Make: Universal Firearms 

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 10939

Year of Manufacture: Post 1961- Pre1967. Most Likely early to mid 1963.

Caliber: .30 Carbine

Action Type: Semi-Automatic carbine fed by detachable magazines. 

Markings:

The top-front of the receiver is marked “U.S. CARBINE / CAL. .30 M1” 

The top of the receiver in front of the rear sight is marked “10939” 

The rear of the receiver is marked “UNIVERSAL / HI ALEAH, FLA.” 

The magazine release button is marked “M” and “IS”

The rotary safety is marked “SS” overstamped “N” a post war rebuild part 

The trigger housing is unmarked

The slide is marked ““D-7161843 / SG” for Saginaw Gear

The barrel band is marked “KI” for Keeler Brass Co.

The Bolt is marked “-U-” for Underwood Elliot Fisher. 

The handguard upper is marked “300” 

The stock is marked “300 FEB 13 1963” in the nose.

The Magazine is marked “KSG” for Keeler Brass Co. a Saginaw Gear part.

Barrel Length: 18"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Williams Guide Series sporting ramp with gold bead front sight. The first rear sight is a Williams Guide Series “U” notch semi-buckhorn style rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation. The second rear sight, attached to the receiver is also a Williams brand fully adjustable peep sight. The rifle is also mounted with a block adapter to mount a Williams adjustable scope base.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a select walnut, Universal Firearms made enclosed wood carbine stock with an oval cut, semi pistol grip, straight comb and Metal buttplate. The upper handguard is a four rivet upper handguard with sighting groove, cut out for the rear sight and scope mount held in place by a type three barrel band with bayonet lug. The LOP measures about 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the back of the stock. The buttplate has turned green with age, retains almost all of its finish and shows rust freckling in the sharp checkering. The upper handguard shows minor handling wear, some storage wear and a small compression in the front left side. The stock itself shows very minor lines, compressions and punch marks scattered throughout the stock. There are some places where the finish in the stock has dried out and turned opaque. There are no visible chips or cracks. Overall this stock is in about Excellent condition.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one 15 round magazine. The magazine shows moderate surface rust in the finish. The spring is good and the feed lips are undamaged. Overall the magazine is in Fair condition.

Type of Finish: Blued and parkerized. 

Finish Originality: Original and refinished.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. Both the muzzle and feed ramp are clean. The muzzle reads at a .15 or as the CMP would state it a 1.5. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show the majority of the wear. The barrel shows some scattered rust freckling as does the barrel band and charging handle. The rear of the receiver has turned plum. The trigger group has turned green with age. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in Very Good Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This is the Gen 1 version of the Universal M1 carbines that follows the original M1 Pattern of construction and uses many original GI parts. 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 a certificate of authenticity, Universal firearms cardboard box and a magazine.

Our Assessment: The M1 Carbine, developed during World War II, was designed to provide U.S. troops with a lightweight, semi-automatic rifle that bridged the gap between standard-issue pistols and the heavier M1 Garand. Chambered in .30 Carbine, it featured a 15-round detachable magazine and became renowned for its portability and ease of use. Over six million units were produced between 1941 and 1945, serving various roles from frontline combat to support positions.

Post-war, the demand for M1 Carbines persisted, leading companies like Universal Firearms to produce civilian versions. Founded in 1961 in Hialeah, Florida, Universal initially assembled carbines using surplus GI parts. Early models, known as "Gen 1," closely mirrored the original military specifications and were compatible with GI components. As surplus parts dwindled, Universal began manufacturing their own, resulting in later models that diverged from the original design and had limited parts interchangeability.

This specific example produced in 1963 was modified from the standard Universal Carbines. The rear sight bridge was removed and the three different sighting systems added. We believe this was done so that Universal could demonstrate and test different sights options as surplus GI parts dwindled. You can clearly see this rifle as the basis for many future design choices that would be made by Universal. They would go on to use the Williams guide sights on their Vulcan pump action rifles. They would also use a modified version of this scope attachment method one year later in 1964 when it would become standard for Universal M1s to be drilled and tapped for the Universal scope mount. As we are aware there was not a production version with the peep sight installed other than this example. This one of a kind proof of concept rifle originating from the family collection of inventor, founder and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman is a testament to the commitment that Seiderman had to the development of the M1 carbine platform.