How to read Colt serial numbers for first timers. Guns By Karik Shayler On May 19, 2019 No Comments. Rate this post. Technically speaking, Colt serial numbers jumped all over the place with no set pattern so you cannot understand them without a reference table. Design changes could suddenly change the progress of the serial numbers. Colt 1911 A1 serial number Perhaps like many of you, I inherited my career Army (11th Airborne) dad's Colt 1911 A1. It has a 7 number serial number rather than the usual 6 number serial number.
Up for bidding is a 1943 production Colt 1911-A1 with serial number 1173583. As this is a 1943 production the slide is not serial numbered. This is a 100% Colt production. The 'Colt Rampant' is present on the left hand of the slide. The barrel bears the 'Colt 45 Auto' stamp and is correctly marked with an 'F' matching 1943 production. All the small parts are Colt production, correct and believed to be original to the pistol. The finish is in great condition. No major damage. 'GHD' inspector stamp is visible below the slide lock. 'United States Property' stamp is also clearly visible above the serial number. The ordnance wheel is present on the right rear of the frame. The magazine is WWII era and is 'S' marked on the toe as a Scovill. There are no import marks noted. There are no re-arsenal marks noted anywhere.
Also included is a US M1916 holster by BOYT. The holster is undated and is believed to be a WWI holster. There is minimal wear on the holster.
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For almost 75 years, the Colt Model 1911A1 was the workhorse of the American military. It was the sidearm carried by American servicemen through WWI, WWII and every other military operation the United States has been involved in until 1985. The markings made on the slide of the weapon will help identify if it was a military issued weapon or one made for the commercial market.
The slide of the Model 1911A1 rests along the top of the gun. It has a hole cut in it that allows the spent cartridges to allow expulsion after firing. During operation, the slide moves to the back of the gun by the force of the evolved gases in the cartridge, ejects the spent casing through the top port, then moves back forward by the expansion of the main spring, reloads a new cartridge in the chamber and leaves the hammer in the cocked position.
Markings appear on the slide during the manufacturing of the weapon. They identify the manufacturer and on some weapons, depending on manufacture date and manufacturer, the serial number of the weapon. Military issued weapons also include a marking that shows the weapon was property of the United States. These weapons fulfilled government contracts to the military.
When the weapons arrived at arsenals in fulfillment of a government contract, a symbol is stamped on the slide indicating the arsenal. The inspector's initials also appear on the slide.
Most weapons that were available to the commercial market during the years of manufacture had a serial number that began or ended with a 'C'. Any weapons that possessed any other letter or had no letter were military-owned weapons.
The value of your 1911A1 will depend on the condition. The verification of the authenticity of the weapon is determined by the markings on the slide. Short runs of production may make the weapon worth more. Overall, original parts and condition increase the value.
Angel Lancaster has been writing for publications since 2008. She writes about health, fitness, medical techniques and procedures and alternative medicine. She is a certified personal trainer and has experience in bodybuilding and personal nutrition. Her work appears on eHow and she has written a column for the 'Lebanon Chamber of Commerce' newspaper. Lancaster attended Clayton College of Natural Medicine for naturopathy.