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I’m trying to find out if my shotgun is a first year gun. Didn’t even know what it was when I bought it, but I have had help here.
According to the Winchester records I see at winchesterguns.com, first year 1911 serials were from 1-3819. Second year 1912 serials are to 27659, with no starting number.
So is there an error or what? My serial is 15431.
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
There are no surviving records for the Model 1911 S.L. Shotgun available. The information you found is a copy of what George Madis published, and its accuracy should not be trusted or relied on. That stated, George listed the DOMs for the Model 1911 as follows;
“Number at Start of Year
1911 – 1
1912 – 3820
1913 – 27222
1914 – 51502
1915 – 60521
1916 – 69236
1917 – 67128
1918 – 69238
1919 – 73739
1920 – 76742
1921 – 81125
1922 – 84576
1923 – 89600
1924 – 93655
1925 – 96869
1926 – 99282
1927 – 100255
1928 – 103213
Many serial numbers were skipped after they passed 84774 in 1921. About 84,000 guns were made“
Now, with that information quoted, according to Winchester’s historical information, the Model 1911 was discontinued in 1925, with a total production of just 82,774 (and no serial numbers were skipped). The information in bold is contrary to several reliable sources. The first guns were delivered to warehouse stock on October 7, 1911. Based on your gun’s serial number, I would agree that it most likely was manufactured in the year 1912.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I know this thread is 3 years old, but I recently acquired a 1911 (1912 production) and wondering what the letter A above the serial number is, and the number 17 inset in the diamond is for?
mine also has the letter A, but a 15 in the diamond to the left of the number.
a friends 1911 (1922 production) has neither the A or the diamond and number.
thank you in advance..
lan McKee.
Ian mckee said
I know this thread is 3 years old, but I recently acquired a 1911 (1912 production) and wondering what the letter A above the serial number is, and the number 17 inset in the diamond is for?mine also has the letter A, but a 15 in the diamond to the left of the number.
a friends 1911 (1922 production) has neither the A or the diamond and number.
thank you in advance..
lan McKee.
The “A” indicates the first of many mechanical design changes that were made to Model 1911 (necessitated by the numerous design flaws that existed with that model). The number “17” inside the diamond is an inspectors’ stamp, and they varied from one gun to the next.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thank you for the prompt reply.
I found this at a garage sale with a full box of Peters paper shells. They had inherited it from their grandfather.
I went through the gun from end to end, giving it a good cleaning and changing the fiber recoil buffers for a more modern material..
It’s definitely a “unique” design.
They certainly didn’t intend you to service the recoil system very often..
And the action is a Chinese puzzle box…
I do enjoy shooting it, it gets many comments at the range,
Again, thank you for the information.
ian
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