Bubba's M1 Carbine?

leelad

leelad

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Ok I have a question about an Underwood M1 Carbine.

I was looking at this neat carbine today and its in very good condition overall with one interesting exeption. The rear apeture sight is missing (theres no evidence of ever having one) and theres an open sight "welded/silver soldered" to the reciever over the "US M1 Carbine, Cal .30 M1" marking.

This HAS to Be Bubba right? No Carbines originaly had open sights, right?

So what would such a Bubba'd Carbine be worth?

Are rear sights available?
Thanks!
Lee-lad.
 
I think the rear sight would make it an post war German Border Patrol rifle. Imposible to tell without a pic.
 
Its not bubba'd. Its a legitimate post war modification done for service in Germany. The rear sight dovetail has been filled with a blank, and matted over. If you remove the rear sight, refinish the area, knock out the filler, install a US rear sight, you will have "restored" it, but whether the carbine will be improved in the process is a moot point.
 
Hmm Interesting.

Sorry but I dont have any pics because I only went to see it, although I wish I had brought a camera...
Anyway While I could be mistaken, I certantly did'nt see any evidence of a Dove tail filler piece (it looked solid to me) also were those German rifles marked "Baravian" something or other? I certantly did not see such a stamping, Oh there was some sort of a mark on the bottom of the pistol grip, I'll try to get another look...

So what kind of value are we looking at? The gun is in very good condition other wise, matal I'd say 90%, wood 85%, nice clean bore, a good, tight little weapon.

Are the Baravian loaners More valuable, the same, or less than a regular USGI carbine?

Thanks again!
Lee-lad.
 
Personaly I would not alter a milsurp that had been changed in a legitimate way like the german carbine because I value the history such guns have. But I would not be to offended if someone else did .
 
Seems to me the rear sight on the German Police carbines is on the barrel. I could be confused again though.
"...Baravian loaners..." Bavarian issued carbines usually bring less than a U.S. Military issue carbine. Nothing wrong with the German rifle though. The story is that the leaf and blade sight was put on because that's what the German Vets that became cops were used to using.
You do have a 'restricted' PAL don't you?
 
I looked at it again and it IS a Bavarian. The long German stamp on the top, left side of the reciever is there but was done on a bitt of an angle so you can only see the top part of the lettering.
All parts are stamped with the last 4 SN digits and all match. Also All parts that I've seen markings on so far are Underwood. The gun is pretty well MINT and I suspect that it was never rebuilt!
I put a deposit on it (price $150, OK?)

Oh, Yes I have My Restricted.

I'm pretty exited, He also threw in a "bunch" of ammo, and a trigger lock.:cool:

Lee-lad.
 
You can't go wrong with a 150 buck Carbine, even if it had the german sight mod. Two of my carbines are Bavarians but were never modified with that changed rear sight thing.

I am interested in hearing how it shoots and seeing some pics of course! :p
 
its a deal at 150.00 they are a nice example of a 1940's post war rework

the german were anal about serial #'s on EVERYTHING they stamped the last 4 digets of the origional serial # of the main components of all m1 carbines

it will likely be a rework IE mixed manufacture parts so it would not be wrth big $ but at 150. you could double your $

check the barrel see ifits the original barrel marked near front sight as the germans did make some of thier own barrels and you dont see them too often
 
While it certantly could be a re-work, I have a feeling that it's not.

The Barrel is marked Underwood 12-43, Front sight .U. ,Mag catch .U. ,Safety .U. ,Barrel band has the 'Spot weld' wich I'm told is Underwood, as does the Bolt, The trigger group is marked (if I recall correctly) W.U. ,No parts I've yet seen are stamped as a diff manufacturer.

The Bore is PERFECT, the wood 90%, the Mettal finnish 95%, basically NO wear on the Bolt, Oprod appears to be perfect, and there is NO rust of any kind on this weapon.

I'll be able to get a better look at it once I have it home, but So far I'm fairly pleased. I can either keep the open sight or get the original apeture for it, I'd prefer to have an apeture sight, but if getting the current rear removed would kill the value, I'll either keep as is or sell and find another carbine with the peep.

Lee-lad.
 
If you remove the original sight, there will be an ugly silver slder stain left. It might be possible to slowly surface grid it till just the original lettering is filled with solder, and then chisel that out - assuming the lettering wasn;t ground off prior to soldering.

the rear sight bases on these were usually also serrated to be non-glare. If yours was, to restore it, you'll have to knock out the sight base and MIG or TIG the serrations over, redress with a file and then repark the whole receiver - which you'll have to do anyhow if you grind off the solder.

All in all, it would be easier to look for a replacement Underwood receiver - or just leave it as-is.
 
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