U.S. CARBINE CAL. 30 M1 - Underwood Elliott Fisher Company

CLASSIC12 · Mar 11, 2021

Whenever I posted my WWII Tommy gun, references were made to “Combat”, the 60’s television series, which I didn’t know. So I started watching it on internet. In addition to Sgt Saunders’ Thompson, lots of M1 Carbines are featured in the show (as well as Garand and BAR).

I also recently scored 1900 rounds of cheap ammo.

So I started keeping an eye out for one and started learning about them. And as I am on a lucky streak these days, this little rifle popped up on the website of an LGS. He’s been hit hard by restrictions related to Covid, especially at the range which is a big part of his business, and he is offloading lots of weapons with discounts to generate cash.

The gun has some patina but is in very nice condition and the bore is excellent. Price was $ 595.-

It looks like it avoided the post war upgrades

Barrel is marked (hard to photograph)

Underwood
2-44
Flaming bomb
“P” proof mark

Brigadier General Guy H. Drewry and Underwood Elliott Fisher initials with the crossed cannons

I was allowed onto the range in order to test fire it

15 shots slow fire at 25 m standing

Then 3 shots to the head slow fire and the rest in rapid fire, at 50 m standing

I think it’ll fit very nicely in my small WWII U.S. weapons collection

S&W Victory

Colt 1911A1

Remington Rand 1911A1

Thompson 1928A1

I’ll need to take a family photo

shell627 · Mar 11, 2021

Nice Underwood carbine.I also have a Underwood m1 carbine. Yours looks like it’s in better shape cosmetically. And that was a great price.

bgrafsr · Mar 11, 2021

You stole that gun.

Here that would be a $2,000.00 gun.
I like your Thompson also.

Wyo · Mar 11, 2021

I’d say you got that rifle for less than half what it would have been here. Nice! They’re great fun.

quikdraw67 · Mar 11, 2021

You stole that!

BTW it's in as issued configuration. Flip up rear sight, push button safety, and no bayonet lug.

If it's not import marked easily worth 3 times what you paid.

waffles · Mar 11, 2021

The M1 carbine is my favorite rifle, though I made the mistake of shooting a friend's M2 and now I'm chasing that dragon. I will also say, if you get one that works, hold onto it. I've had a few with various troubles that were absolute nightmares to work with, and never quite got running right. My current carbine is never leaving.

My current one, a CMP carbine that was an Austrian Gendarmerie gun post war

Others

fordson · Mar 11, 2021

Less then $600.00 US for that Underwood (in that good condition) is a crime! You took advantage of the poor LGS.

Hope you realize I’m joking. Great early Carbine - flip peep sights, flat head bolt and the type two hand-guard band . Wow!
I’ve got several Carbines, including an M1A1.

LostintheOzone · Mar 11, 2021

I would buy a dozen at that price.

Many gun store owners are going to go out of business soon if they don't have anything to sell. All the normal firearms/ammo/component pipe lines are dry.

My dealer is buying guns from me now. That's a real switch.

Patrick L · Mar 11, 2021

STOP THIEF!!!

murphydog · Mar 11, 2021

Nice M1 Carbine!

Given your posts, I propose we give Switzerland the new nickname of “Land of half-price and full-auto firearms”.

Mike SC Hunter · Mar 11, 2021

I can play. My Underwood-Elliot-Fisher, high wood marked Bavarian Forestry police. Which was a lend to German Police after the war for police work. Each area that received carbines marked them. Purchased from CMP way back when. Note lack of bayonet lug.

Grayfox · Mar 11, 2021

I love the M1 Carbine! I think its the perfect home defense rifle.

I have two. An Inland and a Standard products. Great little rifles and tons of fun.

here's one of mine along with a couple of war buddies.

Sistema1927 · Mar 11, 2021

One has to wonder if that Underwood carbine was "liberated" during WW2, and remained in Europe, thus avoiding the post-war upgrades.

I find that my Quality Hardware carbine (with all post-war upgrades) is one of the handiest weapons around. The magazines that I use in it are all WW2 vintage 15 round ones that I unwrapped, but I have changed out all the springs.

Ackley1952 · Mar 11, 2021

QuickDraw nailed it . This one is just like one coming off landing craft in pacific. Nice

RCL-09 · Mar 11, 2021

From the pictures it looks to be in original as issued condition.

The trigger housing is of the stamped variety used in the 1944 Underwood rifles. There should be an ordinance bomb stamp on the bottom of the trigger guard, if it is an original Underwood there will be a "U" stamped somewhere on the housing.

The push button safety, mag release, barrel band/swivel are correct for that gun for that time. Rear sight is correct and should have an "S" or "NPM" stamped on the left side.

The data indicates that the gun should have a round bolt but the flat top bolt could correct as the switch came between 1943 and 1944. So an early 44 production could have the flat bolt. It should be marked with a stamped "U" or "WU".

The stock is correct and the stamp G.H.D. over the U.E.F., and the handguard looks to be correct also.

Overall it would seem to me that you have an original, as issued, non modified M1 carbine. That is to say, a very, very rare piece. As such it would command a premium here in the U.S. The reworked/modified Underwood sells for around $1,500 and up. Your rifle, if I am correct in my evaluation would probably easily fetch $2,000 or more.

Congratulations on a very rare and unique piece of history.

bgrafsr · Mar 11, 2021

At one time I had close to 15 or 20 M1 Carbines, including two M1A1's. I had at least one from each manufacturer, plus some variations, and a lot of accouterments for the Carbines. Had one from Irwin-Pederson too.

My buddy and I collected them and put on displays at the Ohio Gun Collector's Shows. I finally got burned out and sold all of them. For what they are going for now, I kick myself when I think about it.

LostintheOzone · Mar 11, 2021

Grayfox said:
I love the M1 Carbine! I think its the perfect home defense rifle.
I have two. An Inland and a Standard products. Great little rifles and tons of fun.

here's one of mine along with a couple of war buddies.

Nothing more to add in that collection. You have it all amigo.
I have the USGI carbine and the 1911. That's as far as I want to go. I carried a 1911 on watch in the Navy. They wouldn't trust me with a carbine. I don't think the Navy had any anyway. They had some Garands tho because we trained on those.

Model5 · Mar 11, 2021

Any usgi m1 carbines I see around at gun shows even pre Covid will not be had for less than 1k. I picked mine up (1966ish plainfield machine) for $450 about 3 years ago. I love it and always keep an eye out for a reasonable usgi although my plainfield runs flawlessly I would still like to have a “real” m1 carbine. Congrats on a good rifle at an exceptional price.

Rudi · Mar 11, 2021

They are such great little rifles. Still kicking myself for letting mine go.

lihpster · Mar 11, 2021

When my father was a Game Warden, they often worked with the State Troopers who have a game division. My dad was riding with his favorite partner when a call came out about a murder suspect that was on the run. They were told to block the road leading off the highway and into the hills. The Trooper pulled the truck across the road but about 50 yards back of the highway. When my dad asked him why, he said, "So he doesn't see us and just keep going down the highway!" They get out and the Trooper reaches behind the seat of the pickup and pulls out a riot gun. My dad is looking down at his Mod. 15 in the holster. The Trooper says hold on and comes out with a M-2 carbine and gives it to my dad. The guy never came by, he went another way and they caught him. My dad did say a select fire carbine felt alot more comforting than his .38.

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