M1911 barrel

[Vernon Morris]

Recently saw a barrel with P marked vertically, but also had an R marked on it also on top, visible threw the top of barrel. On the bottom was an s marked in line with the barrel link. I have never seen a barrel marked like this and I was wondering the origin of this barrel
Thanks
Vernon Morris

Information

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[DougH]

From your description of the "S" and the "P", I'm guessing it is a Springfield Armory barrel; pre-war or early WWII. Not sure about the "R" mark.

[Johnny Peppers]

If I understood the OP correctly, the P and R are on top of the chamber. This barrel surfaces ever so often, but so far I know of no source of the barrel. There are a few barrels from 1916 that does not have the H for Frank Hosmer, as he had been transferred from Colt to San Antonio Arsenal for a short period. During that time the top of the chamber had a P and the end of the barrel hood had an S for W. E. Strong. Possibly for a brief period Frank Hosmer was taken away from his duties at Colt, and someone whose name started with an R did the provisional inspections.
The Springfield barrels have the S and P down on the barrel lug.

[prewar]

Sounds like a 1916 Colt Mil brl to me .I have seen other marked the same way minus the s in front of the lug`s but that one could have started out as a commercial brl trans to Mil,But as I said I have seen other`s in the 1916 serl number range marked the same way.

[Scott Gahimer]

I've seen those barrels surface at different times, too. May be even the same barrel, but I don't remember an "S" on the bottom.

Hosmer's absence at Colt resulted in some other barrel markings, too, besides those mentioned. Some barrels were marked on the back of the hood extension and on the back of the lugs...with no markings on top of the chamber. Those barrels have been observed in 1916 to early-1917 military pistols. I don't think Colt was marking the commercial "S" on the bottom until post-WWI in 1919.

If I recall correctly, the OP does not have the capability to post images. Most military barrel varieties have been well-documented in various ranges. The marking may be original...or it may have been added by someone to explain away the different marking on top of the chamber that is totally legitimate. Photos would help.

[Ken Hill]

I saw one such barrel last January at the Lakeland show. It was in a 1918 (ca 485000) serial number gun that had been redone at some point in the past. The "R " appeared to be larger than the P and was a times roman type stamp with serifs and located where the "H" would be in a Type 3 barrel.

It was very similar, if not the same as the "R" stamp used by colt assembler Gabriel Rice.

[Scott Gahimer]

Rice's 'R" mark does appear on the receivers and slides of some June 1918 pistols that were transferred to the military contract when Colt suspended commercial production during WWI.

Those pistols were in the 33x,xxx to 34x,xxx serial range, which would account for a "vertical" chamber marking. The Rice markings I've observed on the receivers of 334194 and 345371 (both C/M transfer) have the top of the loop broken off, leaving the mark to resemble a "K".

This image shows the top of the receiver of 334194. 345371 has the same broken "R".

[Ken Hill]

Scott,
The "R" I observed on the barrel last January resembles the one in the photo you have attached. It was the first and only time I've observed that marking on a barrel. Glad you have a photo to illustrate.

As said the pistol was a 1918 serial number and re-done so there is no telling the vintage of the barrel, only that it had an "R" marking with serifs in place of the usual "H". Hope all is well, why don't you come down for our April 16th show in Lakeland. /Ken

[Scott Gahimer]

Ken:

Thanks. Would like to make it down for the show, but I am already committed on the 16th locally. Hopefully, will see you at the CCA show in KC this October...if not before.