1961 national match 1911a1?

[Socrates43]

I won this NM 1911A1 in an online auction a few days ago and am interested in opinions about its authenticity. It appears to me a 1961 model.

http://www.auctionarms.com/Closed/Di...Num=10033092.0

I have two main concerns. First, the NM barrel is apparently not stamped with the frame's serial number. But I am not sure whether it should be, and page 42 of Jenkin's book on US Military Match and Marksmanship pistols does not tell me whether in 1961 the barrels were necessarily marked with the frame's serial number or not.

My second concern is that the slide has the frame's full serial number stamped on it (rather than just the last four digits) and the numbers look larger than 1/16 inch. Is it possible that some slides were marked that way in 1961?

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

Did you get any paper work connecting the pistol with the box? The pistol doesn't look honest to me.
The 1961 NM pistols had the Micro adjustable rear sight, and the 1960 NM pistol was the last with the fixed rear sight. The trigger should be black plastic, and the barrel, bushing, and slide should be numbered. The bushing was numbered with an electro pencil, so not easy to fake.
Below is a 1960 Springfield Armory NM pistol. Notice that the front grip strap is milled rather than stippled. The barrel is marked: NM 7790429 / COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / 1155510 , and the slide is marked with the last four digits of the serial number, 5510, as is the bushing. The serial number on the NM bushing can only be seen when the bushing is removed. The T behind the trigger guard is for "Targeted".

[Socrates43]

Thanks Johnny, I appreciate your input.

As for the front strap, I have read Bill Jenkins explaining in his book that sometimes a specimen will exhibit a mixture of early and later model features. They were milling the front straps in 1961, but if this one had previously been worked on in the late 1950's when they did stippling that might conceivably explain why milling was not applied.

By the way, Jenkins also says that not all of the 1961 models had the adjustable rear sight. As for the aluminum trigger and the 7790313 part number on the barrel, those would also be correct for 1961.

But with all of that said, I am still concerned about the full serial number being stamped on the slide rather than just the last four digits. Those same numbers seem too large, and the serial number is not stamped on the barrel. I'll be sure to check the bushing, thanks.

I'll add another concern. The letters SA on the right side above the trigger guard seem a little too small to me when I compare them to the photos in Jenkins' book.

I welcome anyone's else's comments or input.

[Socrates43]

On second thought, I'll forgo a look at the bushing and not disassemble anything after the package arrives so as not to void my right of return.

[Scott Gahimer]

Based on the auction photos, I think there are too many things wrong with the pistol to be right. Finish doesn't look right, nor do the stocks.

I agree about not checking the bushing, but I think the best way to verify you don't jeopardize your right to return for full refund is to simply not open the box.

[Johnny Peppers]

A second opinion is always a good idea.

[mike radford]

They fake everything these days. Seems like a lot of work to fake that one but folks do it.

[Reaper6]

Ok, I'll play. I believe it's a 1962 model that started out as an earlier model; note it has two "T" stamps and the slide number doesn't match the frame. The magazine, barrel, and bushing have all been numbered to the frame.

[Johnny Peppers]

A 1962 NM would have an adjustable rear sight. Unless sold, the NM pistols were rebuilt every year so that next year's shooters would have the latest improvements.

The slide in the original post is not numbered correctly, apparently the barrel is not numbered at all, and the stippled front strap has a decorative border. Not Springfield Armory work.