Pawnshop Underwood

[vintage hunter]

OK guys, I'm not up on the finer points of carbine collecting like most of you so I need a little help here. I got wind of an Underwood carbine at a pawnshop 50 or so miles away and what I know so far is it has a '43 dated barrel, flip rear sight and no bayo lug. Stock has a cartouche of some sort on the right side and metal finish looks original. No visible import marks. Asking price $799. I'm strongly considering going to have a closer look based on the info I have now. What I need to know more or less is how the various parts should be marked and what type they should be. I'm under the assumption the Underwood parts are marked with a .U., right? The chances are slim but if it turns out to be correct/original what would an Underwood be worth?

Information

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[deldriver]

If original, up to twice the asking price plus or minus some, factoring in condition and if it's import marked of course. Let us know how it turns out.

[imarangemaster]

Buy it!!!!!!!!

[DaveHH]

Some Underwood recoil plates are marked AU on the side.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Prices vary in different areas of the country. Imports with upgraded parts go for $800 in my area. So if I was wanting a carbine, I would make the drive and check it out.

You don't mention the serial number. Underwood also had some subcontractor made receivers, marked, T, W, S, and B on the bevel of the receiver. They get a small premium. These are the approximate serial number ranges for them.

T.....2,355,000-2,400,000....................Intertype Corporation
W....2,401,000-2,491,000....................Universal Winding Company
S.....2,577,000-2,599,000....................United Shoe Machinery Company
B.....2,630,000-2,655,000....................Singer Manufacturing

Good hunting.

[frankderrico]

Vintage Hunter, I would be careful of paying a premium for those early parts. I have seen a lot of carbines at gun shows that have reproductions flip sights and early barrel bands. If you have any doubt, try and take someone along that knows carbines. It might well be worth a lunch. Posting pictures here would help if the shop will let you. Good luck, you might find a gem.

Best Regards.....Frank

[painter777]

Power back on!!

V Hunter,
Carry a good flashlight with you.
You can use a M2 (30.06) round for a poor mans muzzle gage.
Look closely for Import marks under the wood line.
If allowed... take multiple pics and post them here.
Earlier in my collecting days, I've put $50 deposits down to hold a gun, thus giving me time to research parts, and determine if real or repro.
I can live with losing $50 easier than losing $800.
Sure sounds worth the drive.

We'll be here when and if you need us.

If the power stays on.

Cheers,
Charlie-Painter777

[Bruce McAskill]

Be sure to check that the rear sight is not in a dove tail that has punch stake marks in it. As the others have said try to take as many photos as you can. But if it is an original then at the asking price is a steal.

[tenOC]

Keep in mind that prices for Carbines to non-Carbine people appear higher than their understanding. IOWs, they're often dealing with $300 Remington shotguns, SKS and Walmart Savage bolt guns. So an $800 M1 Carbine sounds like a higher price especially if they don't see many and remember them being $400-500 not long ago.

Go with the understanding that you will find a tiny ARL ORD import stamping under the barrel and if so point it out to them and make a lower offer since it lowers collector value. Also, people can't tell fake from real flip sights. I was dragging around a commercial to sell at a show with the fake flip installed backwards and nobody even realized it. A couple cooed when they saw it had a flip.

[vintage hunter]

Ok guys I made it up to view the carbine. My cousin had a quacks appointment resulting from a run in with a bad tempered kitty cat over the weekend, I had to drive him so after the appointment and attempting to eat Golden Corral out of business we went by on our way home. Here goes: I wasn't allowed to take photo's, was allowed to take the wood off but no further disassembly was permitted.
1. s/n 2735xxx
2.10-43 underwood bbl
3.front sight marked .U.
4.type 1 band, forgot to look for markings
5.stock and handgard marked P-U, rect. boxed GDH over UFI? ordnance wheel cartouche, circle P on bottom of grip.
6.stamped TH w/flaming bomb on bow, may be underwood based on pics of other stamped underwood's I've seen
7.underwood hammer, forgot to write it down but marked ?-u
8. .U. marked flat bolt
9.push safety
10.flip rear sight marked with an s on left side, no stake marks seen
11.unmarked recoil lug
12.metal finish above wood line has turned brown but it's consistent/even on all surfaces, no bayo lug shadow on underside of barrel
13. NO import marks
14.could'nt see any maker marks on trigger or slide but finish on exposed surfaces matched the rest of the parts
15. bore and chamber dirty but rust free, no excessive muzzle wear.
Con's
1. no mag comes with it, this is trivial as I'm certain I have an underwood mag or two
2.stock has been lightly sanded and appears to have a shiney tru-oil or tung oil finish
3. sling swivel missing- again trivial
4.worst of all- had been fitted with uncle mike's QD swivel attachments.
The guy managing the counter came down to $750 but said the head cheese might come down more, unfortunately he's on vacation until Monday.
What do ye experts think?