WWII Underwood Universal Winding M1 Carbine Semi-Auto Rifle C&R 1943-1944

SOLD FOR: $1,051.55

WOA#: WY240601RN010

Make: Underwood

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 2469573

Year of Manufacture: July 1943-February 1944

Caliber: .30 Cal

Action Type: Semi Automatic rifle fed by Detachable Magazines.

Markings:

The top-rear of the receiver is marked “UNDERWOOD / 2469573 / W” with a faint flaming bomb stamp. The “W” stamp over the flaming bomb would denote a sub-contracted receiver code for Universal Winding.

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  /  12-43” with a flaming bomb mark.

The barrel band is unmarked.

The front sight is unmarked

The trigger group is unmarked.

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

The magazine release button is marked “M”, and “EI” for Eaton Pond Co.

The hammer is marked “-U-” for Underwood

The safety is marked “J.A.O.” for J.A. Otterbein.

The slide is marked “ROCK-OLA” a Rock Ola Music Company Part.

The bolt is marked “-U-” for Underwood

The stock is marked with “50” to the left of the lug, “2220511” on the left in front of the sling cut, the bottom of the pommel has an illegible mark that looks like a circle “P” acceptance mark. The inside of the sling cut has an illegible mark that looks like “M-U” for Marlin Underwood. The right side of the stock in front of the sling cut is marked “2220511” and in front of that is a very faint mark that appears to be a “GHD UEF” with the ordnance wheel.

The lug is unmarked.

The upper handguard is marked “IO” for S.E. OVERTON CO.

Barrel Length: 18”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a simple blade set between protective wings and the rear sight is a late style sliding aperture sight with serrated adjustment knob dovetailed to the receiver. Unfortunately someone cut off the top of the aperture to make the rear sight into a V notch rear sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock on this rifle is an Oval cut, low wood stock with a two rivet handguard, a type 1 barrel band with and a later style flip safety. The LOP is 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. This stock is in very rough condition with lines, gouges, dents, and compressions throughout. The handguard similarly has marks, scratches and compressions. The nose, pommel and sling cut have several chips. There are no cracks. The metal buttplate has lost its finish, turned brown with patina and has begun to develop surface rust. Overall this stock is in Fair to Very Fair condition.       

Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one 15 round UNDERWOOD magazine in Very Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, possibly Cold Blued in places.

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is visible. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 7.5./10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains very little of the Original finish. Most of the gun has been finished with some kind of bluing. The muzzle, visible portion of the barrel and receiver retain 98% of the new finish. Under the handguard the finish is kind of globbed on from the chamber to the barrel band. The barrel band and Lug have not been refinished. The lug has turned brown with patina, The barrel band has lost its finish and turned brown with patina. There is finish loss on the receiver and bolt friction surfaces.  Overall this rifle is in about Very Fair to 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 includes one magazine.

Our Assessment: This Underwood M1 Carbine is a fascinating piece of World War II history, representing the collaborative manufacturing efforts that defined American weapon production during the war. Manufactured in 1944 by the Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, this M1 Carbine comes from a period towards the end of Underwood’s production run, making it a representative example of wartime small arms production. This carbine features a receiver supplied by the Universal Winding Company, which, although not a primary manufacturer of the M1 Carbine, contributed parts to various producers, including Underwood. This was a common practice, as the M1 Carbine program relied on a network of subcontractors to meet the massive demand for these lightweight, reliable rifles. The carbine also retains an Underwood barrel, which is appropriate and consistent with the primary manufacturer. Underwood barrels are known for their quality, and having the barrel match the main producer of the rifle adds a degree of historical correctness. One of the standout features of this carbine is the Rock-Ola slide. Rock-Ola, better known as a jukebox manufacturer, was one of the ten main contractors for the M1 Carbine during World War II. The presence of a Rock-Ola slide on an Underwood rifle exemplifies the M1 Carbine’s design philosophy, which prioritized interchangeability and functionality over strict uniformity. This stock was produced by Marlin for Underwood. Marlin stocks supplied to Underwood featured the “M-U” marking and were robust well made stocks. In summary, this Underwood M1 Carbine encapsulates the essence of American wartime production, where numerous companies came together to produce a reliable and effective weapon for the troops. Its blend of Underwood, Universal Winding, Rock-Ola, and Marlin components not only highlights the diverse origins of its parts but also underscores the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the American war effort. This carbine is not just a firearm but a historical artifact, reflecting the collaborative spirit and industrial might of the United States 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.

WWII Underwood Universal Winding M1 Carbine Semi-Auto Rifle C&R 1943-1944
WWII Underwood Universal Winding M1 Carbine Semi-Auto Rifle C&R 1943-1944