[goaltender30]

Hello everyone, I'm a bit new to the carbines and was looking to get a Universal carbine from a local gun store. http://www.ktpguns.com/interior.php/pid/28/gid/103855
here it is online(no pictures however) and i was wondering if anyone could determine if its worth paying the $415. I was wondering also if anyone knew if it was a early Iniversal carbine that is more like the G.I. carbines or the later cheaper model. Please if anyone could help I would be very grateful.

[jimb2]

I couldn't find a picture, but the serial number sounds like a late model 2 spring. Stay away from it. First, it is badly over-priced ($300 tops) and second, it is very dangerous( firing out of battery).

[sharpshooterhaw]

I'm beginning to wonder how many people have taken the time to research universals before passing judgement on them. I have done research and I can tell you that there are not just two models "early and late" there is a middle model in there which I have. First generation or early models switched production some time between 93xxx and 104xxx. This first generation has one spring and usually a GI locking mechanism. The second generation switches to third between 168xxx and 311xxx. The second generation has two spring and no bolt locking mechanism at all. the third generation which I have seen as high as 480xxx has 2 springs, and a locking mechanism which is a lever on the right side of the receiver right behind the rear sight.

[jimb2]

The intermediate model you are talking about is actually a transition carbine. Depending on when it was manufactured, it could have just a few non-gi parts or many of them. The changeover was gradual as they ran out of gi parts and had to start making their own. That is another reason not to buy one. Some of the parts are impossible to find as a result of that gradual changeover. And it is often very difficult to tell which parts are the correct ones.