Springfield Armory .45 Serial Numbers

1sgret

January 19, 2012 11:42

I have two modern SA .45 autos, both purchased in August, 1988. I was hoping that someone could tell me the year they were produced. Serial numbers are:

1) NM26xxx

2) NM54xxx

Thanks for any help you can give,

John

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  rufe-snow

  January 19, 2012 13:02

  The customer service folks at SA were real helpful when I called with a similar question. Mine was a 9 X 23 made in 96/97? The lady I talked to gave me DOM and information on manufacturer, as it was non cataloged purchase from CDNN.

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  1sgret

  January 19, 2012 17:40

  Rufe,
  
  Thanks for the info, I'll give them a call.
  
  John

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  dcs shooters

  January 19, 2012 17:48

  Call SA at 800-680-6866 for info.

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  Hawk Carse

  January 19, 2012 18:26

  Just curious, what is the significance of when such a modern gun was made? I see the point for antiques, but these are barely broken in after only 23 years.

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  tsr1965

  January 20, 2012 00:38

  quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
  Just curious, what is the significance of when such a modern gun was made? I see the point for antiques, but these are barely broken in after only 23 years.
  
  
  Some were made here in the states, until a certain date, then they were made in the Phillipine's after that.

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  perry shooter

  January 20, 2012 03:36

  Springfield's were Made in Brazil if the serial Number starts with the letters N.M . "new model" but often confused with the term National Match as some Military pistols that were rebuilt with match parts to make Match pistols . These contract parts to contract DRAWINGS were marked N.M. never the frames. The N.M. on frames were a play on words to make buyers think they were getting MATCH pistols . Springfield based in Geneseo IL has no connection with Springfield the Military Armory except the name they paid to use.
  
  EDIT
  
  Rufe Snow I suggest you check with Springfield INC. or look on the 1911 forum There is a lot of MIS information about the early Springfield's and where the actual frames were made. They might have been put together in THE USA but frames were made in Bazil.

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  1sgret

  January 20, 2012 05:05

  DCS, Thanks for the phone number.
  
  Hawk, I am trying to get a history for all of my firearms, as my children are starting to "Inherit" them.
  
  Perry, Thanks for the "NM" information.
  
  These two 45's started out as plain Jane military models. I did trigger jobs, new sights, and slide/frame fitting on each one. Both have new barrels (one is a Bar-Sto fitted by Bar-Sto that I won in an Action Shooting Competition) and the other is a barrel w/ a compensator fitted by me (I've forgotten the mfg of the barrel). Both are identical except for the one with the comp. Both shoot really great. My daughters are fighting over them.
  
  John

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  rufe-snow

  January 20, 2012 06:06

  quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
  Springfield's were Made in Brazil if the serial Number starts with the letters N.M . "new model" but often confused with the term National Match as some Military pistols that were rebuilt with match parts to make Match pistols . These contract parts to contract DRAWINGS were marked N.M. never the frames. The N.M. on frames were a play on words to make buyers think they were getting MATCH pistols . Springfield based in Geneseo IL has no connection with Springfield the Military Armory except the name they paid to use.
  
  
  Don't agree that the "NM" prefix SA's were made in Brazil. I bought one new in the 87/88? time frame. It was on sale in one of our large local gun stores. Kept it for a number of years and did a lot of tinkering on it. No where was it marked "Brazil" or "Made in Brazil". I have always believed it was made here in the U.S. for Springfield by one of the American aftermarket manufacturers.
  
  
  EDIT #1, Because of U.S. customs laws, enacted by congress, and in force since the 1890's. All manufactured products that are imported, have to be identified by country of origin.
  
  As I previously noted the "NM" prefix Springfield that I bought new in the late 1980's wasn't marked "Brazil" or "Made in Brazil".

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  Hawk Carse

  January 20, 2012 10:52

  It's the domestic content law.
  If they can show that over half the work is done here, they can call it made in USA. The NMs and Custom Shop guns meet that requirement. But at least the forgings are made by Imbel in Brazil even if the machining is done by S.A. Inc.
  Were they buying American in 1987? I don't know for sure, but I doubt it. A close examination of one that age up against a Colt, Caspian, or Essex might give an indication. Springfields are not faithful copies of the US 1911A1 in several respects and were further off on the older guns.
  
  I don't see how to get manufacturing dates for two guns bought the same month but 28000 numbers apart except by calling the company.
  I don't know how to get manufacturing dates for any of their guns except by asking direct, I have never seen a published chart for them the way you do for other makes.

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