Late model Universals are junk. Mind you, they're fairly reliable junk. Issue with 'em is that no internal issue parts will work. And that the poorly made, stamped, op handles had a tendency to break and are currently irreplaceable. Gunparts bought all the remaining IJ/Universal parts and are sold out of op handles($98.25 each when to do have any and you need to know which barrel you have. Round or flat.). And issue op handles do not fit.
"...a used Plainfield carbine..." All of 'em will be used. And it matters when it was made. Iver Johnson also bought Plainfield and let the QC go. However, a Plainfield Carbine made by the Plainfield Machine Company(had mine for over 40 years and have done absolutely nothing to it but clean it) will give you years of reliable, accurate, shooting pleasure. The Plainfield will use any issue part as it was an exact copy of the issue Carbine.
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