Colt 1911 Manufacture Date Serial Numberl
Rubie Mccloughan
Following its success in trials, the Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated "Model of 1911", later changed in 1917 to "Model 1911", and then "M1911" in the mid-1920s. The Director of Civilian Marksmanship began manufacture of M1911 pistols for members of the National Rifle Association of America in August 1912. Approximately 100 pistols stamped "N.R.A." below the serial number were manufactured at Springfield Armory and by Colt.[21] The M1911 was formally adopted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 1913. The .45 ACP "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" was used by both U.S. Army Cavalry troops and infantry soldiers during the United States' Punitive Expedition into Mexico against Pancho Villa in 1916.[22]
By the beginning of 1917, a total of 68,533 M1911 pistols had been delivered to U.S. armed forces by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and the U.S. government's Springfield Armory. However, the need to greatly expand U.S. military forces and the resultant surge in demand for the firearm in World War I saw the expansion of manufacture to other contractors besides Colt and Springfield Armory, including Remington-UMC and North American Arms Co. of Quebec.[23] Several other manufacturers were awarded contracts to produce the M1911, including the National Cash Register Company, the Savage Arms Company, the Caron Brothers Manufacturing of Montreal, the Burroughs Adding Machine Co., Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and the Lanston Monotype Company, but the signing of the Armistice resulted in the cancellation of the contracts before any pistols had been produced.[24]
The M1911 and M1911A1 pistols were also ordered from Colt or produced domestically in modified form by several other nations, including Brazil (M1937 contract pistol), Mexico (M1911 Mexican contract pistol and the Obregón pistol), and Spain (private manufacturers Star and Llama).[citation needed]
World War II and the years leading up to it created a great demand. During the war, about 1.9 million units were procured by the U.S. Government for all forces, production being undertaken by several manufacturers, including Remington Rand (900,000 produced), Colt (400,000), Ithaca Gun Company (400,000), Union Switch & Signal (50,000), and Singer (500). New M1911A1 pistols were given a parkerized metal finish instead of bluing, and the wood grip panels were replaced with panels made of brown plastic. The M1911A1 was a favored small arm of both U.S. and allied military personnel during the war, in particular, the pistol was prized by some British commando units and Britain's highly covert Special Operations Executive, as well as South African Commonwealth forces.[27][28][29]
The military mandated a grip safety and a manual safety.[9][page needed] A grip safety, sear disconnect, slide stop, half cock position, and manual safety (located on the left rear of the frame) are on all standard M1911A1s.[9] Several companies have developed a firing pin block safety. Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers, including Kimber and Smith & Wesson, use a Swartz firing-pin safety, which is operated by the grip safety.[39][40] Language cautioning against pulling the trigger with the second finger was included in the initial M1911 manual[41] and later manuals up to the 1940s.
The M1911A1 is popular among the general public in the U.S. for practical and recreational purposes. The pistol is commonly used for concealed carry thanks in part to a single-stack magazine (which makes for a thinner pistol that is, therefore, easier to conceal), personal defense, target shooting, and competition as well as collections. Numerous aftermarket accessories allow users to customize the pistol to their liking. There are a growing number of manufacturers of M1911-style pistols and the model continues to be quite popular for its reliability, simplicity, and patriotic appeal. Various tactical, target and compact models are available. Price ranges from a low end of around $400 for basic models imported from Turkey (TİSAŞ and GİRSAN) and the Philippines (Armscor, Metro Arms, and SAM Inc.) to more than $4,000 for the best competition or tactical versions (Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Nighthawk Custom, and Staccato).[61]
3. World War II:
- The M1911 continued to be the standard-issue sidearm during World War II.
- Over a million M1911s were produced during the war, many of which were made by several manufacturers, including Colt, Remington-Rand, and others.
6. Special Forces and Limited Use:
- While the M1911 was no longer the standard issue, it continued to be used by special operations units and other specialized roles within the U.S. military.
- Various custom and modernized versions of the M1911, often from manufacturers like Colt, Springfield Armory, and Kimber, found favor among military personnel.
Exact dates of manufacture cannot be determined for any of the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (U.S.R.A.Co.) production Model 94s. That stated, S/N 6064681 is estimated to have been manufactured in 1993. Does it have the Cross-bolt safety?
Circled, rear located Rampant Colt: 1 to 20000 approx. Non-circled, rear located Rampant Colt.
