[fez]

I always wanted a GI m1 carbine but prices were beyond me. I was willing to settle for a Plainfield or Universal but either they were not readily available or I didn't have the cash at the time or the guy didn't want to trade for what I had. Just could not be in the right place at the right time. That has changed. I saw an ad in Fla gun trader for this Universal m1 carbine for 350. Looked good but I did not have the cash. Thought same old story but low and behold his ad stated an interest in c&r and bp guns. Now I like my 2 bp revolvers but am not not really into bp shooting. I figured now or never. I offered both and my equipment even up. He said ok. It also came with 40 rounds of Lake City ammo with strippers. The finish is olive Teflon and original to the rifle. Universal offered some that way. I don't think it's very common. Also came with a 30 round mag.

 

[Brawny]

Fez, you've done it again.

 

[fez]

Thanks. I always thought that if was not the real GI look I could always stain the stock that cherry wood military type and buy a metal vented hand guard or even make holes in the wood hand guard and paint it black. However I think I'm gonna keep this one in it's original finish. It's kinda unique. From the serial# and it's features I think it's a second gen which were considered some of the better ones. Probably early 70's. These carbines really feel good. Not bulky or heavy. Easy to maneuver around with. Got to get to the range now

 

[850sub]

Nice! Pretty cool to have that unusual finish.

 

[fez]

If anyone has an interest in the Universal here is a sh, er, boatload of info:
http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal.html

 

[FLT]

Nice find . I have one of the enforcer models. I've had it for many years and don't remember ever firing it. I've had several people try to trade me out of it but for some unknown reason I've hung on to it.

 

[fez]

Nice find . I have one of the enforcer models. I've had it for many years and don't remember ever firing it. I've had several people try to trade me out of it but for some unknown reason I've hung on to it.

Good move. They seem to get a bad rep but that's the internet for you. The few, very few, Plainfields and Universals I came across at the range functioned well and were well liked by their owners.

 

[haertig]

Congratulations! These are fun rifles.

Mine is a very early Universal, from back at the beginning when they were made like GI models (maybe even using GI parts?) It's bolt mechanism looks totally different than yours. The stock and hardware on the fore end are different too (my fore end hardware is a little corroded - blood and guts from battle, I guess! - Joking ... Universals weren't used in combat that I know of.)

 

[fez]

There were 3 gens. The first was to GI specs. Then Universal made some changes that corrected a few problems the GI's had but made them kind of proprietary as parts no longer interchanged but the changes were considered a plus. The 3rd gens were when the company was on the downside and some of the corners they cut were not good. This is kinda what I got from that link I provided above. It's a good read on the Universal's history and some other manufacturers. Ck it out.

 

[haertig]

My serial number is 3xxx, so in the 2000-9900 range shown on the webpage. Don't know that that means, other than identifying it as an "early model".

These carbines are so fun to shoot. They handle like a feather, they are so light. And recoil is almost non-existent. You're gonna have a blast with yours! I'm not knocking black powder revolvers, but I think you made an excellent trade!

 

[fez]

You can kinda of piece meal it together to get an idea of when a rifle was made by comparing changes, feature and catalog info. But it is all spread out. There is nothing that lists serial number groups to years. Kinda of tedious but I enjoyed studying it. Mine is #139xxx and the Teflon finishes were around 1970. For how long I don't know but with other info I'm figuring 70's. By the way my bp revolvers were not an expensive brands. I would guess that what I paid for them and powder, balls etc I had about 350 into them. So pretty even trade.