Iver Johnson Arms 9mm Carbine

Post WWII Commercially Manufactured M1 Carbines (U.S.A.)

 

The 9mm Parabellum

 

Iver Johnson Arms

Jacksonville, AR









 



Section ISection IISection IIISection IVSection VSection VI
History
of
Iver Johnson Arms
1977-2012
Models Serial Numbers
&
Dates of Manufacture
Receivers
&
Markings
Parts Brochures, Price Lists,
Fliers & Manuals

(Downloads)

Overview

Iver Johnson's 9mm Carbine was introduced in 1985 after the acquisition of the assets of Universal Firearms of Hialeah, FL were relocated to the Iver Johnson facility in Jacksonville, AR.

In 1980 Universal Firearms acquired a CNC machine for machining the forged steel billets they used for carbine receivers. They concurrently manufactured receivers using the machines and machinists they had been using for years. Their receiver production 1980-1983 had more than doubled their output prior to 1980. The receivers used for the carbines sold by Universal 1967 and later were machined significantly different than any other M1 Carbine receivers and the two were not interchangeable. However, Universal had continued the production of the standard M1 Carbine receivers on an as-ordered basis for law enforcement and off-shore government contracts.

When Phillip Lynn Lloyd moved Universal Firearms to Jacksonville, AR in 1984 the assets of Universal Firearms included thousands of receivers partially machined from forged steel billets that had yet to be finish machined. These receivers could be finish machined for use with either the Universal Firearms designed carbine, or an M1 Carbine as those manufactured by Iver Johnson's Arms that were compatible with surplus government GI parts.

With the influx of large quantity of Universal Firearms unfinished receivers and additional parts, Iver Johnson's began using these receivers and parts to manufacture their Iver Johnson's M1 Carbines. This practice was extended to their 9mm Carbines, which were made almost entirely from the parts and receivers from Universal Firearms, finish machined and built by Iver Johnson's into a 9mm Carbine that closely resembled the .30 caliber M1 Carbine.

Sales of their 9mm Carbine stopped by October 1986 when Lloyd filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In 1989 Iver Johnson as a Division of AMAC indicated the introduction of another 9mm Carbine they designated as the Delta 786. Sellers sometimes misidentify the earlier Iver Johnson 9mm Carbine as the Delta 786. No 9mm carbines with the markings used by Iver Johnson as a division of AMAC 1987-1991 have yet to be located.

Iver Johnson
9mm Carbine
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Barrel Length: 16 inches
Overall Length: 34 1/2 inches
Weight: 5 1/2 lbs
Stock: hardwood
Sights: blade front, adjustable rear
Finish: blued
Magazine:
Capacity:
Browning High Power*
20 rounds
Serial # Prefix: JJ
Years Mfg: 1985-1986
Approx Qty Mfg: 2100

*Refer to the section below on the Trigger Housing Group for info on a slight modification
of the Browning High Power magazine to allow it to engage the magazine catch.

9mm Carbine Manual
(548k .pdf file)

Courtesy of
Brent Hendershot

   

Note: the manual provided above was restored from a printed version that showed it's age and use. If someone has a better
copy and wouldn't mind sharing it with others please consider letting us know using our forum.

The Barrel Group

The barrel used for the 9mm Carbine was constructed using the Iver Johnson barrel. The barrel length was reduced to 16".


The Front Sight was manufactured by Iver Johnson, the Barrel Band and Handguard were manufactured by Universal Firearms.


Gas Piston Housings used on the Iver Johnson barrels were inset into the bottom of the barrel and brazed in place.


The large pin in the gas piston housing and absence of the gas piston nut
give the appearance the gas piston is pinned closed. However ...


The gas piston has been milled to allow it to move back and forth on the large pin.
The purpose of this deviation from the design of the gas piston nut holding the gas
piston in place may have been to overcome the tendency of the gas piston nut to loosen
and rotate out if not pinned in place.


Divet at upper right of breach was for unimpeded ejection of the spent 9mm casings.