20,000 to 285,000 approx. Non-circled, middle located Rampant Colt. 285,000 to end of production approx. Serial number placement (M1911 and M1911A1)
About Serial Number 1 to 4500
(Stylized numbers to about 4500)
4500 to 7500
(Prefix to underline 0, font changed to BLOCK)
7501 to end of production
(Moved to behind slide stop hole)
Colt SN 710001 to about 1139xxx) Colts between serial number 710001 and about 1139XXX have the serial number also underneath the firing pin stop plate. "United States Property" mark location
From Serial Number 1
to about 510000
From Serial Number about 500000
to end of production Ithaca slide markings The "Model of 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY" marking on the right side of the slide is normally found in the range from 906000 to 916404. Remington Rand serial number variations RR halted production in 1943, When they resumed production the line from under the "O" in "NO" in front of the serial number was removed (see IMAGE above). This transition started at approximately 955000. (Top pre 955000, Bottom post 955000) Remington Rand slide markings variations Type 1 Slide: Observed from 916405 to approximately 955000 Type 2 Slide: Observed from approximately 927000 to about 1015000 Type 3 Slide: Observed from approximately 980000 to end of production. RR legend is shorter then the slide stop. US & S "P" proof markings The proof was absent to about 1,060,000 (ref Charles Clawson). From about 1060100 to 1082000, the P proof was applied at the left edge of the slide and on the frame. From about 1082000 to the end of production the P was placed centered in front of the rear sight and on the frame. See example below SN range 105xxxx. On the EXP US&S pistols the ones that I have observed have a P on the the slide but not receiver. There is no Inspectors cartouche on the ESP marked pistols.
US&S absent proof marks
Notice P on this US&S slide is off center and located in lower left of this image, this is not uncommon. (Click on image for larger version). Listing of known slide and frame/receiver markings (not complete) AA: Augusta Arsenal. Found on the receivers of guns rebuilt or inspected at the arsenal.
RIA: Rock Island Arsenal. Found on the receivers of guns rebuilt or inspected at the arsenal.
SA: Springfield Arsenal Rebuild Stamp
ANAD/AN: Anniston Army Depot (Anniston, Alabama) observed with a date stamp following it (MM YY) in 1975
P: Can be found on top of slides on WWII A1s as well as on the Barrel and Frame below the clip (magazine) release.
United States Property: This stamp is found on the frame and slides of 1911s manufactured for and owned by the US armed forces. In most cases a gun with the property stamp will not have a "c" in the serial number.
S: located after finish by the disconnector on top of the frame indicates field service.
G: Located on top of frame by disconnector indicates gun was made to fill a Government contract. Stamped before the finish is applied.
H or H: Provisional acceptance mark. Located on top of frame by disconnector indicates gun inspected by Ordinance Inspector. Stamped before finish applied. Francis L. Hosmer used this stamp on Colts 1911s and M1917 revolvers from 1911 to 1919. Also found on barrels and slides. Inspectors cartouche and Arsenal rebuild stamp examples
1942 Colt WB Example
1912 Colt WGP Example
Augusta Arsenal
Rebuild Stamp Inspection initials found on 1911/1911A1s;
located under the slide stop on the left side of the gun WGP Monogram: Walter G. Penfield, Major Colt S/N 1-101,500
GHS Monogram: Gilbert H. Stewart. Found on Colt M1911s SN 101,500 to 230,000, M1907, M1917, M1903, and M1 rifles at different periods.
JMG Monogram: J.M. Gilbert found on Colt 1911s from 1917 to 1918 SN 230,001 to 302,000.
Eagle/Number: This replaced the personalized monograms about S/N 300,000 to end of WWI production (1919)
FJA: Frank J. Atwood. Found on Remington Rand and Ithaca 1911A1s (entire production).
EEC: Edmund E. Chapman Remington UMC S/N 1-21676
WTG: Walter T Gorton Colt S/N 700,000-710,000
CSR: Charles S Reed Colt S/N 717,282-723,000
RS: Robert Sears Colt S/N 723,000 to 750,500
WB: Waldemar Broberg Colt S/N 750,500 to 861,000
GHD: Guy H. Drewry Colt S/N 845,000 to 2,360,600
JSB: John S. Begley, very late 1945 Colt 1911 A1 to end of WWII production (1945-Very rare) Arsenal Inspectors from Rock Island:
EB: Elmer Bjerke was promoted on January 6th, 1947 to Forman of small arms inspection. He was responsible for the final inspection of new and overhauled small arms. He served in that capacity until 1958. All small arms inspected under his supervision bear the markings "RIA" for Rock Island Arsenal and "EB" for Elmer Bjerke.
FK: Frank Krack was Assistant Foreman of the Inspection Division at RIA from September 17, 1941 until he retired on July 19th, 1946. During that period all small arms inspected under his supervision would be stamped with his initials "FK" as well as those of the Rock Island Arsenal "RIA". Click here to see common exterior markings examples Parkerized/blued bullet feed ramp finish Bullet feed ramps where blued in receivers to serial number 710,000, then at SN 710,001 they where machined after the receiver was blued or parkerized, leaving this area of the gun in the white and unfinished. This area should show machine marks and not be polished. In mid-1944 Colts bullet feed ramps where parkerized, this began at approximately SN 1700000. Return to ID page