Colt Mark Grip Safeties

[Bill Ricca]

I have had a few requests for information about the C marking on certain parts. I have a batch of parts made by Colt. This contract started in 1952 and went on into 1953.

Notice the C marking:



(The C marking used by Colt was also put on certain M16A1 parts.)

Below is the contract packing:

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Scott Gahimer]

Thanks, Bill. I knew they were post-WWII, but did not know specifically what year(s) they were made.

[Bill Ricca]

Glad you can use the information.

There was another one I found. It was made by Hesse Machine and Manufacturing in Boston, Mass. Unfortunately I no longer have the contract wrapper.

These were rewrapped circa 1970-71 by one of the arsenals. The original contract was either 1966 or 67. I was told they were precise castings.

[CJS57]

How about the C in square barrels?

[Johnny Peppers]

The Square/C barrel mark became the proof mark as well as identifying the barrel as being manufactured by Colt. This is a post WWII barrel with the Square/C proof mark, with COLT .45 AUTO marking on the top of the chamber. We know the hammers were not proofed, so maybe it was a case of not throwing anything away that might be used again, and the Square/C was later used to mark contract parts.

It appears this one was struck more than once, and with two different size dies.