Universal M1 Carbine
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Alex Clayton
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If you want an M1 DO NOT buy one of those. It will almost be assured to disappoint you. If you really want one save the cash you need to get a Mil surplus mixmaster that's a good shooter. A couple places have and are still making clones FAR better than the old Universals but the cost of the one Kahr makes tends to put them close to what a Mil-Surp runs and many of them seem to slip past the QA with all kinds of problems. Far too many for what they sell for.
From what I understand, the very early Universals used surplus parts, but pretty early on, started making their own parts with some "value engineered" changes. The bolt carrier/charging handle is the most obvious. Not sure about the bolts themselves. I've not heard good things of the reliability of the later Universals. Mine is a fairly early Plainfield and runs pretty well. Mostly GI parts, though I believe Plainfield machined their own receivers. Here's some good info on the Universal M1 Carbines
http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal.html
http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal.html
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Well now....
Here is my early (4 digit sn) Universal and it is one of my very favorite rifles. Through about SN 15000 or so, they were 100% compatible with GI parts and used a forged steel receiver. The bluing and woodwork is top-notch. Mine has had exactly 1 failure to go into battery in over 800 rounds downrange, otherwise function has been perfect.
At around SN 15000, they enlarged the trigger housing cutout in the stock, meaning that GI stocks have to be modified to fit. Aftr SN100,000 the design was heavily modified with dual recoil springs and a skelotinized slide which is prone to breakage and replacement parts are hard to come by.
I would avoid the later guns, but highly recommend the early (1st gen.) Universals. Really, the only weak point on the early guns is the aluminum trigger housing, but this is easily replaced with a steel GI unit.
The link that Bersaguy gave is probably THE best resource for the post-war commercial carbines.
Here is my early (4 digit sn) Universal and it is one of my very favorite rifles. Through about SN 15000 or so, they were 100% compatible with GI parts and used a forged steel receiver. The bluing and woodwork is top-notch. Mine has had exactly 1 failure to go into battery in over 800 rounds downrange, otherwise function has been perfect.
At around SN 15000, they enlarged the trigger housing cutout in the stock, meaning that GI stocks have to be modified to fit. Aftr SN100,000 the design was heavily modified with dual recoil springs and a skelotinized slide which is prone to breakage and replacement parts are hard to come by.
I would avoid the later guns, but highly recommend the early (1st gen.) Universals. Really, the only weak point on the early guns is the aluminum trigger housing, but this is easily replaced with a steel GI unit.
The link that Bersaguy gave is probably THE best resource for the post-war commercial carbines.
FL-NC
Member
I messed with a few. Reliability was spotty at best, and no real compatibility with GI carbines.
.455_Hunter
Member
OP- What is the approx serial number you are looking at?
My 2XXXX gun has been outstanding.
My 2XXXX gun has been outstanding.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
At different times I've owned two Universal, one Iver Johnson commercial and one GI M1 Carbine. I've also inspected many other Universal M1s over the years. Universals were built to a price and varied considerably in quality, but I have to say that mine both functioned about as well and accurately as any other M1 Carbine I've shot.
I wouldn't buy a Universal M1 Carbine sight-unseen. I'd want to take the action out of the stock and inspect the build quality, then fire a couple of full magazines through it, seeing whether it feeds and ejects consistently. Then I'd want a really good price.
The only things you can usually count on being interchangable with GI on Universals are magazines. Sometimes a few parts like the handguard and rear sight will also swap, but I'm not sure this is 'universal'.
I wouldn't buy a Universal M1 Carbine sight-unseen. I'd want to take the action out of the stock and inspect the build quality, then fire a couple of full magazines through it, seeing whether it feeds and ejects consistently. Then I'd want a really good price.
The only things you can usually count on being interchangable with GI on Universals are magazines. Sometimes a few parts like the handguard and rear sight will also swap, but I'm not sure this is 'universal'.
MosinT53Hunter
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If you get one, get a Gen 1. Most parts are compatible with USGI parts. Its a real nice rifle. I love mine. 
Serial number range is just about everything when considering a Universal M1 Carbine as the early guns used a preponderance of surplus military parts.
