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

Website Under Construction

This web page for the Universal Firearms carbines has been long overdue. To make it of more value for more owners and potential owners, there are is something you can do that would be of great assistance.

Universal has left no evidence of which carbine serial number was manufactured when. I am trying to locate owners who purchased their Universal carbine when it was new and can remember the month and year. I am also trying to identify which features were present with which serial number, so owners can identify when their Universal carbine was manufactured. If you would not mind sharing a few moments of your time and a little information about your carbine to help us sort this out, please click on this link for a web page that makes submitting this information clear and simple.

Any help you can provide is sincerely appreciated. This web page and website is not for me, it is for all of the Universal carbine owners and anyone considering buying one.

Overview

Universal manufactured M1 Carbines longer than any commercial or government contracted company. Over the course of their history they continuously changed or modified their carbines, sometimes significantly. Just because two carbines have the Universal name, does not mean the parts are interchangeable or the carbines are the same. Change was a consistent theme at Universal.

The Beginning

Records of the State of Florida Dept. of State, Division of Corporations show Bullseye Gun Works incorporated in January 1960 with the directors as Jerry Resnick and Abe Seiderman. Bullseye Gun Works advertisements for carbine receivers, barrels and parts appear in Shotgun News, monthly, for at least the latter part of 1961.

Florida corporate records show Universal Firearms incorporated in Florida in June 1961. The articles of incorporation identified the directors as the corporate attorneys of the law office that submitted the application. The first indication of the actual corporate directors appears on the corporate tax return for 1962, dated July 1962. The president was Seymour Sommerstein, vice-president Robert Sommerstein, executive vice-president Jerry Resnick, and secretary-treasurer Abe Seiderman. The business location is indicated as 3746 E 10th Ct, Hialeah, FL. Starting with the corporate tax records for 1964, dated July 1963, Jerry Resnick no longer appears affiliated with Universal.

So far, the first indication that Universal was manufacturing M1 carbines appears in the April 1, 1962 issue of Shotgun News, within an advertisement for Southern Gun Distributors of Miami. Notice the ad states the receiver was manufactured from "4135 certified forging", meaning forged steel as opposed to cast metal.

Shotgun News, April 1, 1962

Gun Digest is an annual publication whose 1st Edition was in 1946. Each issue is divided into specific sections. One section includes chapters devoted to new firearms, a large section depicting current manufactured firearms and their information, and another section that is a directory listing that includes firearm manufacturers. The chapter devoted to new rifles in the 18th Edition pp. 225-226 (published in late 1963, for 1964) introduces the Vulcan 440 slide action .44 magnum carbine manufactured by Universal Firearms Corporation. The primary focus is the Vulcan, but the article states Universal also "now offers" a commercial duplicate of the .30 caliber M1 carbine. Interestingly, the article states Universal's M1 carbine used all new commercially manufactured parts. This means Gun Digest's author had not examined the actual carbine. The rifle depicted in the photograph below the article is not the Vulcan 440, it's their M1 carbine, which the caption calls "Universal's new M1 carbine" (below). The section on currently manufactured firearms does not include Universal's rifles. Universal Firearms Corp. is listed in the the arms manufacturer directory in the back of the book.

The statements in the Sloan's ads in August 1962 and Gun Digest's chapter on new rifles in 1963/1964, that Universal's M1 carbines were being manufactured using all new commercially manufactured parts, may indicate their M1 carbines were being advertised before they were actually available in any quantity.

1964 18th Edition Gun Digest (published in late 1963)

Universal Firearms Vulcan 440 pump action .44 magnum

In August 1964 Bullseye Gun Works notified Florida the corporation had been dissolved. Resnick continued doing business as Bullseye Inc. the gun shop. For further information on Bullseye Gun Works, refer to the page on this website dedicated to Bullseye Gun Works.

First Sightings

The first data for the Universal Firearms M1 carbine appears in the 1965 19th Edition of Gun Digest.

