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The Last Underwood Barrel |
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New2brass 
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Dan Pinto, Photo Editor Joined: Nov 29 2015 Location: CT Status: Offline Points: 2659 |
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 Topic: The Last Underwood BarrelPosted: Jun 12 2020 at 9:24pm |
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2020-F The Last Underwood Barrel  In 1945 James Fifield, Administrative Assistant, Springfield Ordnance District, wrote a newspaper article on the many achievements of the Connecticut companies that produced for the war effort. “While carbines were only one item manufactured by Underwood, the record made was outstanding” “Original conversion plans of early 1942 were geared to requirements of 1100 barrels a day by Underwood, but the program was stepped rapidly to 4400 barrels daily, and eventually to a peak production of 7000 barrels a day” “Before the war’s end, Underwood had produced 1,706,436 carbine barrels of which 600,177 went into the company’s own carbines” A former member in Connecticut contacted me with an interesting display of an Underwood barrel. Note the number is one digit higher than as reported in the news article.  It was told that this was prominently displayed in an office at the Underwood facility in Hartford Connecticut and removed before the building was slated for destruction. Unfortunately, no information was obtained as to whose office this was displayed. The plaque, though simple, was finely relieved for a perfect fit of the barrel. The mounts and plaque are chrome plated.  The barrel is appropriately dated 11-44. Carbine production ceased in April of 1944 for most factories. Underwood continued to produce barrels under a spares contract. The gas chamber is the late style as reported in March 2016 based on observations of Marcus Rust.  The muzzle has a rounded crown. The barrel threads and chamber are in the white. Note that the chamber skirt is long. This has been reported on late Underwood carbines.   The Carbine Collectors Club Copyright© 2020 The pictures are the property of the barrel owner and used with permission for this article. The pictures or article are not to be used without prior written permission (Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 501(a) U.S. Code) |
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Beezer
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Joined: May 21 2020 Location: Cleveland OH Status: Offline Points: 16 |
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Posted: Jun 12 2020 at 11:45pm |
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This is why I come to this forum. I cannot get enough of the history. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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W5USMC
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Joined: Apr 29 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Online Points: 1327 |
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Posted: Jun 13 2020 at 12:04am |
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Now that would be something cool to own. Very interesting, thanks for posting.
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Wayne
USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
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m1a1fan
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Got Para? Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1647 |
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Posted: Jun 13 2020 at 10:01am |
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Awesome, thanks for sharing. Would love to see that one come up for auction.
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jangle
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Joined: Jan 13 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 62 |
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Posted: Jun 13 2020 at 10:35am |
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Thank you for the detailed write up and excellent photos.
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GotSnlB28
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Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 239 |
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Posted: Jun 13 2020 at 10:45am |
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Great read! I'd suppose some more are out there but I haven't seen many 11-44 outside of this article, 1 I think. I have a NOS one a few months earlier and it's such a work of art I hate to use it!
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Butsky
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Joined: Dec 19 2017 Location: St. Catharines Status: Offline Points: 85 |
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Posted: Jun 16 2020 at 5:53pm |
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love to have this hanging up in my den!!
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carbinekid
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Joined: Jan 24 2016 Location: SE Michigan Status: Offline Points: 47 |
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Posted: Jun 16 2020 at 11:55pm |
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I wonder if we may see some out of the Philippines...
Edited by New2brass - Jun 28 2020 at 4:03pm |
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blackfish
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Joined: Mar 30 2016 Location: 999-0 Status: Offline Points: 236 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2020 at 5:37am |
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not a chance if they were US made, it's against the law
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GotSnlB28
Grunt
Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 239 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2020 at 7:38am |
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Wow, that's a lot of barrels. Off hand I'd have thought they should be wrapped with preservative? If that's an old picture, they may not be in good condition anymore. I see some evidence of rust.
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carbinekid
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Joined: Jan 24 2016 Location: SE Michigan Status: Offline Points: 47 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2020 at 1:41pm |
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is it against the law to import tomato stakes or rebar for concrete work? They look like good substitutes to me...or at least that’s what the customs paperwork will say lol
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welbytwo
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Advanced Collector Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 587 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2020 at 9:42pm |
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One of the first Underwood Barrels
 Edited by New2brass - Jun 17 2020 at 11:29pm |
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Charles
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Joined: Mar 21 2016 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 521 |
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Posted: Jun 18 2020 at 7:26am |
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Having lived there for three years. moss growing on our shoes, more rice in the sugar bowl than sugar, lite bulbs on in all of the closets, they are bound to be in pretty bad shape.
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Charles
Co B 1st Batl.115 Inf. Reg. 29th. Divi. 4.2 Heavy Mortar Co Retired Life member NRA |
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