How to tell if SA 1911 is US or not?

[Ash]

I have found a Springfield m1911a1 for $400. It looks to be in excellent condition - parked with military basic features other than three-dot sights. The frame does not have Imbel stamped on the dust cover bottom just before the muzzle as I have seen in the past. Is this US-made? Can you tell by the serial number or other such ways? Is this a decent deal?

 

[thump_rrr]

All Springfields start with forgings made in Brazil.
If the serial number begins with N the gun is considered to be a Brazilian gun.
If the serial number starts with MN it has more than 50% of the value added in the USA and is considered a US made gun.

It is mostly the higher end Springfields that are finished in the USA with one exception being the Range Officer.

 

[skipsan]

As above with the following elaboration:

"WW" and "N" prefix serial numbered pistols are made-complete in Brazil. Depending on when the pistol was made, the "Made in Brazil" stamp may be on the frame adjacent to serial number, under one of the grip panels, or on the dust cover.

Pistols with "NM", "CRG", or anything else including the Range Officer and the Custom Shop pistols are made from partially machined forgings from Brazil, and finish machined, fitted, and assembled in the US, with sufficient US content to escape the Made in Brazil stamp.

 

[bannockburn]

Ash

I have an older SA M1911A1 that was made in the late '80's, shortly after these guns hit the market. If I remember correctly, the very first ones were priced well under what Colt was getting for their Government models (that is when you could find one).

My M1911A1 has an NM serial number prefix and I believe that as skipsan posted, it was assembled from Brazilian parts here in the U.S. At the time it was available in .45, 9mm., and .38 Super. Both parkerized and blued finishes were available, along with standard G.I. plastic or optional walnut grips.

 

[harmon rabb]

i don't think any springfields are made 100% here. buy ruger if you want 100% american made (and not stupidly expensive).

springfields are good guns though, regardless of where they're made.

 

[Ash]

How's the price?

 

[jaysouth]

Once upon a time, a vendor at a gun show was trying to sell a Springfield National Match. He reasoned that the NM prefix on the serial number meant that it was a "National Match".

Idiot was an FFL too!

As observed above, all springfields are born in Brazil. Not knocking it, just the way it is.

 

[Ash]

And the price of $400 in excellent condition?

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

As observed above, all springfields are born in Brazil. Not knocking it, just the way it is.

I wouldn't say born but concieved in Brazil

 

[David E]

$400 is a good price.

 

[jaysouth]

Conceived in Hartford, Connecticut, born in Brazil

 

[hAkron]

My MilSpec purchased last November is an 'NM' serial

They are all made in 'America', just not always the United States of America.

hecho en America

 

[DenaliPark]

i don't think any springfields are made 100% here. buy ruger if you want 100% american made (and not stupidly expensive).

springfields are good guns though, regardless of where they're made.

Sorry but some of us shy away from Ruger, especially new Ruger models that are not even a few months old, you very definitely get what you pay for, and $600.00 isn't going to get you much of a 1911....On the subject of Springfield Armory 1911's, I thought they were all fabricated in Brazill? The stainless Champion I own was, it's a decent pistol, it's accurate & dependable though it's fit & finish are very definitely not as good as what I expect from Colt. Honestly, I think Springfield pistols, all of em, are overrated and overpriced, at $700.00 their a relatively good value, at $900.00 + their a relative rip off....

 

[DenaliPark]

I have found a Springfield m1911a1 for $400. It looks to be in excellent condition - parked with military basic features other than three-dot sights. The frame does not have Imbel stamped on the dust cover bottom just before the muzzle as I have seen in the past. Is this US-made? Can you tell by the serial number or other such ways? Is this a decent deal?

Why do you care, you're likely getting a better production effort from Brazill then some unionized north American labor...Seriously, I have found that "made in America" usually means sub-par, Beretta's 92FS is a perfect example, people go out of their way to avoid the American produced samples in favor of the Italian one's!

Colt's is the one excxeption that I stick with, even though they've shipped their own share of stinkers. If made in America is that important to you, then you're going to have to spring for a lot more then $400.00 for your 1911, and buy one from some custom shop at a very large premium.....

 

[hAkron]

Ironically, some very well made and reasonably priced 1911's come out of the Philippines. You know, the people the 1911 was designed to be used against.

 

[DenaliPark]

Ironically, some very well made and reasonably priced 1911's come out of the Philippines. You know, the people the 1911 was designed to be used against.

Those same folks have for years built some very remarkable knock-offs of S&W revolvers...

 

[ElToro]

I wouldn't say born but concieved in Brazil

conceived in Utah, refined in Hartford and bastardized in brazil

 

[Zerodefect]

Sorry but some of us shy away from Ruger, especially new Ruger models that are not even a few months old, you very definitely get what you pay for, and $600.00 isn't going to get you much of a 1911....On the subject of Springfield Armory 1911's, I thought they were all fabricated in Brazill? The stainless Champion I own was, it's a decent pistol, it's accurate & dependable though it's fit & finish are very definitely not as good as what I expect from Colt. Honestly, I think Springfield pistols, all of em, are overrated and overpriced, at $700.00 their a relatively good value, at $900.00 + their a relative rip off....

+1.

$700-800 is the most I'll pay for a SF,K, R, Rem. Ruger is only a hair better than Taurus.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I'm not talking about the original design guys but the actual 1911s coming from Brazil.

 

[Jim Watson]

Once upon a time, a vendor at a gun show was trying to sell a Springfield National Match. He reasoned that the NM prefix on the serial number meant that it was a "National Match".

Idiot was an FFL too!

Useful idiot.
I believe an intentional misconception.
You don't think they picked NM as a serial number prefix by accident, do you?

 

[Skylerbone]

They wouldn't! Marketing? Not SA Inc.! Say it ain't so Jim!

Unionized does not mean well paid. Made in the US does not mean expensive labor unless you're comparing costs to Brasil or the PI. Lots of Toyotas and Hyundais made here by workers averaging $11.00 an hour.

In affordable 1911s a Colt, S&W, STI or Sig would be my choice in US produced pistols. SA or RIA for foreign born. If you feel $400 is a good value for the SA you found it doesn't matter what others think. If you want it make it yours.

 

[DenaliPark]

I'm not talking about the original design guys but the actual 1911s coming from Brazil.

I get it, as I've said, my understanding is that no Springfield pistols are fabricated in the United States, only assembled....

 

[Mr.Blue]

Unionized does not mean well paid. Made in the US does not mean expensive labor unless you're comparing costs to Brasil or the PI. Lots of Toyotas and Hyundais made here by workers averaging $11.00 an hour.

Toyota and Hyundai workers are not unionized.

I'd skip the Brazilian 1911 and get a Colt or S&W 1911 if I wanted an affordable 1911. YMMV.

 

[Skylerbone]

Thus the periods between thoughts rather than commas. Plenty of union publications on my coffee table to remind me who is or is not organized.

 

[Mr.Blue]

I don't need an English lesson. Perhaps separate paragraphs would have expressed your thoughts more clearly to the readers. Your topic sentence is about union workers. The rest of the paragraph should be about the same topic.

No need to get upset, as I just wanted point out the fact that those workers are not unionized.