[KYPhoenix]

I just bought a pt111 for $190 (Too good a deal to pass up :D ) and was hoping someone could help me with figuring out when it was made. I am told that there were problems with the early "1st generation" of these pistols, and that you can tell the date of manufacture by the Ser #. :confused: Does anyone know what the date codes are, and/or how to tell the difference between a 1st or 2nd Gen. pistol? My piece's Serial number is TSC31XXX.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Tropical Z]

Id contact Taurus directly myself.
www.taurususa.com

[SouthpawShootr]

All that I know is from PT145s, but it is supposed to be common to all Milleniums (don't know about the pro). First digit is model specific: Ts supposedly were for PT111s, Ns were for PT145s. Second digit was year. I know that U was a 2001 manufacture for the PT145. So that reasoning would be T for 2000 and S for 1999. Third digit was for the month starting A-L looks like yours would be March. Several threads have discussed decoding these serial numbers both on THR and TFL. I don't know if my reasoning will work in this case - I don't know when these guns appeared in their catalog. Taurus has a serial number research service on their website, so try that and tell me if I'm right. BTW, if this is accurate, it puts your gun in the very very early batches and MIGHT need to be fixed at some point down the road. I've heard of a few cases of PT111s shearing off their pins that hold the subframe (metal) into the frame (polymer). PT145s had problems with frames cracking. If something happens, just insist that they fix it and make sure you only run sane loads through this gun just to be safe ( no I don't think it will blow up with in-spec loads, but if by chance you do blow it up with a wild handload and Taurus finds out about it, you risk being charged for repair). I think you did well, enjoy your gun.

[Logistar]

The PT-111s make great carry guns IMHO. Drawing quickly, I am more accurate with it than my other handguns. (I suppose it's the low weight.)

Enjoy!

Logistar

(NEVER had a malfunction with mine so far.)

[sjtalon]

http://taurususa.com/products/findmodel.cfm

[Forseti]

Sounds like you got an early PT111. Not to worry. If it has a problem, Taurus will fix it.

Most likely long term issue...plastic "rivets" holding frame to slide shear. Again, not to worry. Just watch for it. It may never happen.

[KYPhoenix]

Thx for the link sjtalon! It was outstandingly helpful.
I really like the piece too, it seems outstanding to me, but I've heard bad things about the frame cracking and whatnot. However I've heard that the very new ones are fine, and that the oldest (w/o the internal safety lock) will go for 1000s of rounds.
I'm hoping it will do well, as I'm looking forward to having it as my primary carry piece for a while. I'll put a few hundred rounds through her this weekend and see what happens. I figure for $190 :p and a lifetime warranty how far wrong could I go :D

[peashooter]

Another thing to watch on the PT-111 is the take-down pin. After a few thousand rounds, it may start to rotate slightly during cycling and the lever will shear off. The pin is also the barrel cam and will wear to the point that the fit is not good. I have had one replaced by Taurus. Save the broken one, if it happens to you and send it in and they will send you a new one. If this your carry I would invest the five bucks and have a spare. I did.
To Taurus' credit, they had me a replacement in LESS than a week.

[KYPhoenix]

I just got back from shooting about 200 rounds through her and she worked perfectly, with no malfunctions of any kind whilst I fired her. No cracks or pin probs or anything :) Recoil is about like my 1911 Gov. Of course the trigger is a bit long but overall I think it will be a great carry piece.