SPRINGFIELD GI AND MIL SPEC QUESTION

[johnny blaze]

I am a little confused as to what the difference is in the Mil - Spec Springfield and the GI series Springfield.
I was under the assumption that they were the same thing.
After reading many different posts on this forum, I am beginning to think that there is a difference in the two.
I found a GI model in blue (black) for 409.00 and the GI stainless model for 439.00 locally. These are both new. Is this agood price on these? I am considering buying this model.
Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Warren]

The WW2 version has a lanyard loop at the bottom of the MSH.

The WW2 version has low profile sights. Really tiny blade up front and shallow notch in back.

The Mil-spec has a 3-dot system and it's slide serrations are slanted whereas the WW2 version's are straight up and down.

The Mil-spec's ejector port has been cut lower than the WW2 version and is flared as well.

The Mil-spec has a beveled magazine well and has been ramped and throated.

And different grips come standard on each.

That's all I could find, hope it helps.

 

[Detritus]

The WW2 version has a lanyard loop at the bottom of the MSH.

The WW2 version has low profile sights. Really tiny blade up front and shallow notch in back.

The Mil-spec has a 3-dot system and it's slide serrations are slanted whereas the WW2 version's are straight up and down.

The Mil-spec's ejector port has been cut lower than the WW2 version and is flared as well.

The Mil-spec has a beveled magazine well and has been ramped and throated.

And different grips come standard on each.

That's all I could find, hope it helps.

that covers it,

then you do like me and come across two examples of some sort of weird "half-breed" production run from SA.

Basicly a Mil-Spec (Slanted cocking serrations, slightly lowered port, no lanyard loop on MSH, hammer has polished sides [many GIs have matte hammer sides], etc) with the barely there GI sights, and the early production WW2-GI brown plastic grip scales. these guns have a "NM" pre-fix on the Serial Number don't know if that means anyting or not.

looked to me like SA had a couple of bins of parts to rid themselves of and did a run just for that.

 

[nitesite]

I believe the "NM" serial prefix denotes frames which were produced in Springfields plant. There was a time when Imbel-produced frames from Brazil were falling short of the demand for the pistols. So Springfield diverted some of the frames destined for their loaded pistols to help catch up.

Some believe that it is more desireable to have a "NM" frame because it doesn't say IMBEL BRAZIL on the dust cover. But from all it have read over on 1911Forum.com there is extremely little (if any) difference in quality or accuracy.

 

[johnny blaze]

Thanks everyone for the information.
It appears that the Mil - Spec should be a better pistol than the GI version. The sights are one area that would be definately better on the Mil - Spec. Some of the other features would probably add to reliability over the GI version.
I think I may pass on the GI version and try to find a good buy on a Mil - Spec.

 

[Detritus]

I believe the "NM" serial prefix denotes frames which were produced in Springfields plant. There was a time when Imbel-produced frames from Brazil were falling short of the demand for the pistols. So Springfield diverted some of the frames destined for their loaded pistols to help catch up.

Some believe that it is more desireable to have a "NM" frame because it doesn't say IMBEL BRAZIL on the dust cover. But from all it have read over on 1911Forum.com there is extremely little (if any) difference in quality or accuracy.

well the local dealer that has them wants $100 more for em than what the other dealer i frequent wants for Imbel marked GIs. And the only down side to the imbels for me is i don't like the current incarnation of the "Made in..." mark. looks like the work of an automated electro pencil (Dot-matrix lettering but small and neat, instead of slightly sloppy like the import mark on my Century No4 enfield)

so i know which I'll likely get to replace the WW2 GI i sold late last year.

 

[Warren]

I'd like a mix n' match myself.

I'd want the standard ejection port, beveled mag well, lanyard loop* (probably never use it but I want it anyway) ramped and throated barrel**, and straight slide serrations.

Grips don't matter as I would change them.

Sights don't matter as I would put an XS Big Dot system on it.

* Unless to bevel a mag well means the lanyard loop goes away. Then I'll take the well over the loop.

** This is important because I want to be sure I have no feeding issues with any of the ammo I choose. I don't want to have to use hardball for CCW.

 

[Ala Dan]

I own both, the MIL SPEC and the WW-II G.I. replica Springfields.
Both frames are marked "made in Imbel, Brazil; which I don't have any
major problems with. Both shoot well, are very accurate, and have not
had any issues. What else can be said for an inexpensive pistol?

 

[Lennyjoe]

My son decided on the Mil-Spec due to the added extra's. Good shooting gun.

 

[bclark1]

Though it was covered in the first reply, I just wanted to reply to this thread and hopefully draw further attention with another reply. Why? Because a lot of people, even dealers, seem to have a problem with this distinction. You hate to have to resort to model numbers to be clear about which gun you're talking about...

 

[Nightcrawler]

Springfield Mil-Spec

Springfield GI

I almost bought a Mil-Spec back in 2003, but I found a new roll mark Colt, brand new, for only a hundred dollars more. That was back when Colt still actually made pistols and before the prices on the basic NRM models got jacked up. These days, if I was in the market for a basic M1911 clone, I'd probably get the Mil-Spec.

Springfield's lineup is always interesting. They no longer make a standard "high capacity" model (the model they used to make was pretty basic), but they make a GI model that's high cap? And who else but Springfield would've ever made a "Mil-Spec Operator", which was a Mil-Spec with a light rail, spur hammer and everything? Gotta give 'em credit, they're keeping it interesting. Tempting, even.

 

[Essex County]

I think the Mil-Spec is worth the dirrerence. That said, I have a G.I. type Norinco that has proven flawless.........Essex

 

[johnny blaze]

Thanks for all the information. I have learned alot from this post.
I have found alot of individuals and dealers who do not know the difference (as I did not before) between the GI and the Mil-Spec. That is what had me confused.
I found some in stores and also on the net were listed as GI MIL SPEC.
I think that I know where this is coming from. I found an older GI model that still had the box. On the box it said MIL SPEC and it was the GI version with the short sights, etc. Springfield must have made a GI that was called the Mil Spec a few years back. And also, the Mil Spec is probably associated with the GI model, just because of the name. It makes sense, the GI model would seem to be a Mil Spec model.
I even called a gun store and they told me they had the Mil Spec, turned out to be the GI version.
I did find one that had the NM prefix on it. It was marked Geneseo - (I am not sure what that is). It had the lowered ejector port and the 3 dot sights. It was used and a little pricy. Would anyone know what this particular gun would be worth? It had some holster wear on the barrel. The NM prefix was mentioned in a previous reply to this thread. And I am not sure about Geneseo. It was the black finish.
I just hope that if I get a Springfield, I do not have a feed problem with hollow points. I have never had a problem with feeding hollow points in any of my Smith, Taurus or Firestorm 45 acp models.

 

[Warren]

Geneseo is the Illinois town where SA is located.

 

[johnny blaze]

Warren,
Thank you, I learned something else I did not know. it appears that the model that I mentioned, from reading the previous posts, and with the NM Prefix, may have been one of the models made in the US.
Anyone with an idea of a value on this pistol?

 

[Ala Dan]

Typically, a used Springfield WW-II G.I. replica model 1911A1 that shows
a bit of holster wear wouldn't command any amount over 'bout $300, at
best. I sell the same weapon NIB with a parkerized finish for $419.88~!

 

[XavierBreath]

Here is the definitive GI45 vs Mil-Spec thread.