Every once in a while a member posts a message wanting to know who made their magazines. This thread is intended to be an all inclusive list of the various codes and identifying marks used on 1911 magazines. Please feel free to add verified codes that I may have missed and include any images you may have.
Colt Factory Magazines
Colt uses or has used several subcontractors over the years. These magazines are usually identified by the Colt pony on the baseplate, and a couple of letter codes that indicate the finish and the subcontractor. These are the codes for those magazines.
M=Metalform
C=Checkmate
O=Okay Industries
G=?
Here is a pic of a Colt magazine. The second letter "s" indicates a stainless mag.
On a side note, Metalform sells a 1911 magazine under their own brand as well. This magazine has their company logo in place of the "m" used on the Colt contract mags.
Here is a pic from our e-zine of the Metalform baseplates by John:
GI Magazines
(from 1911Tuner)
Look on the toe of the floorplate for a letter identification. It'll be a single letter. S G L R One of the four.
On the bottom, you may notice two letters...one will be a C with a hyphen between'em...but the letter on the toe identifies the manufacturer.
S=Scovill
G=General Shaver
L=MS Little
R=Risdon
Umarked=Colt
The C+one of the letters identifies a Colt contract with whichever vendor made the magazine.
A CAGE code on the bottom of the floorplate is a post-war USGI magazine
Some of the early post-war magazines were marked with the above manufacturer codes, or were assembled from surplus components. The qualify as genuine, though not exactly era-correct...and it's beyond my eyeball skills to determine the difference.
Cage Codes
This is a list of known cage codes posted by Doran
MFR. 8R611
KASCO METAL PRODUCTS
Status: P - Cancelled Without Replacement Record Parent
BROOKLYN, NY 11200
Date CAGE Code Established: 4/8/1979
MFR. 30745
MASON-RUST CO
Status: F - Obsolete Record Parent
PITTSBURGH, PA 15200
Date CAGE Code Established: 11/4/1974
MFR. 1M291
CHECK-MATE INDUSTRIES INC
Status Code: ACTIVE
777 MOUNT AVE
WYANDANCH, NY 11798-0000
Date CAGE Code Established: 1/11/1975
For cage codes not listed see this website:
https://www.bpn.gov/bincs/begin_search.asp
I don't have a photo of a cage code baseplate. If anyone has one please add it to this thread. Thanks.
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