[mpthole]

Hey all - well, I'm the proud owner of a "new" (to me) Springfield Armory! :cool: I was poking around on their historical website (http://www.nps.gov/spar/pphtml/newseventsdetail5027.html) to find out when the gun was manufactured. The serial # is: 53xxx. Could this mean that it was made in 1913?!? It looks old, but I would never have guessed it was that old!

[Tamara]

Not if it's a 1911A1.

If it's a 1911, of course send it to me for dating. It will take several years. Decades, maybe. I promise to keep it very, very safe. ;)

[mpthole]

Yep, its an A1. So any ideas where I could go to look up the serial #?

[Tamara]

Not sure if Springfield Armory has contact info at their website (http://www.springfield-armory.com/index.shtml) or not. They'd be the folks to ask...

I do know that they didn't start building 1911's until the '80s.

[Old Fuff]

Tamara:

There is the United States "Arsenal," at Springfield, MA. that built model 1911 pistols before World War One, and Springfield "Armory" that was a commercial company that is building guns on the 1911-A1 pattern. Which "Springfield" made the gun you have?

[Shaughn Leayme]

It may be a foggy memory, but I think that 1911's that were still in the service were reconfigured to 1911A1 format after the improved model was accepted.

Now if this included the scallop cuts by the trigger , I can't remember.

Try looking on the 1911 forum, they are a dedicated bunch over there and may be able to help or direct you to a site

[dsk]

mpthole,

I looks like we need to see some pictures. If the frame is the early style then #53XXX would be a Colt M1911 made in 1913. If the frame is an 'A1 (referenced by the finger cutouts behind the trigger) then that serial number could be for a Colt .38 Super, or it could be for an Argentine Sistema pistol. If the frame is a Springfield Armory (the current one) the SN # should begin with a "NM" refix.

The government Springfield Armory made weapons for the US military until Defense Secretary Robert McNamara had it shut down in the late 1960's. The Springfield M1911s were made from 1914-1916. The modern commercial Springfield Armory was incorporated in 1974, and began manufacture of "Model of 1911-A1" pistols in 1985.

[mpthole]

If the frame is a Springfield Armory (the current one) the SN # should begin with a "NM" refix. My bad... actually, the FFL's bad because they wrote down the wrong serial # on the 4473. There is a "NM" prefix! I think I'm going to try calling SA tomorrow. If I can get my hands on a co-workers digital camera, I'll post some pictures.

BTW, I put about 100 rounds through it tonight. Had a couple of failure-to-feeds (maybe the magazine?) using 230 gr. ball, but otherwise, it worked great. Shoots nice and pretty accurate to-boot! :)

Thanks everyone!

[mpthole]

FWIW, I called SA today and talked to a real nice guy. He looked up the number and told me it was made in July 1988.