Make: Underwood made Receiver finished by National Postal Meter

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 2767294

Year of Manufacture: The receiver was made between July 1943 and March 1944. The barrel date is 12-43.

Caliber: .30 Cal carbine

Action Type: Semi Automatic rifle fed by Detachable Magazines.

Markings:

The rear of the receiver: Lined out “UNDERWOOD” and “2767294” with “N” on the bevel.

The front of the receiver: “U.S. CARBINE”, “CAL .30 M1”.

The barrel is marked with a “P” about 3.5” back from the front sight. The front of the barrel is marked “UNDERWOOD 12-43” with the flaming bomb.

The front sight: “NN” Nolan Machinery for NPM

The barrel band: “UN” for Union Hardware

The Inside of the slide: “UN 5” NPM

The bolt is unmarked

The rear sight: “RN” NPM

The trigger group: “N 9” NPM

The magazine catch: “SN” NPM

The Hammer: “HN” Hunter Arms. CO. for NPM

The sear: “SW-N” Star Watch and Case Co. NPM

The Crossbolt Safety: “SN” NPM

The magazine: “MN”

The Stock: Sling Cut “TRIMBLE TN”, The right flank has a small ordnance wheel and “NPM FJA”. The top of the wrist has a small flaming bomb mark.

The lug is unmarked.

The upper handguard: “TN” Trimble for NPM

The oiler: “IS” International Silver Co.

Barrel Length: 18”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade with protective ears. The rear sight is the early L type dual aperture “flip sight” dovetailed to the receiver.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock on this rifle is an Oval cut, high wood stock with a two rivet handguard, a Type I barrel band and an early cross bolt safety. The LOP is 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. This stock has been very lightly sanded and refinished as a result it shows very few marks and lines. There are still some minor lines, rub marks, and compressions. The nose, butt and edges of the rivet holes show some very small chips. There are two small cracks forming one just behind the recoil lug on the top of the wrist and a second just behind the right side edge of the trigger guard’s rear. The butt plate has turned brown with age and shows rub wear around the edges with minor surface oxidation beginning to form. The checkering is sharp. Overall this stock is in Good+ condition.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one 15 round magazine. The magazine is in Good + overall condition showing some minor rust freckling in the bluing.

Type of Finish: Parkerized / Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright, with well defined rifling. The bore shows lines from use with a small patch of pitting in the lower half of the barrel about 3” back from the muzzle and a second patch at the muzzle in the 9 o’clock position. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. There is very minor rub wear on the friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver. The finish of the rifle has turned brown / green with age. The front sight and the lug show the majority of the discoloration. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall the rifle is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes one magazine and a sling.

Our Assessment: This is an Underwood “lineout” M1 Carbine that was completed by National Postal Meter in early 1944. It features an Underwood barrel dated 12-43, with the original Underwood receiver markings struck through and re-marked on the bevel with an “N,” indicating final assembly by NPM. The bore is bright with well-defined rifling and some small patches of pitting, rating 8.5/10.

This example is outfitted with parts correct to National Postal Meter, including a Nolan Machinery front sight, Star Watch Case Co. sear, Hunter Arms hammer, and a high wood Trimble Nursery stock marked “FJA NPM” for inspector Frank J. Atwood at the Rochester Ordnance District. Underwood was one of several manufacturers who provided receivers to other contractors during the war, others included Saginaw Gear and Inland. These redistributed receivers were line-marked and then completed with the receiving contractor’s components, making these carbines rare and unique historical artifacts of the wartime production surge.