The Receiver Group

The receivers used for the Iver Johnson 9mm Carbine were manufactured by Universal Firearms from a forged steel billet and finish machined by Iver Johnson to M1 Carbine dimensions.


Slides used for the 9mm Carbine were the standard Iver Johnson slides. The force of the direct blowback mechanism required the
slide be given more weight, which was added by brazing a block of metal to the bottom of the slide.
The magazine catch and trigger housing insert will be discussed below under Trigger Housing Group.


The recoil spring guide was shorter than the standard carbine recoil spring guide.


Universal Firearms carbines 1967 and later utilized a twin recoil spring system with two holes drilled through the front lug on the bottom
of the receiver that the trigger housing was pinned too. Iver Johnson removed the Universal Firearms lug and brazed a new lug in place.


Proper ejection of the 9mm cartridge required the ejector to be eliminated from inside the bolt, redesigned, and
attached to the left inside of the receiver, where it was held in place by two brass rivets.


The bolt was milled to allow for it's movement over the modified ejector.


The recoil plate lug used on the rear of the receivers manufactured by Universal Firearms
was wider than those used by Iver Johnson on their receivers.

The ejector, ejector rivets, slide, bolt, magazine catch, trigger housing insert, and magazine have been sold by Numrich Gun Parts since the demise of Iver Johnson.


The Bolt Group

Bolts used for the 9mm Carbine were manufactured by Iver Johnson from casting. Bolts were absent the hole for the ejector and machined to accommodate the modified extractor and the 9mm casing.


Note the replacement of the M1 Carbine ejector with the modified ejector.


Machining of the bolt to accommodate the modified ejector.


The 9mm bolt is on the left, a GI bolt is on the right.
The 9mm bolt face was slightly enlarged to accommodate the 9mm casing.
(the GI bolt isn't cracked, it's a machining mark)


The GI extractor is on the left, the 9mm extractor is on the right.

Since the 9mm bolt is specific to the 9mm carbine and no longer manufactured it's a good idea to obtain a spare bolt if one is available. Check the inventory at Numrich Gun Parts.


Trigger Housing Group

With the exception of the magazine catch and a plastic insert, the trigger housing and all of the parts therein were manufactured by Iver Johnson and interchangeable with their GI counterparts.


Top view (left), Bottom view (right)

An insert to accommodate the Browning High Power magazine was made from Lexan (a strong plastic). The insert slides down into the grooves inside the rear of the trigger housing and is supported by the sides of the trigger housing. Over time the insert plastic becomes brittle and may crack. Replacements have been offered by Numrich Gun Parts since the demise of Iver Johnson. If you own an Iver Johnson 9mm Carbine It is highly recommended you keep several replacements on hand as, over time they will no longer be available. The replacements require slight modification with an Exacto knife or equivalent to allow them to fit inside the trigger housing.

When these plastic inserts are no longer available the evolution of 3D printing with ABS plastic will likely have advanced to the point to allow the manufacture of new replacements at a reasonable cost.


The magazine for the 9mm carbine is a standard Browning High Power magazine with a small section removed on the left rear to
engage the enlarged magazine catch. Numrich Gun Parts sells these magazines but it is much less expensive if you buy a standard
Browning High Power magazine and make the cut in the left rear of the magazine yourself.


The oversized magazine catch is sturdy and should not require the need for having a replacement on hand.


The 9mm carbine trigger housing group compared to a GI M1 Carbine trigger housing group.
(photo courtesy of Brent Hendershot)


The Stock Group

Although the 9mm carbine was offered by Iver Johnson with the option of a Zytel fixed or folding stock the majority have a hardwood stock as manufactured and used for the Iver Johnson M1 Carbines. The only difference between the 9mm stock and their M1 Carbine stock is the weight on the bottom of the 9mm slide required a deeper cut inside the stock where the slide moved back and forth.


Iver Johnson Hardwood Stock


Cut to accommodate the 9mm slide.


Buttplates used were manufactured by Universal Firearms.