Help in Identifying a 1911 Bbl/Bushing...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. About 30 years ago, I bought two bbls/bushings for the 1911 identical to the one in the picture. The bbl is oversized and will not fit any of my pistols w/o fitting and the bushing fits the bbl very snugly. The only markings I can find on either are on the bushing were there's some kind of serial number and the initials "N" and "M" which I assume might stand for "National Match." I believe the bbl to be chrome moly steel in the white. The bbls came in the "tree bark" looking brown paper pictured as well.

If anyone knows who made this bbl or its quality, etc, I'd sure appreciate hearing from them.

Best and thanks in advance.

 

[Old Fuff]

When the Army went into the business of building match-grade .45 pistols for their shooting teams back in the late 1950's they adopted a special "match grade" barrel and bushing set. These barrels were special in that they had extra-tight chambers and metal was added to certain places so they could be hand fitted to individual guns. They were shipped with a barrel bushing that had been fitted to the particular barel, but was still oversized so they could be fitted to a slide. the "N" and "M" does stand for "National Match" and the number on the bushing is a stock number, not a serial. Bushings that were fitted to an individual gun somestimes were marked with that gun's serial number with an electric pencil.

Many barrel manufacturers make "National Match" barrels today for the commercial market. They are god, bad or indifferent depending on who made them. You can find a complete selection at: www.brownells.com

Be aware that true National Match grade barrels require hand fitting.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello and thanks.

Best.