M1 Carbine

[m35a2]

OK, I KNOW I have read aproximate dates made for Universal Carbines. I have an early one, 5 digit-537xx, USGI bolt, slide, bayonet/front band... and would like to know if someone knows an apx year of mfg. If..a BIG if...it was made in '61 or 62, since it would be 50 yrs old next year or the next, would it be C&R?

[Dr.Mauser]

Universal makes Carbine Commercially, they were NEVER made for the military.

[dfletcher]

OK, I KNOW I have read aproximate dates made for Universal Carbines. I have an early one, 5 digit-537xx, USGI bolt, slide, bayonet/front band... and would like to know if someone knows an apx year of mfg. If..a BIG if...it was made in '61 or 62, since it would be 50 yrs old next year or the next, would it be C&R?

If the rifle is/will be 50 years old it will be C & R - yes, doesn't have to be a military issue M1 carbine to be C & R eligible. An issue you may run into, especially if dating and cutting it close becomes an issue, is whether or not a seller or gun store would treat it as a C & R - they may default to "we're not sure, let's treat it as new" which with a seller means gun store & DROS, with a gun store & if you have C & R/COE means no "cash & carry".

With a military M1 carbine everyone knows they're C & R, going commercial puts a question mark on it. I really don't know of a source for serial numbers on Universal.

[orion5457]

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal.html

I have a Universal as well the above is the only location I have found for any information.

[grossekatz]

I took a quick look at the atf c&r list and I did not see the universal carbines. I would guess they are not c&r.

[Dr.Mauser]

Universal Carbines ARE not C&R guns, they are a new age of commercial carbine, not USGI, ive heard that they can be fitted with USGI parts, but are in no way shape or form C&R guns.

[m35a2]

Yeah, I looked in my C&R book too, but, if it's gonna be 50 yrs old, I would think it would qualify as a C&R. Between the above mentioned site and this one,

http://www.maxicon.com/guns/universal_m1/universal_m1_carbine_production.htm

I think it might be close to that age. I've had it apart a few times but never looked under the hand guard, guess some are stamped with a year!

I know it needs not to be military to be C&R, it's just that the early ones were built with MOSTLY USGI parts like this has. Also, according to the above site, the s/n falls right in the middle of the first gen weapons. According to the other site, Universal was incorperated in '61?? I just looked, but my memory is poop!

This is the gun that I asked about putting a real trigger group in...getting rid of the aluminum housing. I did put a NOS Inland I think trigger set up in it with no mods. Works fine with it!

[orion5457]

My carbine is funny in the fact its a late modle with mostly gi parts, and a single spring.

Thanks m35a2 for your link....

[PEZHEAD265]

OK, I KNOW I have read aproximate dates made for Universal Carbines. I have an early one, 5 digit-537xx, USGI bolt, slide, bayonet/front band... and would like to know if someone knows an apx year of mfg. If..a BIG if...it was made in '61 or 62, since it would be 50 yrs old next year or the next, would it be C&R?

It may be a problem proving the date because there is no factory records from UNIVERSAL.I don't know if the ATF will accept records compiled by someone gathering info on serial numbers and production dates as fact for when it was made.

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal.html

Universal's records are long gone, but some information has been collected from serial numbers and configurations of known guns.

http://www.maxicon.com/guns/universal_m1/universal_m1_carbine_production.htm