Military Versions from 1912 to 1945.Manufacturer/Serial Number/Date MadeBeginning of M1911:1) Colt: S/N 1 to 3190 = April 16, 1912 to May 31, 19122) Colt: S/N 3190 to 7501 = May 31, 1912 to Oct. 10, 1912. (S/N 3501 to 3799 were first U.S.M.C. Pistols made by Colt delivered June 6, 1912.)3) Colt: S/N 7501 to (approximately) 20,000 = Oct.
10, 1912 to Jan. 19134) Colt: S/N (approx.) 20,000 to 83,856 = Jan.
19, 1913. S/N 38,001 to 43,900 Navy Model (USS New York) = March 9, 1912 to March 5, 1915. S/N 43,901 to 44,000 Navy Model (USS Texas) = March 9, 1912 to March 5, 1915. S/N 36,401 to 37,650 U.S.M.C. Model made by Colt = July 9, 19135) Colt: S/N 83,856 to 89,801 = Aug. 19, 1913 to July 20, 1914.
(S/N 83,901 to 84,400 U.S.M.C. Model = May 12, 1914)6) Colt: S/N 89,801 to 108,601 = July 20, 1914 to Feb.
8, 1915. (S/N 96,001 to 97,537 Navy Model (U.S.
Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.) = March 9, 1912 to March 5, 1915)7) Colt: S/N 108,601 to 290,000 = Feb. 8, 1915 to May, 1918. (S/N 109,501 to 110,000 Navy Model, S/N 223,953 to 223,991 Navy Model, S/N 232,001 to 233,600 Navy Model). (S/N 151,187 to 151,986 U.S.M.C. Model, S/N 185,801 to 186,201 U.S.M.C. Model, S/N 209,587 to 210,386 U.S.M.C. Model, S/N 215,387 to 217,386 U.S.M.C.
Model)8) Colt/Springfield: S/N 128,617 to 133,186 = 1916 to 1924 ( These models are very hard to properly identify)9) Colt: S/N 290,000 to 450,000 = May, 1918 to Oct. 24, 191810) Colt: S/N 450,000 to 629,500 = Oct. 24, 1918 to April 10, 191911) Springfield Armory: S/N 72,571 to 133,186 = April 1914 to April, 191712) Remington-UMC: S/N 1 to 15,000 = Aug. 10, 1918 to May 24, 191913) Remington-UMC: S/N 15,000 to 21,676 = Aug. 10, 1918 to May 24, 191914) North American Arms: S/N 1 to 100 & S/N’s 111, 222, 333, 444, 555 = July 1, 1918 to Dec. They are very rare and rank in value with Singer models. ( None of these were reported shipped to any branch of the military but about 100 regular models and about 5 presentation models were manufactured in Quebec, Canada by the North American Arms Company, Ltd.)15) A.
Savage Munitions Co. Was issued a contract on July 20, 1918 and canceled on Dec. Some parts were made but no complete pistols.
Pistol MarkingsM1911 and1911A1Markings and parts identificationThelinks below provide detailed information and images of typical parts ofthe M1911 and M1911A1. The purpose of this section is to provide areference that will help evaluate a M1911/1911A1 as to whether or not itis in its original configuration and it has the proper parts for itsserial number range. With1911/1911A1 pistols, the serial number determines the date of shipment. The only surviving records are of shipments of serial numbers;dates of manufacture can only be inferred from the shipping records.Select a category belowAdditional notes andresources for collectors(www.model1911a1.com)(www.armscollectors.com). NOTE:During years when pistols were made in high volume, pistols were assembledby pulling parts out of assembly line parts bins.
As the inevitable manufacturing changes were approved and phasedin, there would sometimes beold and new parts mixed in the bins. If the inventory control people were conscientious, bypurging and rotating stock, a clean changeover point of old/new might beachieved. However this sortof diligence and attention to detail was probably the exception ratherthan the rule. Overlap ofold/new features usually happened to some extent.
1911 Colt 45 Pistol Serial Numbers 38 Special
During years of relatively low production, parts might have beenallowed to “run out,” before new type parts were added, and of coursethe diligence of the workmen would vary between manufacturers. For example when Colt changed from checkered to serrated thumbsafeties in 1945, there is observed overlap over a range of serialnumbers. Some pistols would have the checkered, then theserrated, and then the checkered could be found again on later examples.- Copyright2000-2007 Ty Moore- Do not copy or redistribute information on this site.