Need info Springfield 1911-A1

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought my son a used 1911 back in 2006 or 2007. A year or so later he wanted a "nicer" 1911 with different sights. He was going to sell the gun but I bought from him instead. I didn't own a 1911 so I kept that one. I just found out today while looking for a DOB this gun might be special. It has an "NM" prefix and only a 4 digit serial number.

Funny thing is, while looking on the Net I found a post on calguns.net made by 9mmepiphany with good info. Here it is...

Originally Posted by Springfield Inc
Springfield uses the prefixes of "N" and "NM" to designate 1911-A1 type pistols, just as we used "AM" as the prefix for the P9 series of pistols. The only pistols which use the national match frames are the complete custom pistols built through our custom shop. These pistols have "Springfield Custom" etched on the slide, and will have the "NM" prefix to the serial number.


Deb, Custom Shop Coordinator
Springfield Custom
Springfield Inc.

I'm wondering what year this gun was made NM 59xx and if this gun really has a USA made national match frame and went through their custom shop. I do know this 1911 is very accurate and I'm glad I kept it.

Thanks in advance for the help...

 

[boricua9mm]

The NM prefix guns had their final fitting and assembly performed here in the USA. The forgings and parts still came from IMBEL at that time. It is my understanding that all current Springfields are US made (since ~2011, IIRC), and that the forgings are now domestically sourced as well. I can't speak for the small parts.

Unfortunately, the NM prefix does not automatically mean that your pistol received National Match treatment, but it should exhibit tighter overall fitting than the guns that were 100% made, fitted and assembled in Brasil by IMBEL. This is not to say that your specimen is not a National Match gun, it just means that an NM prefix is not a sure indicator. Springfield should be able to tell you how it left their factory based on the serial number.

 

[walnut1704]

If you trace that comment you quote from Springfield back to it's original source you'll find it's dated 10/2002. It's been re-quoted all over the place.

https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?p=249865#post249865

I'm sure it was accurate at the time, but it would seem to pre-date your gun by a few years so you can't be sure they didn't change the way they use the NM prefix after that point. NM seems to be a common prefix now. I have a Loaded Target with a NM prefix that's only maybe three years old.

 

[9mmepiphany]

NM seems to be a common prefix now.

Yup, that is all it is. It is the prefix they use to denote a 1911 style gun.

It has nothing to do with it's build level or where it was manufactured

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm wondering when this one was made since it has only a 4 digit serial number. I checked the slide and it is not a custom shop gun.

 

[boricua9mm]

Yup, that is all it is. It is the prefix they use to denote a 1911 style gun.

It has nothing to do with it's build level or where it was manufactured

Sorry, but your information is not accurate as it relates to the OP's post. All current Springfields have NM prefixes, as all are US made. Ten to fifteen years ago, it was either an N prefix for IMBEL completed guns, or NM for guns completed in the US. The OP's gun is from 2006 and assembled in the US.

I'd be willing to bet that the OP's gun has no IMBEL markings on the frame whatsoever. If it was, in fact, completed in Brazil it WOULD be so marked.

 

[bannockburn]

My Springfield Armory M1911-A1 has an NM prefix and was built sometime in the mid to late '80s.

 

[johnmcl]

I have two Springfield 1911s, one has an N and the other an NM serial number. They are not match guns.

 

[RainDodger]

boricua9mm is correct. Your pistol was assembled here in the US by Springfield. One of my Springfields with the "NM" prefix began life the same way. It was a 1911 "Basic".... a gov't spec, pretty loose, reasonably priced, but great shooting 1911. It's a perfect pistol to turn into a really good shooter, should you want to "upgrade" it. If not, it's a great shooter the way it is. Enjoy it!

 

[9mmepiphany]

All current Springfields have NM prefixes, as all are US made. Ten to fifteen years ago, it was either an N prefix for IMBEL completed guns, or NM for guns completed in the US. The OP's gun is from 2006 and assembled in the US.

You realize that the two bolded portions above don't literally mean the same thing and don't completely conflict with what I have posted.

I'd be willing to bet that the OP's gun has no IMBEL markings on the frame whatsoever. If it was, in fact, completed in Brazil it WOULD be so marked.

That wouldn't surprise me at all. I never said the gun was completed in Brazil.

When more than 50% of final assembly of a product is completed domestically, it can legally be labeled "Made in the USA". That doesn't change the fact that the frame might have been manufactured in Brazil. It is the same as Japanese parts used to assemble completed cars domestically. They are also correctly labeled Made in the USA. My information can be completely off as I have found that it really doesn't make much difference where a gun as sourced from as much as how it is assembled.

Are you saying that no Springfield 1911s who's serial numbers start with "NM", have frames produced by IMBEL?

 

[boricua9mm]

What I'm telling you is that as you've stated here is not correct:

Yup, that is all it is. It is the prefix they use to denote a 1911 style gun.

It has nothing to do with it's build level or where it was manufactured

Clearly, whether the gun has an NM prefix or not is indeed a real world indicator of where the gun received final fitting, assembly and finishing. This has been stated by Debbie at Springfield for over a decade now.

The NM prefix does not denote any particular "style" of gun. Until you get to the TRP and beyond, all of the lower rung Springfields can be found in both NM and N prefix frames.

We can debate on the merits of "Made in the USA" as it relates to the modern globalist economy until we are red in the face. The fact remains that NM prefix guns were and are completed here in the US, and yes, up until 2011, all of those forgings came from Imbel in Brasil. After 2011, all of the forgings are US made, with final fitting, finishing and assembly all done here in the US. You won't find any current production Springfield 1911 leaving Geneseo with an N prefix. For all intents and purposes in the contemporary world, whether we like it or not, "US Made" means over 50% of the manufacturing process was done stateside.

I can honestly say that I have had my mitts on more SAI's 1911s than the average bear, and I can tell you that hands down, the NM pistols have a much tighter fit than those that left Imbel in retail-ready mode.

 

[9mmepiphany]

NM prefix guns were and are completed here in the US
..."US Made" means over 50% of the manufacturing process was done stateside.

We're not in disagreement

After 2011, all of the forgings are US made

This confirms my point that the OP's gun (frame/slide) were manufactured in Brazil

Do you know who produces them?

the NM pistols have a much tighter fit than those that left Imbel in retail-ready mode

That may be true, but in conversations with Stan Chen, Ned Christiansen, and Bruce Gray, it didn't amount to a huge difference. Of course, they were looking at them as a foundation on which to build