Underwood

I just bought my first M1 carbine and was wondering what the black paint is on the barrel. I guess it's what it looks like -- dark, shiny, black color on barrel, bayonet lug and front stock ring. Some scratches on bottom of barrel show gray/silver underneath. The gun is a re-work with an A stamped on the left side of the stock back from the trigger guard. Has Underwood 8-43 with flaming bomb and P acceptance stamp on the barrel, an Underwood receiver and pot belly stock. My question is did the arsenals that reworked these guns after the war ever use some kind of shiny "parkerizing" on the barrel? Doesn't really look like Kreylon and it's not on any other metal parts of the rifle. Thanks

stinkfeet, welcome to the forum. Post some pictures and that will help answer some questions. Regards.....Frank

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like maybe it is one of the recent Israeli imported weapon. The Mash Az volunteer Police (neighborhood watch with guns) used thousands of M1 Carbines. Israelis painted a lot of their weapons with black paint. Does it have a serial number stamped in the stock on the left side, just behind the "wrist" of the stock? That is a dead give-a-way for Israeli Carbine. Israeli carbines are generally excellent weapons. They were scrupulously maintained with USGI parts. They really do depend on there weapons.

stinkfeet,

Welcome to the forum. A knowledgeable group of guys here that are willing to help answer questions. We also have a search section in the task bar that you can use to see past posts on different subjects.

As Frank mentions, pictures go a long way in being able to comment on something. If you have problems posting pictures there is a tutorial that was put together by Harlan, one of our moderators.

How do I upload pictures to my posts for storage on milsurps.com?

We look forward to your participation and hope you enjoy the forum.

O.K. Thanks for the replies -- I'll try to get some pictures.

i just bought what i hope is a good deal gun store claims its an underwood m1 carbine but i cant seem too find a name any where
letters AAF are on the left side of the stock also a number 10 is in the sling area inspectors P is in the grip area and a round cartouche is on the bottom but un readable front barrel band has JMC or O on it and seems to be where a bayonet would be attached.
serial number is 2735972 and there are no other numbers only a M on the mag release .u. are on the front sight

did i just get ripped off ?

trade was for a built from extra Parts AR so no cash changed hands

Cunninghamed,

First off welcome to the forum.

It sounds like a common rebuilt carbine. It could also have been brought back here and have an import mark, have you checked for that? The name is on the receiver, most likely under the rear sight. The serial number you gave does fall into the second Underwood block.

There is not too much anyone can say or put a value on without seeing it. Pictures are the best way. Post some pictures and we can go from there. Up in the sticky threads, there are threads that will walk you through picture posting step by step.

Normal rebuilds vary depending on where you live. I see you are in Nevada. I would say $650-$850 depending on condition, parts and features.

I hope you enjoy our forum.

jim f

thanks for the reply i did see the name under the rear sight hard but its there

i have pics but need too get them on a cd rom for posting i will do it tomorrow or weds my new super printer wont read memory cards ( sucks )

where would i look for an import mark ? there are none visible and i have taken it apart for cleaning and such and don't see the usual suspects Cai etc

your low est is still a bit of a profit too me ( about $100.00) so if that's the case i am happy

and since it might actually be turned into a birthday gift for my wife's brother i am sure he will crap his pants LOL

thanks again jim
ed

Ed,

Sounds like a good birthday gift to me.

An import mark is usually found on the side of the barrel. In my area, Calif which is high, import marked would be the low end $650-$750. Rebuilds with no import mark and good condition goes higher, up to $950-$1000. Other parts of the country vary, most being lower. When you go from the shooter range to collectibles prices go up again.

You can store a certain amount of photos for free at Photobucket. just need to sign up. If you wanted unlimited space you pay a small charge. You might want to give them a try.

Good luck.

jim f

thanks again for the info tomorrow i will sign up for photobucket and post some pics.

nope no import marks barrel is clean

i have another question

some time back i ran across the sale of the year ( at least for me )

i bought a springfield m1 garand in what i thought was re built condition

with the serial number of D28287-123A i was told later that this gun is basically in Mint condition and while it doesn't have matching numbers on all the parts its Never been fired since before 12 1950 when it got a new barrel
D26296-12-Sa is on the trigger area and this set of numbers D-2829135 is Inside receiver on the side of the barrel is S A 12 50

this same gun shop owner said it had a sunshine armory barrel installed so that these guns could go overseas for the Korean war and that a lot of these went too foreign countries only too come back a few years a go. also i have heard that China had a few thousand and have been faking the parts. but people say that about everything coming out of china LOL ( china is faking gold coins sheesh )

it came into my possession by way of a debt repayment so i am not out much (less then $400.00 )

just wondering if you have ever heard of this story about Sunshine armory or was the person pulling my leg

the person i got the gun from said he also had a 03 Springfield also in mint condition and another 03 that his grandfather had made a couple changes too to make a target rifle that grandfather used for shooting matches. and that his grand dad was a trophy winner at places such as camp perry national matches. i could have had the Mint 03 but he wanted $2,000.00 plus and i think it really was re finished.

