M1 Universal Carbine

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ncisland11	M1 Universal Carbine	Lead	[-]
Posts: 21 (11/24/07 03:31 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None Anyone heard of this one, I saw it on another gun board for sale but can't find any info on them. The rifle appears to be in good shape, picture wise, I know that means nothing and the guy is asking $400. If anyone can help out here I would appreciate it. Thanks!!
Sgt Rob P		#1	[-]
Posts: 27 (11/24/07 03:41 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Universal is a civilian copy of the M1 carbine. If it is in good shape, I believe $400 is a fair price at this time. HTH Semper Fi, Rob
beanstrung		#2	[-]
Posts: 3892 (11/24/07 09:15 AM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	$350 max. for a Universal. There were (at least) 3 aftermarket civilian makers of M1-Carbines: Plainfield Iver-Johnson Universal From what I have picked up, the Plainfield is generally thought to be the best of the non-USGI carbines, and the Universal is thought to be the worst. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand? Joel 3:9-10
Plain Old Bill		#3	[-]
Posts: 1919 (11/24/07 10:09 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Careful with the Universal- if memory serves me correctly, most parts aren't interchangeable with GI parts. I've owned a couple- from my experience and from what I've heard, they're either very reliable or very unreliable, with few in between.
m1 talker		#4	[-]
Posts: 5587 (11/24/07 11:06 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I sold a near mint condition Universal Carbine a couple years ago at a gun show for $200. I was asking $250, but after packing it on my shoulder all day, some guy offered me $200 for it and I was glad to see it go. It was a good shooter and all, but it just did not "talk" to me like my Sagainaw Steering Gear carbine does. Curt
dfariswheel		#5	[-]
Posts: 800 (11/24/07 09:04 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	There are two "generations" of Universal M1 Carbines. The first models were more or less exact copies of the US M1 Carbine, and "most" parts will interchange with USGI. The second version of Universal is more of a "look-alike" than a true M1 Carbine. In the 1970's Universal did a complete re-design of the M1 Carbine and made significant changes. Among the changes were a different gas cylinder system, a double recoil spring system, and a stamped and welded operating rod assembly. These later Universal's can be immediately recognized by looking at the bolt handle area. There is a cut-out on the op rod that exposes the right locking lug of the bolt, and you can see through the op rod in the bolt camming area. These later Universal's have a rather bad reputation. If they work, they work well, but if they don't, they're pretty bad. Many parts on these later Universal's will not interchange, and the supply of spare parts is almost non-existent. If it breaks, you're in real trouble.
JTB1967		#6	[-]
Posts: 518 (11/25/07 12:01 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Around here $400.00 would be way too high. I've seen a few shops mark them that high, but they generally don't sell.
EricOKC	Hold Out For USGI	#7	[-]
Posts: 4490 (11/25/07 10:27 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	If it's the later version with two springs, $400.00 would be too high, I feel. I had one in beautiful shape that shot great and I enjoyed it, but $400.00 goes a long ways to getting a USGI carbine.
m1 talker		#8	[-]
Posts: 5592 (11/25/07 11:11 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The one I mentioned that I sold for $200 was the later two spring design. I didn't have any problems with it, but then I never shot it much. Probably only a couple hundred rounds thru it when I sold it. It is strange when a rifle just doesn't "talk" to you. The only reason I bought it in the first place was to help a friend out who was in financial straights. I offered to loan him a couple hundred dollars so they could have a good Thanksgiving meal and he said he did not know when he could repay me so he told me to take the rifle in exchange, which I did. So I didn't make any money or lose any either on the deal. It sure was a good looker, however. Curt
JR		#9	[-]
Posts: 2 (06/23/09 04:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I need a barrel band for a Universal ( Enforcer ) pistol M1 Carbine I'm having no luck.
ParallaxBill		#10	[-]
Posts: 16298 (06/23/09 06:35 PM) Owner/operator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	$300 is a more reasonable price for one in excellent shape. The earlier the better for Universal M1 Carbine quality and reliability. Keep that in mind. Parallax *Lee Enfield Collector's Society member #3* *Mauser Shooter's Association member #17* Forum administrator for the Carolina C&R Shooting & Collecting Club,
tep0583		#11	[-]
Posts: 484 (06/26/09 03:09 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	dfariswheel wrote: There are two "generations" of Universal M1 Carbines. The first models were more or less exact copies of the US M1 Carbine, and "most" parts will interchange with USGI. The second version of Universal is more of a "look-alike" than a true M1 Carbine. In the 1970's Universal did a complete re-design of the M1 Carbine and made significant changes. Among the changes were a different gas cylinder system, a double recoil spring system, and a stamped and welded operating rod assembly. These later Universal's can be immediately recognized by looking at the bolt handle area. There is a cut-out on the op rod that exposes the right locking lug of the bolt, and you can see through the op rod in the bolt camming area. These later Universal's have a rather bad reputation. If they work, they work well, but if they don't, they're pretty bad. Many parts on these later Universal's will not interchange, and the supply of spare parts is almost non-existent. If it breaks, you're in real trouble. There's also talk that most of the safety features of the M1 carbine are not present on the later Universals. Many seem to think they could fire out of battery because of this. I've looked mine over well and it LOOKS like it would be difficult to fire out of battery, but I don't know the platform that well and the possibility was enough to relegate mine to "wall hanger" status. Mine IS the later dual spring model. I will tell you I have looked quite a bit in the Internet about this issue and it appears that at least one Universal has fired out of battery, causing the destruction of the carbine. I will also say that most of the stories about exploding Universals SEEM to be describing the same carbine or the same few carbines. The story seems to be very similar every time I encounter it. Does that mean the late model Universals are safe or unsafe? Really, I don't know. Its really hard to find conclusive evidence either way. At $400, I'd go the extra hundred to get one from the CMP. No question about it. At $200, I'd consider it, but even then, I don;t know that I'd shoot it, which makes it pretty much useless to me.