This is my 4 digit SN Universal M1 Carbine that has been flawless in form, firing and function from the day I purchased it.
It was a Gunshow purchase and I was able handle/look it over prior to purchase and confirm it SN.
It came with 7 USGI 15 round magazines, two 5 round magazines, 400 rounds of Lake City ammo and a canvas bag to carry it all in.
Bought it from a cat that was selling prior to Xmas and he let all that go for $400.00.
One of the best deals I’ve ever got at a Gunshow.
This is my 4 digit SN Universal M1 Carbine that has been flawless in form, firing and function from the day I purchased it.
It was a Gunshow purchase and I was able handle/look it over prior to purchase and confirm it SN.
It came with 7 USGI 15 round magazines, two 5 round magazines, 400 rounds of Lake City ammo and a canvas bag to carry it all in.
Bought it from a cat that was selling prior to Xmas and he let all that go for $400.00.
One of the best deals I’ve ever got at a Gunshow.
bannockburn
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- Apr 24, 2007
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- 26,292
Think I paid $100 for one over 40 years ago. For the money it wasn't that bad and it's overall fit and finish were fairly good. Didn't use it all that much but it worked fine when it did. I would probably place it's production somewhere after the early G.I. parts models and before they were reengineered by subsequent manufacturers.
.308 Norma
Member
I had one in the early '70s. It worked - no complaints. I can't remember for sure - I think I could do 3"- 4" groups at 100 with its factory "peep" sight though.
I won't bore anyone with the whole story, but I killed a huge mule deer buck in 1972 with that carbine. I shot him right behind the ear at about 10 yards.
I won't bore anyone with the whole story, but I killed a huge mule deer buck in 1972 with that carbine. I shot him right behind the ear at about 10 yards.
NIGHTLORD40K
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D.B. Cooper
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- Oct 2, 2016
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I had one, and a good friend had one. Both were junk. Mine always shot far to the right, totally off paper at 100 yards with the rear sight moved as far as possible. My friend's threw the extractor claw and was never able to get it repaired. (I'm really not sure why that it is, but I assume lack of parts availability or cost of parts.) I would run, don't walk, away from any Universal carbines. After these experiences, I won't even consider owning any commercial carbine from any manufacturer. The guys over at InRange/Forgotten Weapons, Ian and Karl, gave the new Khar commercial copy carbine a pretty bad review as well. Just reading the comments here, you can see that, while there will always be a few outliers, the standard curve applies and, in this case, what's inside the curve is poor quality.
indy1919a4
Member
Now that is a Boss Serial number... I would love to see a close up photo of that.. A friend of mine had a rifle that he thought was not numbered, he had it for years.. (In das olden days some guns were not numbered) Until he noticed that a mark on the receiver was really a "1". That is mind blowing.. You would think that there would be a few people in the plant want those low numbers before they went out to the public.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
That was likely an inspectors mark.
indy1919a4
Member
Well now could be, but other guns in this line were serial numbered and in that spot.. Weirder things have happen..
CapnMac
Member
I had one, in the late 80s.
Definitely an "in between" as it had two rods but only one spring.
Shot about minute-of-door at 25; minute-of-berm at 100.
Spent about $150 all in for that performane, has happy to get $105 for it at an AstroHall gun show around 1990.
Definitely an "in between" as it had two rods but only one spring.
Shot about minute-of-door at 25; minute-of-berm at 100.
Spent about $150 all in for that performane, has happy to get $105 for it at an AstroHall gun show around 1990.
Nice "oiler bottle" holding the sling in!
The ancient .243 round in place of the Oiler was the “clincher” for me reference the “deal” on this rifle, absent this peculiarity, I would have passed
Nothing “Boss” about it really, the serial number is just 4 digits (388X) a very early Universal.
indy1919a4
Member
Sorry my miss understanding, Your right, nothing Boss at all about it.
Tommygunn
Member
What caliber for M1 carbine oiler??? He he. Just rhetorical. Some wise acre had to and that's where I really shine!!
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Yours is a couple hundred later than mine.
Im jealous, you got a flat bolt! Definitely a GI part, that. Mine has a Inland round bolt, Saginaw slide, and Rockola recoil plate.- Status
