Post WWII Commercially Manufactured M1 Carbines (U.S.A.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identifying which carbine is which model number can be difficult. For now, the carbines are listed alphabetically here, by what they are most commonly known as. If you don't know what it's called, no worries ... this is a picture gallery. Just scroll down the page.
Over time more models will be added, and I'll indicate which model number(s) were used by Universal for each of these and their variations.
The Universal Model 1025 256 Ferret and Model 2560 were rifles designed to be used with the .256 Winchester Magnum, right from the start. These models use all of the same parts as the .30 caliber M1 carbines, with the exception of the magazine and bolt. Parts for this model can be found online at Numrich Gun Parts. The bolt is listed here.
| Universal Model 1025 Ferret A .256 caliber | |
| Caliber: | .256 Winchester Magnum |
| Barrel: | 18 inches |
| Weight: | 5 lbs |
| Length: | 35.58 inches overall |
| Stock: | American black walnut Monte Carlo style |
| Sights: | usually no rear sight, possible front sight, scoped |
There are a few companies that sell .256 Winchester Magnum reloads. They tend to be very expensive ($1.00+ per round). As of May 2008 the best price I could find was about $38 for a box of 50 reloads, at Reed's Ammunition & Surplus. They also offer a variety of bullets and loads.
Reloading your own ammo is much less expensive. If you are not familiar with what's involved and how to do it, take a look at the RCBS reloading tutorial, or Norma reloading videos, both available online. The bullets, powder, and primers are all current production and easily obtained from most retailers who sell reloading equipment. They are not specific to the .256 Winchester Magnum alone. The one piece that is specific to this cartridge, are the casings.
There are two sources for the .256 Winchester Magnum empty casings. The first, and more expensive, is to buy new casings ($.50-$1.00 per casing) or used casings that have already been sized to the correct dimensions. If they are used casings, make sure they have already been resized and are ready for reloading. You'll often find these on Gunbroker.com, AuctionArms.com, or through a retailer. Be aware these are not stocked by most reloading supply retailers (Midway & Cabela's sometimes have the new ones $$$).
The less expensive option is to obtain new or used .357 magnum casings, which are very common, and resize them yourself. The added benefit to this option is you can use most of the casings more than once. To do this, you will need a set of reloading dies for the .256 Winchester Magnum. Used RCBS dies can sometimes be found on Ebay or other auction websites. New RCBS dies for this cartridge are special order items and can take months. Fortunately, Redding manufactures these dies and they are far easier to obtain. The Redding Deluxe Die Set B 256 Winchester Mag 84233 (RDD84233) contains the three necessary dies: the full length resizing die, the seating die, and the neck sizing die. These retail new for $70-$80 and can be found at the larger reloading supply retailers (Cabela's, Midway, etc). New dies can also sometimes be found on Ebay, Gunbroker.com, or AuctionArms.com.
Winchester .256 factory loads used a 60 grain Open Point Expanding bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2760 fps and muzzle energy of 1015 ft. lbs. (Marlin 24 inch rifle barrel). You should be aware there is a less common variation of this cartridge that uses a .223 casing instead of a .357 casing. The Universal Firearms .256 Ferret carbines were not designed to use this .223 casing variation. This would require modification of the rifle by a qualified gunsmith. If you are reloading your own ammo, stick to the .357 magnum casings or the .256 Winchester Magnum casings that have the .357 magnum base dimensions.
| .256 WINCHESTER MAGNUM | ||
 | ||
| Case: | .357 Magnum or .256 Winchester Magnum | |
| Max Case Length: | 1.281" | |
| Overall length Min: | 1.540" | |
| Overall length Max: | 1.590" | |
| Load Examples: | ||
If there is an experienced reloader who would like to comment or correct any of this information, please contact me.
In 1981 Universal introduced it's Commemorative Model. This was a Model 1003 M1 carbine in a GI configuration with a parkerized finish with and "select" black walnut stock. The carbine was sold in a form fitted case and included one 5 round magazine, one 10 round magazine, one 30 round magazine, a bayonet with scabbard, a Weaver scope and mount, and a brass belt buckle with the Universal name depicting the carbine. The right side of the stock between the handgrip and sling opening had a round commemorative medallion. The carbine commemorated the forty year history of the .30 caliber M1 carbine. According to Ruth approximately 500 of these were made. These are the one exception to the serial numbering sequence that appears to have been used chronologically on all of the other Universal carbines. The serial numbers observed on the Commemorative Model carbines have been 00079, 00204, 00391, etc.
 Stock Commemorative Medallion |  Commemorative Belt Buckle |
The first Enforcer model used a GI type adjustable rear sight, blade front sight attached to the barrel, and a GI type barrel band.
| Universal Enforcer Models B, BN, and BG | 1964-1967 |
| Caliber: | .30 carbine |
| Barrel: | 10 1/4 inches, 12 groove rifling |
| Weight: | 3 3/4 lbs |
| Length: | 19 1/2 inches overall |
| Stock: | walnut, wood handguard |
| Sights: | blade front, rear adjustable for windage & elevation |
| Features: | Model B Satin Blue Model BN nickel plated Model BG gold plated |
About 1967 the rear sight was changed to an L type fixed sight, which Universal advertised as adjustable for windage (using a hammer). About the same time the GI style barrel band was replaced with the patented round barrel band. When these changes occurred, so did the dimensions of the Enforcer model (see chart below).
