First Post - Underwood B M1 Carbine

[Hesalite]

Hello,

First post in here, and I appreciate all the help.

I just bought an M1 Carbine (Underwood B), and I’m looking to get some information on it as far as value, desirability, should I even be shooting it, etc. So far, here is a list of markings I’ve found on the rifle. I have not seen any import marks, and with the exception of the rear sight base having an S on the left side, most everything is marked U.

Receiver: Underwood 2,655,XXX B (Singer)
Rear Sight: U (aperture) and S (left side of sight)
Op-Rod: U
Bolt: U
Trigger Group: U
Mag Catch/Release: U
Magazine: IU
Hammer: U
Recoil Plate: U
Buttplate: Underwood (identified myself earlier)
Barrel: Underwood 9-43 with Bomb below and P below that. No import marks.
Front Sight: EU
Under Hand Guard: P-U
Pistol Grip: P
Right Buttstock: GHD UEF with cannons
Inside Sling Area: TRIMBLE TN
Right Buttstock: Serial number

Again, any insight on this rifle would be greatly appreciated.

Here are a few pics: Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Thank you!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[shadycon]

Welcome:
Looks nice, but maybe too nice! Roll pin in rear site? Refinished? This is a good start, a few more pictures will help tell if it is a mostly original, rebuild or put together.

[Hesalite]

Welcome:
Looks nice, but maybe too nice! Roll pin in rear site? Refinished? This is a good start, a few more pictures will help tell if it is a mostly original, rebuild or put together.

Can you shed some light on the rear sight roll pin? Not exactly sure what that means.

Thank you

[shadycon]

On the rear site it has a pin to hold the flip part to the base. A 'roll pin' is not solid but rolled steel, it is slightly larger than the hole it is going into. This way it will be forced into hole and it stay in with tension. Does it have a hole thru it or is it solid? They used a solid pin when new. If it has a 'roll pin' then it 's not original . It is still a nice looking carbine!

[USGI]

Roll pin in rear site?

Looks more like a slightly too long pin that was staked in place with a center punch and then "bradded" a bit at both ends. - Bob

[jimb16]

The rear sight is suspicious. Roll pins were NOT used in original sights. They were solid pins with rounded ends. And they were staked in place. Several styles of staking were used, the most common being a circle around the end of the pin. Shady is correct. It seems just a bit too nice. More pictures and detailed pictures of all parts; inside and out, would help.

[shadycon]

My book say's that your stock should be correct and the barrel also.
Is the number stamped into the stock the same as the ser.#?

[Hesalite]

Thanks for the quick response.

Here is a picture of the rear sight: http://i.imgur.com/ZkJmWhf.jpg

Looks like a solid pin with a little dimple in it.

Thoughts?

---------- Post added at 09:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 PM ----------

And yes, the serial number matches the receiver.

[shadycon]

Sounds like it is the original stock and the rear site should be correct. +++++++
I could have come back from Israel as they stamped the ser.# in the stock.

[Hesalite]

Yea I read something about the stocks being stamped in Israel. Very cool! Any idea on value? From what I've read the Singer one produced 25,000 receivers for Underwood. Glad to hear the good news! I'm still confused though because there are no import marks, and the serial number isn't on the left of the stock. I've read that US Police Departments would stamp their Carbines butt stocks as well