U.S. M1 Carbine
Underwood
Serial Number: 4,022,1xx
BAVARIA GAME WARDEN

Background

Purchased in early 2004 from a reliable internet dealer.

Barrel Group

Barrel type 1 Underwood 2/43 w/ flaming ordnance bomb
Front Sight type 1 .U. (Underwood)
Barrel Band type 1A unmarked (Underwood)
Gas Piston Nut    
Barrel Skirt type 2 shortskirt
Slide type 3 .U. and F within a heart shape (Underwood)
Operating slide stop type 2  

"Bomb" on lower flat & top forward part of barrel (large) P overstamped (small) p 3.5 inches from ME Import mark removed. Slight traces of INTRAC import mark remain, bottom of barrel below manufacturer name. Last 4 digits of receiver serial number on slide. Markings inside slide indicate both the traditional U with dots to either side that Underwood used, in addition to the F within the heart shape. The slide was made by subcontractor Frederick Hart & Co. of Poughkeepsie, NY. Barrel band and swivel are unmarked. Weld marks identify them as Underwood.

Stock Group

Stock type 2 M-U in slingwell (Underwood), Underwood ordnance cartouche right side of stock
Handguard type 2 P-U (Underwood)
Buttplate   (late Inland)

Handguard has narrow barrel band mark imprint only, no type 2 or 3 marks. Boxed UEF/GHD & "crossed-cannon" on right side of stock between the handgrip and sling well. Last 4 digits of the receiver serial number in slingwell and bottom of handguard. P in circle on bottom of handgrip. Wood is in exceptionally good condition throughout.

Receiver Group

Receiver type 2 Underwood
Rear Sight type 2 I.R. Co. 7160060, on right side
Operating Spring Tunnel Housing part of receiver  
Recoil Plate type 2 .U. (Underwood)

"Bavaria Game Warden" milled in top of receiver along left side by bolt. Ordnance flaming bomb on top of receiver below serial number.

Bolt Group

Bolt type 2 .U. (Underwood)
Ejector    
Extractor type 3 .U. (Underwood)
Extractor Plunger type 2  
Firing Pin type 2 .U. (Underwood)

Last 4 digits of receiver serial number electropenciled on top of bolt.

Trigger Group

Trigger Housing type 2 Q-NL with N below (National Lock Co. for Quality Hardware-early production)
Trigger type 1 Q-LT (Ludlow Typograph Co. for Quality Hardware-early production)
Sear type 1 GE-Q (Gerrard Co. for Quality Hardware)
Hammer type 3 W sideways (Winchester)
Trigger Spring type 2  
Trigger Housing Pin type 2  
Safety type 4 SS inside a circle (post WWII rebuild part)
Magazine Catch type 4 M
Magazine Catch Plunger    

Quality Hardware manufactured only their receiver. All other parts were subcontracted or through ordnance from other manufacturers. Last 4 digits of receiver serial number on T of trigger housing.

Additional Information

This is one of the best original Underwood M1 carbines I've seen, and well maintained by the Bavaria Game Wardens. The placement of the 4 digits from the receiver on the various Underwood parts verifies the parts were with the rifle when the Bavarians received it Post WWII. The trigger group was a common replacement by whoever did the inspection, upgrade, and milled the Game Warden name in the receiver, like other Bavarian M1 carbines. The rotary safety, magazine release that would hold a 30 round magazine, type 3 bolt, and adjustable rear sight by International Register Company were pretty standard upgrades at the end of WWII. Of significance is thes upgrade parts were all American made and the same parts used to update the M1 carbines that returned to the U.S.A. for inspection and updates, aka "rebuild".

Leather sling marked "Stolla" (manufacturer) and "WIEN" (Vienna). These were the type used on the M1 carbine in Bavaria or Austria. This one was added after the rifle was purchased.

Photographs and information submitted by:

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