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

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[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

[LittleCrane]

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

That's the one. Had a picture of a Mounty on the bottle, and people called it "Mounty p_ss."

[phil441]

That's the one. Had a picture of a Mounty on the bottle, and people called it "Mounty p_ss."

OK, now I remember those.
When I was stationed at "the goose" in Labrador, our little combo sometimes played at the OC on the Canadian side. Those bottles were behind the bar but I never tried one. Had no idea they were brewed in the US. Most of the Canadians drank their beers from green bottles.

[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.