WWII Saginaw Gear SG M1 Carbine 18”.30 Cal Rifle w/ “UEF” Stock C&R 1943
SOLD FOR: $1,079.00
LSB#: WY240723KM007
Make: Saginaw SG. Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors– Saginaw, Michigan.
Model: M1 Carbine.
Serial Number: 3430735
Year of Manufacture: May of 1943-February 1944, Most likely Late 1943
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi Auto, fed by Detachable Magazines.
Markings:
The top of the receiver is marked “U.S. CARBINE / CAL. 30 M1” and “SAGINAW SG / 3430735”. There is a firing proof punch present. The left side of the receiver is marked “SG” below the wood line.
The top of the barrel is marked faintly “SAGINAW S.G. DIV. GENERAL MOTORS” and a “P” about six inches back from the front sight. The barrel flat has some very faint station markings.
The barrel band is Marked “MMQ”.
The bayonet lug is marked “EM-Q” for Elgin Metal Novelty Co.
The slide is marked with a “SG” for Saginaw Gear
The front sight is marked with a “RIA” on the left side for Rock Island Armory.
The rear sight is marked “I.R.C.O. 7160060”-for International Register CO.
The trigger group is marked “SG” for Saginaw Gear
The mag release is marked “M”
The rotary safety is marked “JAO” for J.A. Otterbein
The hammer is marked “HI” for Hillerich Machine Company.
The sear is unmarked
The lug is marked “SG” for Saginaw Gear
The upper handguard is marked “S-A” I Believe this is a Springfield Armory replacement part. Although I have never seen the S and the A so far apart.
The stock is marked in the sling cut with “TRIMBLE TN” for Trimble Nursery the subcontractor for stocks for National Postage Meter and Underwood. This stock is also marked on the left hand side with a large “-U-” stamp which is Underwood’s mark. The right flank of the stock has a very faint Ordnance wheel and a what appears to be a very very faint “UEF GHD” stamp for Underwood Elliot Fisher and Guy H. Drewry of the Hartford Ordnance district.
The oiler is marked “IS” for International Silver Co.
The Magazine is marked “U”
Barrel Length: Approximately 18 Inches
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.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an oval cut, low wood, with a four rivet handguard, type 3 barrel band with bayonet lug, later rotary style safety and metal checkered buttplate. The LOP measures 13.25 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The upper handguard has scattered lines, scratches and compressions with no chips or cracks. The stock shows the normal scratches, lines and compressions, with only small dings in the nose, and only one small chip out of the bottom of the oval cut. There is a brass pin in the right hand side under the barrel band retention spring. There are no visible cracks in the wood. The metal buttplate has semi-sharp checkering with finish loss and a large spot of surface rust on the top. Overall the stock on this rifle is in about Good + to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is minor visible erosion scattered throughout the bore with the majority in the last third. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The metal surfaces have mostly turned green / brown from patina and age. The friction surfaces on the receiver and round bolt show wear and finish loss. There are the usual surface scratches and marks present. The only real notable damage to this rifle is the surface rust that has developed on the front sight and muzzle area. Overall this rifle is in about Good+ to Very Good condition considering the age and originality.
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 green canvas sling, and one 15 round magazine that shows some rust freckling in the bluing and surface rust patches. The spring is strong and the follower runs smoothly. Overall the magazine is in Good condition.
Our Assessment: The Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine is a significant variant of the iconic M1 Carbine, produced during World War II by the Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors. The M1 Carbine itself was a lightweight, semi-automatic rifle designed to provide greater firepower than the standard-issue sidearm while being more portable than the M1 Garand. Saginaw Steering Gear Division, located in Saginaw, Michigan, was one of several companies contracted by the U.S. government to manufacture the M1 Carbine. Production of the M1 Carbine by Saginaw Gear began in 1943 and continued through the end of World War II. The company was chosen for its expertise in precision engineering and manufacturing, essential for the production of reliable military firearms. The Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine, like other variants, is chambered in .30 Carbine. It operates on a short-stroke gas piston system, allowing for semi-automatic fire. The rifle has an effective range of about 300 yards, making it suitable for various combat roles, from close-quarters engagements to medium-range skirmishes. Today, the Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine is a sought-after collector’s item due to its historical significance and being manufactured by Saginaw Steering Gear. The M1 Carbine, in general, remains a popular choice among collectors and shooters for its historical value, reliability, and ease of use.
This example was made in late 1943 and features almost all correct to Saginaw Gear parts which is a rare find. The most interesting feature to me is the early Underwood stock. Underwood Elliot Fisher, famous for making typewriters, produced a number of components as well as rifles for the War effort. Although the markings on the stock are faint in the right lighting you can see the Trimble TN mark denoting the stock was produced by Trimble Nursery in Tennessee for Underwood shown by the faint “UEF” stamp and somehow ended up on a Saginaw Rifle. This rifle also at some point had the front sight replaced with a Rock Island repair sight and had a rotary safety added. To get a better understanding of this M1 please see our high quality photos via the link and best of luck with your bidding!!!-R.L.