Basic Universal M1 Carbine
Caliber:	.30 carbine
Barrel:	18 inches
Weight:	5 lbs
Length:	35.58 inches overall
Stock:	American walnut
Sights:	fixed front, adjustable rear

Over the course of the company's lifespan, Universal changed the markings and their layout on their carbine receivers several times. The first set of markings used by Universal began at the beginning of production, continued until sometime after s/n 276xx, and changed sometime before s/n 405xx.

Markings and their Positions - prior to s/n 405xx

Serial number forward of rear sight, Universal name behind rear sight U.S. CARBINE, CAL. 30 M1 on receiver ring Photograph courtesy of Eddy Yuja

The First Alterations

A few very early Universal carbines have trigger housings manufactured during WWII for the GI carbines. Within the first two years, Universal began production of an aluminum trigger housing, somewhat similar to the GI trigger housings. Within a year, Universal redesigned their M1 carbine trigger housings again. Carbines with this redesigned trigger housing appear as early as s/n 1875x and appear to have been used exclusively s/n 445xx and later. This redesigned trigger housing was also manufactured from aluminum. The sides of the housing were thickened and run parallel front to back, giving the housing an overall rectangular shape. This trigger housing required the stock be cut to allow room for the larger trigger housing, making the GI stocks no longer interchangeable with the Universal stocks. The Universal trigger housing does not fit inside any stock other than the Universal stock, unless several significant modifications are made to the wood of the non-Universal stock.

Universal Firearms aluminum trigger housing

Side thickness has been increased (started prior to s/n 460xx)

U.S. GI carbine stock and trigger housing (top), Universal stock and trigger housing (bottom)

Aluminum is not a metal that can be blued or parkerized like the rest of the carbine. Universal painted their trigger housings black. With continued use over time the paint may flake off. If this happens, it can be repaired by simple sanding and repainting the trigger housing. You might want to use a semi-gloss black bar-b-que paint or something like Brownell's Aluma-Hyde II, which is made for aluminum and a variety of other surfaces. The web page showing this product has links to several instructional videos that are worth watching, no matter what you use. They are a good example of how to use spray paint. They also have good videos on cold bluing and removing rust that apply to all products, not just their own.

The Shooter's Bible was another annual publication devoted to hunting, currently manufactured firearms, and accessories. The 57th issue 1966 (published late 1965) depicts the "Universal .30 M1 Carbine", the "Universal .30 caliber Pistol", and the Vulcan .44 magnum rifle. The description of the ".30 caliber Pistol" indicates the receiver was manufactured from "4140 certified forging". The photograph clearly shows this predecessor of Universal's Enforcer Model used the GI type barrel band. The .30 M1 Carbine drawing appears the same as the one in the 1964 Gun Digest, clearly showing a GI type barrel band with attached bayonet lug. As you will see below, the parts sometimes help to identify the time period a particular Universal carbine was made.

57th Issue The Shooter's Bible - 1966 published in late 1965
Notice the hand guard, barrel band, and sights, these later changed.

Another early change implemented by Universal was elimination of the GI front sight that used a key between the top of the barrel and a groove in the underside of the top of the sight, with the sight held in place by a retaining pin. They replaced the front sight with a commercially manufactured model that was held in place by a set screw in the top of the sight. This made the removal and installation of the front sight easier, but if it is ever removed and reinstalled it tends to come loose when the carbine is fired. Front sights that are very difficult to remove, if not impossible, may have been cemented to the barrel by a previous owner. If you remove and replace the front sight, it is strongly recommended the set screw be treated with a thread lock substance that will hold it in place but not make it impossible to remove (e.g. Loctite Threadlocker Green)

Front sight set screw used mid 60's & later (first observed on s/n 338xx)

In September 1964 Universal Firearms Corp. and inventor, Abe Seiderman, applied for a patent for a "Stock Lock Device". This was a round barrel band for a newly designed M1 carbine stock. The stock tapered down at the forend, allowing the round barrel band to secure the handguard, barrel, and stock together. The band was secured to the stock using a set screw in the bottom of the band. Patent #3,208,178 issued September 1965. The first carbine utilizing this device was introduced in 1966.

