Question about M1 Carbine

My dad was in Vietnam and he carried the M1 Carbine. He liked it so much that when he got out he bought him self one. Well he has now given it to me and I am thinking about buying a UltiMAK M6-B Mount for it so i can put a scope or red dot or whatever i want on it. This is my question, im pretty sure my dad got a replica, this is why. On my gun the Op-Rod is not exposed on the out side of the gun. I have looked at pics of M1 on the internet and in every pic the rod is exposed.

My Gun
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/x...ym1pic2red.jpg

M1 with Op-Rod exposed
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/x...tm1pic1red.jpg

Now im to my questions, will the UltiMark still work on gun? Is it a replica like i thought? Also, is the safety reversible? If so are there any instructions out there on how to do it? I am a left handed shooter.

Looks like a Universal to me.

Thats a Universial carbine. The cut in the charing handle gives it away. It looks like one of their mid-sixties models after they started using the open cut and dual recoil springs. I have one of their "type-3" last change models in the back of the safe {that admission is on the condition that I add that I bought it on a college student's budget back in 1983 while universal was still in business}. I have never tried to reverse the safety on that model, you can always try it but I doubt it will work. It is not the USGI safety, but it disassembles from the trigger housing the same way. As far as Ultimark, I would check with them to see if they says it fits. Most after market handguards do fit that Universal, but a few off brands do not. You can get more info at the
Universal Firearms Corp.

If you read through all those pages, you will find a links to download various versions of instruction manual for several different models.

Welcome mookieh,
As Jim stated your carbine looks to be a commercial brand made by 'Universal'.
It might very well already be tapped on the left side under the wood line for a scope mount. Pull the stock and see.

Here is a link to a well researched and very informative web site by one of our fellow members here. Your carbine is pictured at the top of the page. Check it out and feel free to share any info you see on your carbine with this site.

Link,
Universal Firearms Corp.

HTH
Charlie-painter777

Sorry Tired Retired,
Didn't mean to post over you.......

Cheers
Charlie-painter777

Charlie, no prob, it proves (to me at least) that I may be getting old, I've definitely gone crazy, but I at least haven't gotten Alzheimer’s - yet. I even found my shoes today when I wanted to go for a long walk - "oh, was I suppose to wear clothes when I did that? Sorry, officer..."

Mookieh, I would never advise you to dispose of a weapon that has become a family heirloom. But note that Universals have a history of firing out of battery (bolt design issues) and developing cracks at the bottom of that famous cut in the charging handle (metal issues). Read up, be careful, but enjoy your father's hand-me-down. In owning a Universal myself, I personally would not depend on that weapon as a Sd/HD weapon because of the known issues with that manufacturer. If you want a good (no, GREAT) weapon for SD/HD, I recommend that you get a USGI carbine and then add SP or HP ammo. Besides, a USGI Carbine is what you father actually used in Vietnam.

Ed

Thx for the help guys! Im going to be using it more at the range doing more of a "tatical" shooting i guess u could say. I have a pretty good setup at the town my college is in. I pay 35 dollars and I get a key to the range for the year and no one is ever out there.

Buying a new gun really isn't an option right now. Im what i like to refer to as a PCS(poor college student) so I have to make due with what i have. I also have .22 simi auto pistol so I can practice transitioning between the two. Also, the .22 will help keep the cost of ammunition down lol. By the way does any one know a cheap place to by .30 carbine ammunition? cheaper then dirt is all out of stock

I will keep an eye on the charging handle and see is any thing goes wrong. My dad keeps good care of his guns as do I, so im hopping for no cracks!

Thx again!

It's not the taking care of the firearm that will prevent damage to a Universal carbine. The problems are built into the design of the later ones. Just remember that the company that made them has been out of business of many years now and parts are almost impossible to find and USGI parts will NOT interchange with your carbine.

be careful you don't shoot your eye out, kid
...
http://content7.flixster.com/photo/1...484177_gal.jpg