Make: Universal Firearms 

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 7445

Year of Manufacture: Post 1961- Pre1967 

Caliber: .30 Carbine

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

Markings: The visible markings are listed below. The nose of the stock has a crack forming so to avoid damaging the stock I did not remove the rifle from the stock to get the non visible 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 “7445” 

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

The magazine catch is marked “M” and “E.I.” an Inland Division part. 

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

Barrel Length: 18"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade set between protective ears. The rear sight is the later style sliding aperture sight with a serrated windage knob dovetailed to the receiver.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a select walnut, Universal Firearms M1 style enclosed wood carbine stock with an oval cut, semi pistol grip, straight comb and Blued Metal buttplate. The upper handguard is a four rivet upper handguard with sighting groove 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. As mentioned above the stock has a crack forming in the right side of the nose. The nose also shows some rub wear from the band being installed. The rest of the stock shows minor lines and compressions scattered throughout. The top of the sling well cut has what appears to be either a knot, impact mark, or repair from over drilling in it. The upper handguard shows no wear, chips or cracks. The metal buttplate retains almost all of its finish and shows some minor rub wear on the edges, some minor scattered surface rust freckling and sharp checkering. Overall the stock is in Good condition for C&R given its age.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: None.

Type of Finish: Blued and parkerized. 

Finish Originality: Original and refinished.

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no fouling or erosion in the bore. The feed ramp is clean. This rifle appears unfired outside of perhaps being test fired. The muzzle reads at a .10 or as the CMP would state it a 1. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show the majority of the wear and finish loss. The rear sight shows rust freckling scattered throughout its surface. The barrel band has a surface level scratch on the left side. The exposed portion of the barrel shows surface rust freckling and rub marks from when the front sight was installed. The visible markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in Very Good to Excellent condition for C&R given its age.

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 some 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 and Universal firearms cardboard box.

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 Universal Firearms Gen 1 M1 Carbine features both blued and parkerized finished parts. The receiver and barrel were made by Universal Firearms while many of the other parts are surplus WWII era Government Issue. The barrel is essentially in like new condition and should be a good shooting barrel. In conclusion this carbine represents a blend of historical authenticity and commercial production originating from the personal collection of inventor, founder and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman, and may be of interest to collectors for this history.