WWII Underwood M1 Carbine 30Cal Rifle w/ Matching Barrel “RIA EB” 1944 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,539.00

LSB#: LSB250729OS011

Make: Underwood

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 2864195

Year of Manufacture: The receiver was made between July 1943 and March 1944. The barrel date is 1-44.   

Caliber: .30 Cal carbine 

Action Type: Semi Automatic rifle fed by Detachable Magazines.

Markings: 

The top-rear of the receiver is marked “UNDERWOOD /  2864195”.  

The top-front of the receiver is marked “U.S. CARBINE”, “CAL .30 M1”. 

The barrel is marked with a “P” about 2.5” back from the front sight. The front of the barrel is marked “UNDERWOOD 1-44” with the flaming bomb.      

The front sight is stamped with “N”

The barrel band is marked “AMCO” a post war rebuild part. 

The slide is marked on the inside with “W” on the inside and “7160091” on the bottom for Winchester.  

The bolt is unmarked 

The rear sight is marked Shield “H”-Hemphill MFG. Co.

The trigger group is marked “INLAND”. 

The magazine catch is marked “M”

The hammer is unmarked 

The sear is marked “LN” for National Postal Meter.

The rotary Safety is marked “SS” a post war rebuild part. 

The magazine is unmarked 

The stock is marked faintly with “HI” in the sling cut for Hillerich & Bradsby CO. AKA the Louisville Slugger baseball bat manufacturer. The right flank has a large faint ordnance wheel and the number “28”. The bottom of the pommel is marked with a “P”. The left flank is marked with “RIA EB” Signifying an Arsenal rebuild or inspection at Rock Island Arsenal.  

The lug is unmarked.

The upper handguard is marked “Q-RMC” a Rock-Ola Music Company handguard made for Quality Hardware. 

The oiler is marked “IS” for International Silver Co. 

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. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock on this rifle is an Oval cut, low wood stock with a two rivet handguard, a Type three barrel band and a late rotary safety. The LOP is 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the butt plate. The wood shows scattered lines, scratches, and compressions throughout. The nose shows a small chip missing from the left edge. There are no visible cracks. The metal butt plate shows rub wear and surface rust around the edges. The checkering is sharp. Overall the stock set is in about Very Good condition.   

Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one 10 round magazine. The magazine is in Very Good overall condition.  

Type of Finish: Parkerized / Blued  

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright and clean, with very well defined rifling and no visible erosion or pitting. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. There is minor wear on the friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver. The finish of the rifle has turned green with age. The barrel shows the majority of the finish loss. The sight wings also show some finish loss from rub wear. The slide shows some surface rust forming mainly on the charging handle. The markings are clear. The screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in about Very Good 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 comes with a total of one magazine, oiler and sling.

Our Assessment: The Underwood M1 Carbine is a fascinating example of American ingenuity during World War II, produced by Underwood-Elliott-Fisher in 1944. Underwood, famous for its typewriters before the war, transitioned its precision manufacturing capabilities to support the U.S. military by producing M1 Carbines. This particular example, having been serviced at Rock Island arsenal, features a unique blend of parts, showcasing the complex process of sourcing parts for post war arsenal service and refurb. The rifle maintains the original Underwood barrel,  dated 1-44, aligning perfectly with the rifle’s production date and further emphasizing the consistency of Underwood’s manufacturing process. This rifle also has one of my favorite features: a stock made by Hillerich & Bradsby CO. the manufacturers of the Louisville Slugger baseball bats. Not to mention a handguard made by Rock-Ola the famous Juke Box Maker.    

The association with these manufacturers, each famous in their own fields having all turned wartime firearm producers, makes this carbine even more compelling. It stands as a testament to the adaptability of American industry and the collaborative efforts of contractors and arsenals to supply reliable weapons to soldiers across the globe. This carbine is not only a collector’s piece but also a vivid reminder of the critical role American manufacturers played in securing victory during World War II. To better understand this M1 carbine please see our high quality photos via the link and best of luck with your bidding!!!-R.L.