Make: Standard Products

 

 

Model: M1 Carbine

 

 

Serial Number: 2131184

 

 

Year of Manufacture: 1944, barrel date 12-1943

 

 

Caliber: .30 Carbine

 

 

Action Type: Semi Automatic fed by detachable magazines.

 

 

Markings:

 

 

Receiver: "U.S. CARBINE / CAL. .30 M1", "STD. PRO. / 2131184", and "8D"

 

 

Barrel: "UNDERWOOD / 12-43 / flaming bomb" and "P".

 

 

Front sight: "N"

 

 

Slide: "OU" and "82". Underwood.

 

 

Rear Sight: "S" Most likely Winchester.

 

 

Trigger group: "S", "25-A". Standard Pro.

 

 

Mag Catch: "SW" White Sewing Machine Co.

 

 

Hammer: "SW" White Sewing Machine Co.

 

 

Sear: "SW" White Sewing Machine Co.

 

 

Handguard: "HI" Hillerich & Bradsby

 

 

Stock: "IO" Inland Overton. The right flank has a faint large Ordnance Wheel.

 

 

Oiler: "IS" International Silver Co.

 

 

Magazines: "(SP)", "M2" and "M2".

 

 

Barrel Length: 18"

 

 

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set between protective wings. The rear sight is an early L style dual aperture dovetailed to the receiver.

 

 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an Oval cut, low wood stock, with a four rivet handguard, type one barrel band, and cross bolt safety. The LOP is 13". The wood has been lightly sanded and refinished. The wood shows some scattered compressions and surface level lines. The belly of the stock shows a crack from the leading right edge of the mag well going forward on the forend. There is a notable scuff on the left side of the wrist. The handguard next to the cut on the right hand side shows several small chips. The metal butt plate has lost most of its finish, turned brown with patina, has semi dulled checkering, and rub wear around the edges. Overall the stock set is in Fair+ condition.

 

 

Type of Finish: Parkerized and blued.

 

 

Finish Originality: Original.

 

 

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright and the rifling is well defined. There is very minor visible pitting in the grooves mainly in the last third of the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.75/10.

 

 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. Most of the finish has turned brown with age and patina especially the trigger guard and recoil lug. The barrel shows some spots of discoloration where surface rust is beginning to form. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show some minor rub wear. The blued bolt has some very small spots or surface rust forming. The markings are mostly clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in Good+ condition.

 

 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

 

 

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Green canvas sling, 2x 30 rd magazines, and 1x 15 rd magazine. One of the 30 round magazines has a rubber cover with it.

 

 

Our Assessment: This Standard Products M1 Carbine produced in 1944 is fitted with a correct Underwood barrel dated December 1943, a pairing that aligns well with wartime assembly and parts flow between contractors. Standard Products was one of the smaller prime contractors producing only 247,000 rifles, about 4% of total carbine production. The rifle retains a Standard Products made trigger group, with the hammer, magazine catch, and sear all produced by White Sewing Machine Co., a well known subcontractor for small M1 carbine parts also located in Ohio along with Standard Products. This M1 is also fitted with a handguard made by Hillerich & Bradsby, a company better known as Louisville Slugger, an especially interesting detail that highlights how non-firearms manufacturers contributed to the war effort. Overall, this carbine is a solid example of an authentic WWII-era Standard Products build with period-correct components showcasing wartime cooperation.