When the Universal Firearms marking was moved to the receiver ring, the name "Enforcer" was stamped in the top of the receiver between the front of the rear sight and rear of the bolt.
The Universal catalog for 1979/80 depicts Enforcers that appear similar to the previous ones (above), but the dimensions changed.
| Universal Enforcer Models 3000, 3005, 3010 | 1968-1978 | 1979-1983 |
| Caliber: | .30 carbine | .30 carbine |
| Barrel: | 10 1/4 inches | 11 1/4 inches |
| Weight: | 4 1/2 lbs | 4 lbs |
| Length: | 17 3/4 inches overall | 19 inches overall |
| Stock: | walnut, wood handguard | walnut, ventilated metal handguard |
| Sights: | fixed front & rear | |
| Features: | Model 3000 Satin Blue Model 3005 Nickel Plated Model 3010 Gold Plated | |
Research is continuing to determine the changes made by Iver Johnson in the short time they manufactured the Universal carbines.
The Universal Paratrooper model was introduced about 1980. The only difference between the Paratrooper model and the standard Universal M1 carbine was the stock. The Paratrooper model was available in satin blue with an 18" barrel, satin blue with a 16" barrel, and stainless steel with an 18" barrel.
The stock was first sold by a stock maker in the 1960's as a replacement stock for the M1 carbine. A number of carbine manufacturers offered this stock, or slight variations, as an option on their carbines (Iver Johnson, Plainfield, National Ordnance).
| Universal Paratrooper Model 5000PT | |
| Caliber: | .30 carbine |
| Barrel: | 11 1/4 inches |
| Weight: | 6 lbs |
| Length: | 36 inches open, 27" folded |
| Stock: | American walnut |
| Sights: | fixed front, rear adjustable for windage & elevation |
| Features: | Satin Blue, ventilated metal handguard |
In 1982 Universal introduced the Model 1006, which was the Model 1003 GI carbine in stainless steel. The bolt assembly and front sight were the only parts not made of stainless steel. Limited information is available at this point, I hope to obtain more photographs in the future.
In the March 1969 issue of The American Rifleman, p.74, an advertisement from Universal Firearms announced Universal's first "Du Pont Teflon-S coated carbines". Within a few years the available colors expanded.
Universal advertised the Teflon-S carbines as waterproof, scuff resistant, and abrasion resistant, going as far as saying they were submersible. "Just wipe off water and don't worry about rust." I suspect the marketing people embellished what they heard from the employees in operations.
Shooting Times Magazine of March 1969 bpp. 14-17 describes testing done to the Universal teflon coated carbines to determine if the manufacturer claims were true. The conclusion was, with the exception of the bolt and several other parts that were blued, the teflon held up to all their tests, without rusting. The author clarified that his tests were not done over a long term as the carbines had not been available long enough for endurance testing.
The carbine depicted below appears to be Navy gray, originally it may have been "Camouflage Olive".
The Vulcan 440 appears to have been Universal's first rifle. It is a pump action .44 caliber rifle, based on the M1 carbine design and using many of the same parts. It is primarily known for it's use of the .44 magnum cartridge, but also fires the .44 special and obsolete .44 Russian. Universal initially advertised the rifle as capable of firing any .44 caliber cartridge. Their marketing people were apparently unfamiliar with the 44-40 cartridge, which, due to it's case dimensions, will not fit inside the chamber of the Vulcan 440.
Shooting Times May 1965 pp. 71-73 has a review of the Vulcan 440. Most of the review is regarding it's function. They stated it handled the heaviest .44 magnum loads with ease. At 50 yards it averaged groups under 2", at 100 yards groups under 4". Their only criticism was they didn't like the opening between the receiver and the grip for the pump action, they would have liked it better if it had been enclosed.
The Vulcan 440 uses a 4 shot polymer magazine specific to this rifle. As of 2008, the magazines are still available through several retailers. Universal manufactured this rifle from their onset in 1962 until 1968. It was no longer listed by their catalog for 1969.
| Universal Model Vulcan 440 | |
| Caliber: | .44 magnum, .44 special |
| Barrel: | 18 1/4 inches |
| Weight: | 6 lbs |
| Length: | 36 7/8 inches |
| Stock: | American walnut |
| Sights: | sporter front, rear adjustable for windage & elevation |
| Features: | Satin Blue |
 |  |
 Right side of barrel |  Left side of receiver to the rear of the bolt area |
Mystery Model
The carbine below is s/n 308241. It has the Universal name and patent number on the receiver in front of the bolt. It has the GI style gas system, a GI manufactured slide (locks the slide back and bolt open using the GI style slide retention pin), a Universal bolt with the enclosed firing pin, and a Universal manufactured wide trigger housing.
GI slide manufactured by Inland, Universal Firearms bolt with spring retained firing pin
The letters US stamped in the right side of the receiver at the rear
|
|
Part III: Universal Sale and Universal Redux
|
|