on deer as a 30/30. Handloads do not have to be full power to function, anylthing over 1500 fps will work.
|
|
sleeplessnashadow
Admin Group Joined: Nov 09 2015 Location: SoCal Status: Offline Points: 1150 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
CoyoteJoe
Hi. Couple questions for you then I'll be able to tell you a bit more about your Universal. Inside the front of the stock is there a date, year and/or the letters BWI? On the left side of the receiver towards the front what are the two numbers stamped there? They numbers may not be aligned with one another but should be vicinity of 25-35. My experience with Universal's carbines has been almost all the complaints have been related to one or more of six things. 1) the carbine needs to be thoroughly cleaned 2) one or more magazines need to be replaced 3) a part has reached the end of it's lifespan from use 4) not taking the time or having the knowledge to figure out why something didn't work right 5) the design of some of the part(s) differ from GI design parts, especially s/n 100k and up 6) they got their information 2nd hand and not from personal experience With 1-4 and 6 being common with any carbine. The experience this is based on has come from owning and/or examining carbines made by Universal throughout the lifespan of the company (1962-1984). Different does not necessarily mean better or worse. They were not GI carbines. Most parts were not made to GI spec. But this is no different than all of the other commercial carbine manufacturers 1960-2018 with the exception of Fulton Armory. James River Armory was almost all GI spec. Thanks Jim |
|
coyotejoe
Recruit Joined: May 12 2016 Location: Troy, MT Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks. The stock bears no numbers or marks of any sort, inside nor out nor under the buttplate. To see any marks on the left of the reciever I would have to remove the scope mount base, which I wii not do since I just got the little old Weaver J-2.5 scope zeroed and ready to hunt. I will add that it was factory drilled & tapped for that mount base, the stock was cut for it and it came with a little plastic filler there. It also has the set screw for the front sight.
|
|
sleeplessnashadow
Admin Group Joined: Nov 09 2015 Location: SoCal Status: Offline Points: 1150 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
Just an estimate based on the serial number range of 44,000 - 49,999 ... this range was manufactured from late 1964 to early 1965. They switched to the rectangular trigger housing in the early 56,000 range.
The stocks and handguards made for Universal Firearms during this time were made by Blanton Woodworking Industries (BWI). Sometimes the letters BWI were ink stamped inside the front of the stock. Your stock looks like one of the BWI stocks but I'd need to see the right side to be sure. The wood on the right side of the stock went as high as the handguard. There was no open area between the stock and handguard where the slide arm is seen on other stocks. Blanton was funded and started by Universal to make their stocks for them. He made no stocks for anyone else. Blanton had an attention to detail from his time prior as a craftsman in the manufacture of high quality solid wood furniture. Very different industry and different machines but Blanton did an excellent job of adapting his skills to stock making. He fell ill off and on starting in 1967 so Universal purchased stocks from S.E. Overton in Michigan during Blanton's downtime. Overton manufactured carbine stocks for Inland during WWII. Universal used surplus GI parts when they could get them at a cost effective price. Some parts were harder to come by than others. Over time the GI surplus parts dried up. Like the other commercial carbine manufacturers Universal had to start making parts or purchase commercially made parts. Aluminum trigger housings were also used by Plainfield Machine for a number of years. The downside to aluminum was it decreased the lifespan of the trigger housing. Some folks never shot their carbine enough to get to that point. But over the years of use they will eventually get there. Your carbine is over 50 years old and still going. That speaks for itself. Your trigger housing was made to GI dimensions. If it wears out it can be replaced with any other trigger housing made to GI dimensions. Personally I think the carbines Universal made 1962-1965 were the best they made. For a number of reasons. While learning with as many carbines as possible I was selling them to get others. I don't collect carbines. I've kept only four commercial carbines, all as shooters. One is all GI parts with a forged steel receiver made by Lewis Machine Tool for Springfield in Geneseo in the late 90's. I built it and another like it for my son. A Fulton Armory carbine for my daughter. And a Universal Vulcan in .44 mag made about 1965. Jim |
|
m1a1fan
Hard Corps Got Para? Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1736 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
Nice carbine. Question: What is the purpose of the metal nub inside the sling well?
|
|
W5USMC
Moderator Group Joined: Apr 29 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 2949 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
I was going to ask the same thing, is that a screw in sling swivel mount?? |
|
Wayne
USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
|
sleeplessnashadow
Admin Group Joined: Nov 09 2015 Location: SoCal Status: Offline Points: 1150 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
Forgot to mention the sling swivel stud in the slingwell. Not done by Universal. Someone added it after it left Universal.
Jim |
|
coyotejoe
Recruit Joined: May 12 2016 Location: Troy, MT Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
That's a sling swivel stud.
|
|
floydthecat
Hard Corps Joined: Oct 13 2016 Location: Mississippi Status: Offline Points: 1996 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
Be careful when removing/installing that aluminum TH. The roll-pin can sometimes be hard to remove and will require tapping out with a punch or like tool. The walls of the magazine well are very thin and it's usually a poor casting. The best thing that could happen to you is that you "accidentally" break that TH and then immediately procure a good used GI TH. As I recall, the trigger and hammer pins may also be changed. They are longer than GI examples, but may still work, depending on the dimensions of your stock TH opening. Go ahead and procure a GI TH pin and trash the roll-pin. |
|
tenOCEE
Hard Corps Knows rear sights! Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: East Tenn Status: Offline Points: 1330 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
I once bought a very early Universal that had a beautiful receiver. It looked USGI in color but was a little more crisp in detail. The only issue was with the barrel, it being the USGI integral gas cyl section hollowed out and a 1903 barrel swaged and soldered into it. The solder invaded the chamber. Came with a Win hammer and SW-IP sear.
|
|
coyotejoe
Recruit Joined: May 12 2016 Location: Troy, MT Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks for all replies. In reply to Sleepless, yes the stock wood meets the handguard with no operating rod exposed but for some unknown reason I can't post that photo.
|
|
Post Reply | |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You can vote in polls in this forum |