so far i have turned down offers of $3,000.00 and $3,500.00 ( just dont want too sell it right now )

when i say this gun is mint i am not kidding there are two tiny marks on the end of the barrel and a couple of minor dings on the stock from it sitting in a double sided case with the mint 03. the stock still has the pencil mark from the inspector ( G Y i think ) its Never had a enbloc clip in it from what i can tell.
allegedly its sat in a closet since the 60s and that may or may not be the case but i know the environment down here is pretty dry and the gun is rust free.
the barrel is like new and when i got it i ran a patch down it and it was so clean i thought i had a new one so i ran a second one down and the same. i put a bit of gun butter on the major parts on the inside other then that i have done nothing too it except keep it safe ( LOL)

wondering what your opinion is

thanks ed

Here is a new Underwood I picked up at a garage sale.

Hi Paul, Some garage sale that must have been!!

Best Regards.....Frank

Cunninghamed,

You would probably get better information for that over on the Garand forum.

M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PBI

I picked up at a garage sale.

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What the frig!! All I ever see is old baby stuff & cheap Chinese knock off tools.

And if I said I wasn't lookin for panties on the floor I'd be lying...;)


"Nuts"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PBI

Here is a new Underwood I picked up at a garage sale.

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Is that safety original? I thought they had that little flip safety?

Hi Ed.
Pictures are a must!
The rifle serial # will be on the top of the heel /receiver. The number you stated would be the Garand part/series number for the receiver.

Chuck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mikesm44

Is that safety original? I thought they had that little flip safety?

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Push button safeties were original. Later improvements resulted in flip safeties.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mikesm44

Is that safety original? I thought they had that little flip safety?

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Mike,

An inexpensive book is U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production. By Craig Riesch. I think it is on edition 7 now. Paper back 8 1/2" X 5 1/2" with over 200 pages listing the different part types and for which maker. Plenty of other interesting reading for the new as well as older carbine guys. The perfect book? No, but for the money a good quick reference worth having.

They sell on ebay and I saw them on Amazon

U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production, 7th Revised and Expanded Edition: Craig Riesch: 9781882391431: Amazon.com: Books

U s M1 Carbines Wartime Production by Craig Riesch WW2 Parts Tools Cartouche 1882391438 | eBay

@JimF4M1s Thanks for recommendation. I have just started getting into the carbines. Is that the same book that was featured in the last issue of American Riflemen? I think it was. I had been meaning to buy a copy after I read the article, but I forgot where I put the magazine.

Hi all

attached are a few pictures of the underwood m1 carbine hopefully these will help

thanks a lot

ed

Rockola hammer, just a typical rebuild. I'd wipe about a pound of that grease off if it were mine. Nice weapon.

Paul, Just stumbled across that Underwood?? I really like the photos, shows good original staking which is often not visible or too light to see. My NPM has staking so light that you almost can't see it (Left over from the original flip). I guess Underwood would be one of the first to use the round bolt. Wow what a fabulous carbine!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cunninghamed

Hi all

attached are a few pictures of the underwood m1 carbine hopefully these will help

thanks a lot

ed

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Ed: That's a nice honest looking M1 Carbine - I like that it still has the WWII stock, rebuild markings, etc. It's likely still in it's "last issued" condition and not a recent "put together" as is often seen now-a-days. :thup: - Bob

USGI

thanks for the info now i feel better about it and about giving it too my brother in law
he bought one of those commemorative type m1 carbines and basically had it in his basement for a few years
some how the finish got ruined and he did a re finish on it. not a good ending also he said something about a pot metal receiver ?
never heard of that

any way he deserves a real gun LOL

ed

is this comment for me or some one else ??

is there a non underwood hammer on it ??

i don't know enough about these too tell the difference.

everyone gives me grief about my grease on my guns there isn't much really LOL just looks like it
i always seem to get the guns that people leave in there closet for 20 plus years dirty dry full of lint and dust

Yes, BR or RB is a Rock-Ola hammer. It will have other mixed parts also like the Inland stock.