Universal M1 Carbine SSN?

[spartan1771]

I'm considering purchasing an M1 Carbine and would like to get a little more info on it before I make the purchase. The serial number of the gun is: 80897. From what I understand, this is a first generation Universal, which were all GI issue. The gun is in decant condition with wear on the stock and trigger guard, but it fires and cycles properly. The owner is asking $650.00.

My two questions are:
1. What year was this produced?
2. Is it worth the asking price?

~Rob

Information

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[imarangemaster]

I don't know if there is a data base anywhere (there isn't on M1 Carbines Inc.) for Universal for year of production. Only the very first Universals were USGI compatible, so your serial number sounds too high to be one of those. Pictures are a must before we can say one way or the other.

A quick check for late production is if the slide is hollowed out all the way through for the bolt lug like this:

If it looks like this, it is late. Some transitionals have a USGI type slide, but Universal cast aluminum trigger guard.

[spartan1771]

Here are the only pics I have of it. I hope they help:

Universal M1 Carbine - spartan1771s Photo Gallery - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[USGI]

Welcome to the forum, Rob! In my area (Portland) the general rule on pricing for a Universal is $400 tops - that's for a really nice one. The polictical situation right now might have changed that, but if you plan on keeping it for awhile a genuine GI carbine will increase more in value. I can't help you any on the s/n ranges. If you don't mind about the "genuine" thing, and it's in good serviceable condition, it will probably shoot just fine. - Bob

[imarangemaster]

Here are the only pics I have of it. I hope they help:

Universal M1 Carbine - spartan1771s Photo Gallery - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

That is definitely a later one. NONE of the parts are USGI, nor will any parts interchange with USGI.

Don't feel bad, most sellers don't even know the difference. I have seen Universals that people try to sell Universals as "the carbine their father carried in the war" etc. At $400, especially with political climate, it is a decent buy. It can be a decent shooter. IIRC, several members here have Universals in addition to USGI ones. My cousin ahas one I would not mind having.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Welcome to our forum.

In the search feature above you can look up past threads on the Universal carbine.

My opinion, for the $650 he is asking, you might be able to get a GI as nice as that univesal. It would be a mixmaster, but GI. Maybe shop around a bit to see. At $650 I think that could be available for a while.

[imarangemaster]

Good news is that that serial number still used a USGI style bolt and firing pin, meaning unlike later Universals, it could not have an out of battery discharge. That was the main safety problems of later Universals, around serial number 196,6xx. This one should be safe. I do agree with USGI and Jim, that $400 or so would be tops.

[Bruce McAskill]

2nd generation Universal. The slide is the weak point on these. They do crack and break and as there are no replacement parts available if you do break it and it can't be fixed then your out of action till you can find a new slide and that is very hard to do now as they have not made this since about 1982. ( A USGI slide will not work.) For $650 you can find a good USGI carbine. Parts are available everywhere for them so you would not have any worries about that plus it will not loose any value as they just keep climbing. Not so much with a Universal.

[spartan1771]

Thanks for all the info!

From what I have found on my own and all the great info posted here, I decided not to get it.

I did however find a USGI that was brought back from Korea with all matching numbers. Its and Inland mfg, Div and General motors. The stock was made by Quality Hardware mfg corp, made between1942-45. The barrel looks like a 9 using a scale of 1-10. All of the markings are U.S.A. The magazine isn't original though, but I can live with that.

[lbelflowers]

What`s this matching numbers thing?