Springfield 1911A1 Question

[Lexicon Devil]

I'm wondering if you guys can help me decipher any of the markings on my pistol. I've heard the 1911A1 Mil-Spec pistols are made by Imbel in Brazil, but there's nothing demarcating that. I unscrewed the grips, and on the frame are the numbers 0123786M. The serial # is NM 244XXX, and on the inside of the slide appears the numbers M9 34 81. An additional number, 572, is electropenciled on the transfer bar. Aside from the obvious serial#, what do the others mean? Does the lack of Imbel proofs mean this gun was completely manufactured in the U.S.?

[Q619]

I'm wondering if you guys can help me decipher any of the markings on my pistol. I've heard the 1911A1 Mil-Spec pistols are made by Imbel in Brazil, but there's nothing demarcating that. I unscrewed the grips, and on the frame are the numbers 0123786M. The serial # is NM 244XXX, and on the inside of the slide appears the numbers M9 34 81. An additional number, 572, is electropenciled on the transfer bar. Aside from the obvious serial#, what do the others mean? Does the lack of Imbel proofs mean this gun was completely manufactured in the U.S.?

From my understanding, if you've got a serial number with a "N" prefix, you've got a Brazillian gun and if you've got a "NM" prefix then it's American. ALL forgings used by SA are from Imbel in Brazil whether they be the top of the line Professional model or a G.I. entry level model (I've seen a couple with the US rollmark though they're rare). Imbel is a state of the art facility that produces high quality guns (and sells their own 1911 on the world market). The difference in roll mark is where the end milling/fitting/finishing was done. If 51 percent of the work was done in Brazil then it'll have the Imbel roll mark and vice versa.

Eta: one of the benefits of the Brazil made guns is they seem to pin AND glue their ejectors while the US ones are usually just glued.

If all the parts on your gun have the same numbers on them then it was probably from when your gun was fitted (so they wouldn't get your parts mixed up with others).

[M1A Rifleman]

Per SA, Milspecs may or may not be marked made in Brazil. The SA GI and Milspec pistols are made in Brazil and are stamped as such, then they are shipped here for final fit and finish. At this time, depending on workload, SA says the "made in Brazil" may be polished off some of the Milspecs pistols.

Wikipidedia indicates SA pistols were always made in Brazil dating back to the mid 1970's, which was news to me.

[Lexicon Devil]

Thanks dudes! That helps a bunch.

[Q619]

No problem!