Stock Lock Device Patent (link)

Universal Model 30 M-1 with new "stock lock device" barrel band & optional Monte Carlo style stock

A Change in Markings and Layout

Universal's Detachable Scope Mount

In October 1967 Universal Firearms Corp. and inventor Abe Seiderman, applied for a patent for a "Detachable Mount for Telescopic Gun Sights". Patent #3,424,420 issued January 1969. The left side of the receiver was drilled and tapped on most models after the scope mount was introduced. The stock was altered to accommodate the scope mount. When the mount was not in place, a soft piece of plastic snapped into the holes in the receiver and filled the gap between the receiver and the stock.

Detachable Mount for Telescopic Gun Sights Patent (link)

Universal's detachable scope mount

Drilled & tapped receivers were standard on most models, once the mount was introduced.
The two numbers on this receiver are a mystery yet to be solved. The earliest found so far is 16, on serial number 197xx. These numbers run consecutive up to 67 on serial number 178,3xx. They do not appear on every receiver between these two. The practice appears to have been piecemeal after 46 on serial number 103,4xx.

The stock also came standard with a cutout for the scope mount. A piece of soft plastic was used to fill the gap when the
scope mount was not in use. Occasionally this plastic piece is lost. Replacements may be found at Numrich Gun Parts.

All steel Universal Firearms 2.5x rifle scope with duplex cross-hair reticule, made by Weaver in the USA.

The First Catalog

The model numbers and carbines depicted in the following table are believed to be circa 1966 and prior.

Model*	Barrel Band	Stock	Finish	Drill/Tap	Scope	Misc.
30 M-1 B	GI type	American Blk Walnut	satin blue	no	no	GI model
30 M-1 A	round	hardwood	bright blue	yes	no	(not like the GI M1A1 carbine)
30 M-1 BN	round	hardwood	nickel plated	yes	no	M-1 A, silver "presentation" name plate
30 M-1 BB	round	American Blk Walnut	high gloss bright blue	yes	no
30 M-1 OS	round	American Blk Walnut, Monte Carlo	high gloss bright blue	yes	no	M-1 BB, adjustable folding rear sight, ramp front sight w/ gold bead
30 M-1 BG	round	American Blk Walnut	24k gold plated	yes	no	M-1 BB, gold "presentation" name plate
256 Ferret A	round	American Blk Walnut	high gloss bright blue	yes	yes	M-1 BB in caliber .256 Ferret, no sights, tapered bbl
30 Cal Ferret	round	American Blk Walnut	high gloss bright blue	yes	yes	M-1 BB in caliber .30 carbine, no sights, tapered bbl
Enforcer B	round	American Blk Walnut w/ pistol grip	high gloss bright blue	no	no	M-1 BB in a shortened "pistol" version
Enforcer BN	round	American Blk Walnut w/ pistol grip	nickel plated	no	no	Enforcer B, silver "presentation" name plate
Enforcer BG	round	American Blk Walnut w/ pistol grip	gold plated	no	no	Enforcer B, gold "presentation" name plate
Vulcan 440	none	American Blk Walnut	high gloss bright blue	yes	no	.44 Mag pump, adjustable rear sight, ramp front sight w/ gold bead
*Model Numbers do not appear on the Universal carbines

The above carbines and those prior were built using many GI carbine parts. The number of companies using the surplus GI parts to build carbines eventually led to a shortage of GI parts in the later 1960's. As a particular part became unavailable, Universal manufactured or subcontracted for the manufacture of a replacement.

Download the early Universal M-1 Carbine manual (PDF format, 7MB high resolution scan)

Expansion of Operations