Universal M1 Carbine: Is the thing worth a darn?

[Defense Minister]

I recently inherited a commercial copy of the M1 Carbine. It is stamped Universal Firearms Corporation, Hialeah, FL. I don't know anything about the gun, and wondered if it is worth keeping. Thanks!

 

[.45Guy]

Is it an early GI spec, or the later stamped op rod?

 

[Defense Minister]

I think it is a later model. It has dual recoil springs, and the trigger housing is some kind of lightweight alloy, so I am certain that it is not USGI spec.

 

[.45Guy]

I've seen a few sell locally for ~$325, but that was a few years ago. I've owned a few, and they can be made to run fairly well. Good news is the extractor and ejector are GI compatible, and those are the two parts I had the most issues with. Of course I had one op rod crack from the tappet strikes... That was kind of a bad deal.

 

[MB308]

I have one of those, pretty good except for too often stovepipe jams. Mine was made in '64, IIRC. Heres a good link I found:

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal3.html

 

[FMJMIKE]

JUNK............sorry...........

 

[CZguy]

I bought one back in the late sixties. I sold it in the seventies and never looked back.

You might consider selling your Universal, and buying a service grade from the CMP for $495.00.

http://www.odcmp.com/

 

[SaxonPig]

About 1 in 5 owners are like the two above. The other 80% report that their rifles work OK. They are not the quality of a military contract rifle. I see them selling for $350-$500. I have one I got in a pawn shop about 6 years ago for $165. Has never jammed or failed to fire. Works with GI magazines and any ammo I have tried. If you got it for free I'd say you got a good deal. Try it and see how it works.

 

[Trebor]

The real problem with Universal carbines isn't relability. The real problem is the use a different bolt design then the USGI guns and can much more easily fire out of battery.

That is an actual safety issue. Even if the gun runs fine, if there is a head space problem or a problem with the firing pin protrusion, an out of battery discharge is a real possibility.

 

[benzy2]

I would sell it and buy a CMP service grade with the money. I had a plainfield which is another commercial version. Both the Universal and the Plainfield have about the same value. CMP carbines are great deals and currently commercial carbines are pulling about as much price. I don't know why when they are inferior to the USGI carbines but I had no problem selling mine for CMP carbine prices.

 

[jcwit]

Fire out of battery? Bet thats exciting.

I've got a Plainfield thats a great plinking rifle, I cast and reload for it. After I tweaked the OAL and got it to feed I've haven't had any problems. I use the Plainfield for my shooter, and my all correct SG is in my collection, it gets shot some but not as much.

 

[garyhan]

In the 1960's, I aquired one of the first Universal carbines. I fired thousands of rounds of GI, factory, and reloads through it. It was accurate and never once malfunctioned in any way. In the mid 1990's, I shot a late Universal. It looked crude, and when I shot it the primers nearly blew out of the pockets of GI ammo. It is possible to get a good Universal carbine, but I suspect most out there now are more like the quality of the latter carbine.

gary