Early Underwood SN1378071

[thorin6]

Part I
How to almost turn an original, early Underwood into a “parts gun”

1. Walk into a local gun store, notice several carbines on the wall, see one with tag marked Underwood with flip sight, Type 1 barrel band, highwood stock with I-cut oiler slot.
2. Look at said Underwood, try to remember everything
3. Return home, check books, and head back to store.
4. Look at said Underwood second time, remove barrel band and handguard, and inspect all metal thoroughly. Look over stock for cracks.
5. Negotiate cash price, settle on amount, and walk out door.
6. Print out Carbine Data Sheet.
7. Disassemble Carbine into component groups (trigger housing assembly, bolt, etc.). Note that sling (tan C-tip) and oiler (IU) are correct for 1,378,071 serial number.
8. Take bolt tool, and remove extractor and firing pin.
9. Loosen bolt tool (you might see where this is heading).
10. Cringe as you hear a ping and ricochet as the extractor plunger takes off for parts unknown.
11. Spend next three hours taking apart room piece by piece.
12. Breathe sigh of relief when you notice extractor plunger on carpet in corner of room.
13. Comfort yourself because now your wife can get in and actually vacuum and dust your room.
14. Fill out data sheet, put everything back together, and go to bed.

Part II.
As best I can figure, this Underwood is all original, but I'm willing to let others give me their opinion. The exposed metal shows wear, but the finish under the wood shows very little wear. Some of the shine (particularly on the barrel) is from hand rubbing it with CLP to help protect the remaining finish; no evidence of a repark. Wood is dark, but relatively free of dings and scratches; no cracks as far as I can tell. Muzzle wear is almost nil. The carbine appears to have been carried a lot but shot very little; possibly a guard or parade carbine.

First Pictures:

Right and left profiles:



Subassemblies:



Cartouche:



Barrel Markings:



Close up of Trigger Housing Assembly:



Receiver Rear and Barrel Band:



Bolt is blued, flat w/ .U. under left lug; extractor (T3) with .U.; ejector blued (T1); firing pin blued, T1, unmarked but with single punch on left rear.

Trigger housing is T2 with Ordnance Bomb on bottom, .U. on rear of mag well; dogleg Hammer with .U., blued; trigger with .U., sear T1 (no hole) blued; 22 coil spring; magazine catch T2 with .U.; unmarked safety T1.

Stock has UEF over GHD in box just behind the grip; circled P on bottom of grip; RMC, T, and F inside sling well. Handguard is 2 rivet, deep groove, with Pederson U on inside. Buttplate has correct small dot diagonal pattern.

Operating slide is T1 with Ordnance Bomb next to handle, .U. inside slide well. Barrel date is 2-43. Bottom of barrel has Ordnance Bomb on flat behind piston. Barrel has long skirt. T2 recoil plate with .U. on bottom. Flip sight has .U. on leaf; and S on left side. Front sight marked .U. behing sight blade. Barrel Band unmarked, with three weld spots.

If I've missed anything or someone wants to see more pictures, please ask.

Information

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[imarangemaster]

Very nice! I'm jealous.

[Bill Hollinger]

That is sweet! A time capsule carbine.

[Tired Retired]

I am curious to see the receiver from the top, the hammer from the front and the top of the housing. You got any pictures like that?

I really like how sharp the barrel markings are.

[thorin6]

I am curious to see the receiver from the top, the hammer from the front and the top of the housing. You got any pictures like that?

I really like how sharp the barrel markings are.

Let me see what I have once I get home from work. I was planning on taking extensive pictures until I spent three hours taking apart the room.

[USGI]

Wow! To me, it would be worth about double the value of that Gun Broker "mint" S'G' in the other thread. - Bob

[thorin6]

Wow! To me, it would be worth about double the value of that Gun Broker "mint" S'G' in the other thread. - Bob

I picked up the Underwood for just over half what the current bid on that S'G' is at.

[thorin6]

I am curious to see the receiver from the top, the hammer from the front and the top of the housing. You got any pictures like that?

I really like how sharp the barrel markings are.

I went through all the pictures I took, and I don't have any that show what you are asking; I'll get some more pictures taken, but that won't happen until early next week as I'll be pretty busy the next few days through the weekend. Hopefully I won't let loose with any more projectiles.

[Bubba-7]

I have never seen an Underwood that nice. Wonderful that some one who knows what it is will take care of it.

[USGI]

I picked up the Underwood for just over half what the current bid on that S'G' is at.

That makes me curious about the other carbines hanging on the wall at that gun shop - I think you got an amazing deal. That carbine beats anything I have, or probably ever will. I'd like to see pictures of both sides of the front sight and also of the front band with the gun assembled. Thanks! - Bob