Looking for some information on a M1 carbine marked G.H.D. on receiver.

[Sal]

Hey, I've got a M1 carbine marked G.H.D. in place of the serial number. Its an underwood action, with the barrel matching, dated 11-42. I've taken it to a few collectors who haven't seen anything like it, but they say that the finish and everything seems original, and that it looks like its all factory done.

The gun itself seems to have been updated with newer parts such as they bayonet lug and the sliding rear sight, but it seems mostly original underwood. The stock itself which I havent taken pictures of yet is not underwood, but has the G.H.D. mark on it, and an AP on the left side of the grip area. The serial area is lower than the normal receiver, but with any of the presentation guns i've seen thats usually the case as it was just a normal receiver ground and restamped before finishing.

Anyone here have any idea on what it could be? I've gotten guesses from a lunchbox special gun that just followed an employee home to presentation gun, to toolroom prototype gun. i've been told the AP on the stock might be aberdeen proving or somthing to that extent. Also, any idea on value of the thing?

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.

[Bruce McAskill]

The G.H.D. are for Col. Guy H. Drewry later General who was in charge of the Hartford district of small arms inspection and acceptance. I think we have seen this and discussed it before on this forum. If I remember right it was thought to be a fake done to a standard Underwood receiver.

[LittleCrane]

Definitely looks like the serial number was ground off and the initials stamped by a Chimpanzee.

Does anyone remember Drewry's Beer?

[frankderrico]

Wasn't Drewry's a cheaper brand that had a hard time making a head?.....Frank

[Bill Hollinger]

You guys are killing me!

[Sal]

Well, every presentation carbine, or any carbine "not" marked with a serial always looked like it was ground or reshaped to remove the serial and then restamped. Here is a picture of a presentation underwood. You can see that it is reshaped, much more cleanly than the one that I have, but it still shows that it seems to be the usual.



So, anyone have any actual input? I've taken it to collectors all over california where I'm at, and every one of them have said it does look original, and not like the fake presentations or prototypes in person.

I'll be taking some pictures of the stock its in tonight, I doubt its original since it looks to be a winchester stock, but it has AP on the left side of the grip area, and the GHD cartouche on the right side.

[John Wyatt]

I think BATF would have a problem with the receiver as the serial number has been ground off.

[BrianQ]

The fact the carbine looks like it was done in somebody’s garage with the lights off should be your first clue as to who didn't do it. The second clue would be all the parts that Underwood never used.

Underwood had thousands of receivers without serial numbers on them so why would they need to grind off a serial number to make a presentation gun?

The guns Underwood did have fine workmanship and don't look butchered. They also have all Underwood parts.

[phil441]

I too love "Photoshop" and it's clones.
Just wish that I was that good with it........
Maybe someday.........

[Sal]

So....talking about beer and photoshop...neither of which pertains to the questions being asked, I was referred here by a collector, who said someone could help, which I so far have found very little of.

Being serious here, so is there anyone here who actually knows what they are talking about in regards to the subject? Establishing whether or not its a fake is going to be hard I know, but is there anyone that wants to help and has the resources to actually look it up instead of just speculating, or can anyone point me in the right direction at where to look?

On every presentation gun I've seen the receiver HAD a serial and was ground/reshaped at the rear end, including that JLB pictured, the presentation guns were done with more attention to detail, but every one I've seen was just a standard production taken off of the line and re-finished into a presentation. You can see there isnt a crip U at the rear of the receiver and how it is more round than usual.

Are there any good books, or any collectors that deal with mainly the prototype/presentation carbines? I'm only looking for information on a gun I
really have, that isn't photoshopped, and I don't really care about drewry beer.

Thanks.