1911 SN and date of mfg. ?

[admirer]

I have been reading of all of the problems with Colts and need to check mine for scratches and off-center milling of parts . ( is in storage at the moment ) . I purchased a new Colt 45 Model of 1911 US Army No. 2581 WW1 . I purchased it 4/1/09 and have fired approx. 14 rounds through it . I wonder what the date of mfg. is for that SN ? Have no idea how long the dealer had it in his showcase . Do you have a listing of SN's and date of all 1911's ?
Thanks ,
admirer ( or was ??? ) .

[daveohno]

Welcome to the forums, admirer!

You can call Colt, Tel: 1-800-962-COLT and they can tell you the year your pistol was made. Most of the problems with Colt pistols is merely cosmetic. Occasionally there is one that runs badly. Pistols from Colt that don't work are rare in my experience. The cosmetic issues, while they are a small number, they are there and Colt will take care of it if you want to send it to them for repair. Colt is not perfect, but they do most of their pistols right the first time and if you send it back to them, they'll fix it and make you happy.

[cliff731]

Very likely (and almost certainly) made very early 2009. It won't be older than 2008.

I'm not even sure if Colt will give you more information than the year your pistol was made... i.e.- no month and day.

[admirer]

Hi daveohno and cliff 731 ,
Thanks for the response and the welcome . I just looked at my barely used Colt and
" seems " to be perfect ! I have only fired it a few times , but was flawless and I see no scratches or evidence of poor machining or lack of quality control . To my
" untrained eye " it seems to be exquisite !!! I went over-budget to purchase my first Colt and was honestly quite concerned when I read all of the posts . I am very pleased.
Thanks ,
admirer

[cliff731]

Admirer,

I'll join daveohno in extending our best welcome to the forum... and yes, your WWI 1911 Colt is a superb first choice... and if there can only be one to have, this might be one to acquire. It is "exquisite" as you say... and by all accounts, these are very good shooters!

Cliff

[admirer]

Thanks cliff731 ,
I am not a good shooter , but am a good owner !! I had decided I wanted to keep my Colt really new so I did purchase a new less expensive ( Stainless -- another brand ) 911 as well for plinking . I will say that Colt does have some stiff competition and I am also very pleased with this one as well . I just have to pick these up every few minutes and is beginning to be a bit ridiculous ! What great feeling guns the 911's are and a " National treasure of design " . Has this old bachelor fallen in love again at age 71 or what ????
admirer
P.S.
I guess you can see where I got my username ??

[cliff731]

Admirer,

I would say after your last post, it's obvious where your username came from... :D

However, any "age" is appropriate to fall in love with the 1911... and indeed you're already hooked! The fact you find your hands on them... well, you said it very eloquently- "I just have to pick these up every few minutes". That isn't a problem! :)

Is your other... the stainless... by chance a Springfield?

I'll agree... Colt does have some stiff competition in the market. Not only the custom brands... but there is Springfield... S&W now... RIA... Kimber... Para USA with their new G.I. Expert... et al... with each clamoring for our attention.

There's probably never been a better time to be in love with this design... :cool:

It is truly, as you opine, a "National Treasure" to me... and embraced around the world too as devotees are found everywhere. This forum is witness and testament to that fact... thanks to John!

I'm truly glad you found this forum... and we all look forward to sharing our admiration of the 1911 along with you. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

Cliff

[admirer]

Good evening Cliff731 ,
I played cards tonight with my real treasure ( my 90 yr. old Mom ) and her sister . They got a kick out of your nice post . I told them that I had to get my 45 out of the case and sit it on the table so we could just look at it !!! I won the rest of the card games ! Heee !!!!!!
Mom asked to whom I would leave my new " loves " and I told her that I was takin them with me !!! May need them to get in the " Pearly Gates " !!!! HAAA!!!!!!
Many blessings to all ,
admirer
P.S.
This one is a Springfield 1911-A1 and I think my Colt is getting jealous !!!

[cliff731]

Admirer,

Thanks for the kind words... and that must have been a great card game.

Your Mom has a wonderful sense of humor... but let's hope it's a long time yet before you need those 1911's to crash the "Pearly Gates"... ;)

By the way, don't be bashful about posting your Springfield over in the Springfield forum. :)

Cliff

[dakota1911]

Hmmmmmmm. Colt would be the people to call. Now my WWI repro I bought in 2006 has a four digit number starting with 3XXX as suffix and WMK as a suffix.

Lets say you got a historical Gov that had a 2581 serial number, and one might think of it as being a WWI gun. It would have been produced from 4/16/1912 to 5/31/1912. Not a WWI gun, a "pre-WWI gun"

[OD*]

Hmmmmmmm. Colt would be the people to call. Now my WWI repro I bought in 2006 has a four digit number starting with 3XXX as suffix and WMK as a suffix.
Don't the O1918s have WWI as the suffix?

[dakota1911]

Hey OD. The WWI Repro I bought has an N and then and then and o, and the little o is at the top the N with an underscore and the the 35XXWMK. Worth the $1K I paid... should have bought more than a few more. Since this guy is out of the safe I need to shoot it a bit tomorrow.

[OD*]

Is yours an O1918 or an O1911 repro?

[cliff731]

Don't the O1918s have WWI as the suffix?

That is correct, OD*... you betcha! :)

[OD*]

Thanks Cliff, I thought maybe I'd "disremembered." ;)

[dakota1911]

I thought I said WWI Repro. Anyway the steel was made around 2005 and I bought it in 2006. Not the same pistol my grandfather carried in WWI, but nice, very nice.

[OD*]

You did Sir, but I guees this threw me;
Now my WWI repro I bought in 2006 has a four digit number starting with 3XXX as suffix and WMK as a suffix.

[cliff731]

Thanks Cliff, I thought maybe I'd "disremembered." ;)

OD*,

I don't know whether to chuckle or cry... cause I resemble that remark! :eek:

Cliff