Gunsmithing & Technical|June 2019
It is my understanding that Crown/crown U, was definitive proof (Crown) and view mark (crown U). From what I have read in A. Baron Englhardt's 1950's series of articles on proof in Europe, Crown (proof) was Imperial and crown U was inspection (view) after proof. The letter U signifying Untersuchung or inspection. Proof Marks or 'Proofs' as they are sometimes referred to have changed over time, therefore assisting in dating the arm. Some older foreign manufactured firearms, such as pistols from Spain and Italy, will list a location, rather than a manufacturer. These firearms are cottage industry type weapons without a.
When they were made, all British guns had to be subjected to proof testing (they still are) to ensure that they were fit for purpose. The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats, though early guns may have stamps on the tubes, under the forend.
Crown Over U Proof Marking
The table below can be used to see if your gun was proofed in London or Birmingham. Many old guns may have been re-proved once or more, often in a different proof house from the original one.
By seeking the marks listed in the table, the latest a gun could have been proved originally can be established, as can the time frame of any re-proof that may have been applied later in the gun's life.
Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on
Gunsmithing & Technical|June 2019
Frame and Slide Markings
Always Examine The Markings With A Magnifier: The 'NO.' prefix was roll marked at the same time the right hand receiver legend (United States Pro…) was marked.Then after finishing and inspection, the serial number was stamped. 1911A1 pistols before mid 1943 had the serials stamped on before finishing.Early 1911 Colts up to about serial 7500 had their serials stamped after the finish was applied.This was about the same time that the serial number location was moved to below the trigger. Examining the markings will help determine if the pistol has been refinished, and it will certainly help to determine if the markings are original or counterfeit.However a thorough knowledge of what the markings are supposed to look like on any specific pistol is generally necessary.Markings that were applied before finishing will usually have all traces removed of the ridges created when the stamping die displaces metal. Often the ridges are hard to see.Another clue, especially on blued pistols, is around the stamps where metal is displaced, the finish will often flake off in microscopic chips that will leave a white shadow appearance around the letters.If the pistol is blued after these stamps, the micro flaking is highly unlikely.Only by studying lots of pistols will one know what he is looking at, and that is getting to be more and more difficult. Was the stamp before or after finish. These will be indicated in the descriptions below. These marks will have a white or burnished appearance. Also remember that when metal is stamped it is pushed a side and will create a ridge. A powerful magnifying glass is essential to see the ridges and the detail around them. If the ridge is absent and it should be there, The pistol most likely has been refinished. Refinished guns are worth much less then guns with the original finish. Markings that are applied after finish are Arsenal Inspectors marks, sometimes firing proofs, and the Ordinance Escutcheon (Cross Cannons).
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'Rampant Colt' details by serial number | ||
Circled, rear located Rampant Colt: 1 to 20000 approx. | Non-circled, rear located Rampant Colt. | Non-circled, middle located Rampant Colt. 285,000 to end of production approx. |
Serial number placement (M1911 and M1911A1) | ||
About Serial Number 1 to 4500 (Stylized numbers to about 4500) | 4500 to 7500 (Prefix to underline 0, font changed to BLOCK) | 7501 to end of production (Moved to behind slide stop hole) |
Colt SN 710001 to about 1139xxx) | Colts between serial number 710001 and about 1139XXX have the serial number also underneath the firing pin stop plate. | |
'United States Property' mark location | ||
From Serial Number 1 to about 510000 | From Serial Number about 500000 to end of production | |
Ithaca slide markings | ||
The 'Model of 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY' marking on the right side of the slide is normally found in the range from 906000 to 916404. | ||
Remington Rand serial number variations | ||
RR halted production in 1943, When they resumed production the line from under the 'O' in 'NO' in front of the serial number was removed (see IMAGE above). This transition started at approximately 955000. (Top pre 955000, Bottom post 955000) | ||
Remington Rand slide markings variations | ||
Type 1 Slide: Observed from 916405 to approximately 955000 | Type 2 Slide: Observed from approximately 927000 to about 1015000 | Type 3 Slide: Observed from approximately 980000 to end of production. RR legend is shorter then the slide stop. |
US & S 'P' proof markings | ||
The proof was absent to about 1,060,000 (ref Charles Clawson). From about 1060100 to 1082000, the P proof was applied at the left edge of the slide and on the frame. From about 1082000 to the end of production the P was placed centered in front of the rear sight and on the frame. See example below SN range 105xxxx. On the EXP US&S pistols the ones that I have observed have a P on the the slide but not receiver. There is no Inspectors cartouche on the ESP marked pistols. | ||
US&S absent proof marks | Notice P on this US&S slide is off center and located in lower left of this image, this is not uncommon. (Click on image for larger version). | |
Listing of known slide and frame/receiver markings (not complete) | ||
AA: Augusta Arsenal. Found on the receivers of guns rebuilt or inspected at the arsenal. | ||
Inspectors cartouche and Arsenal rebuild stamp examples | ||
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Inspection initials found on 1911/1911A1s; located under the slide stop on the left side of the gun | ||
WGP Monogram: Walter G. Penfield, Major Colt S/N 1-101,500 | ||
Arsenal Inspectors from Rock Island: | ||
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Click here to see common exterior markings examples | ||
Parkerized/blued bullet feed ramp finish | ||
Bullet feed ramps where blued in receivers to serial number 710,000, then at SN 710,001 they where machined after the receiver was blued or parkerized, leaving this area of the gun in the white and unfinished. This area should show machine marks and not be polished. In mid-1944 Colts bullet feed ramps where parkerized, this began at approximately SN 1700000. |
Double Crown Over U Proof Mark
By seeking the marks listed in the table, the latest a gun could have been proved originally can be established, as can the time frame of any re-proof that may have been applied later in the gun's life.
Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on
Gunsmithing & Technical|June 2019
Frame and Slide Markings
Always Examine The Markings With A Magnifier: The 'NO.' prefix was roll marked at the same time the right hand receiver legend (United States Pro…) was marked.Then after finishing and inspection, the serial number was stamped. 1911A1 pistols before mid 1943 had the serials stamped on before finishing.Early 1911 Colts up to about serial 7500 had their serials stamped after the finish was applied.This was about the same time that the serial number location was moved to below the trigger. Examining the markings will help determine if the pistol has been refinished, and it will certainly help to determine if the markings are original or counterfeit.However a thorough knowledge of what the markings are supposed to look like on any specific pistol is generally necessary.Markings that were applied before finishing will usually have all traces removed of the ridges created when the stamping die displaces metal. Often the ridges are hard to see.Another clue, especially on blued pistols, is around the stamps where metal is displaced, the finish will often flake off in microscopic chips that will leave a white shadow appearance around the letters.If the pistol is blued after these stamps, the micro flaking is highly unlikely.Only by studying lots of pistols will one know what he is looking at, and that is getting to be more and more difficult. Was the stamp before or after finish. These will be indicated in the descriptions below. These marks will have a white or burnished appearance. Also remember that when metal is stamped it is pushed a side and will create a ridge. A powerful magnifying glass is essential to see the ridges and the detail around them. If the ridge is absent and it should be there, The pistol most likely has been refinished. Refinished guns are worth much less then guns with the original finish. Markings that are applied after finish are Arsenal Inspectors marks, sometimes firing proofs, and the Ordinance Escutcheon (Cross Cannons).
|
'Rampant Colt' details by serial number | ||
Circled, rear located Rampant Colt: 1 to 20000 approx. | Non-circled, rear located Rampant Colt. | Non-circled, middle located Rampant Colt. 285,000 to end of production approx. |
Serial number placement (M1911 and M1911A1) | ||
About Serial Number 1 to 4500 (Stylized numbers to about 4500) | 4500 to 7500 (Prefix to underline 0, font changed to BLOCK) | 7501 to end of production (Moved to behind slide stop hole) |
Colt SN 710001 to about 1139xxx) | Colts between serial number 710001 and about 1139XXX have the serial number also underneath the firing pin stop plate. | |
'United States Property' mark location | ||
From Serial Number 1 to about 510000 | From Serial Number about 500000 to end of production | |
Ithaca slide markings | ||
The 'Model of 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY' marking on the right side of the slide is normally found in the range from 906000 to 916404. | ||
Remington Rand serial number variations | ||
RR halted production in 1943, When they resumed production the line from under the 'O' in 'NO' in front of the serial number was removed (see IMAGE above). This transition started at approximately 955000. (Top pre 955000, Bottom post 955000) | ||
Remington Rand slide markings variations | ||
Type 1 Slide: Observed from 916405 to approximately 955000 | Type 2 Slide: Observed from approximately 927000 to about 1015000 | Type 3 Slide: Observed from approximately 980000 to end of production. RR legend is shorter then the slide stop. |
US & S 'P' proof markings | ||
The proof was absent to about 1,060,000 (ref Charles Clawson). From about 1060100 to 1082000, the P proof was applied at the left edge of the slide and on the frame. From about 1082000 to the end of production the P was placed centered in front of the rear sight and on the frame. See example below SN range 105xxxx. On the EXP US&S pistols the ones that I have observed have a P on the the slide but not receiver. There is no Inspectors cartouche on the ESP marked pistols. | ||
US&S absent proof marks | Notice P on this US&S slide is off center and located in lower left of this image, this is not uncommon. (Click on image for larger version). | |
Listing of known slide and frame/receiver markings (not complete) | ||
AA: Augusta Arsenal. Found on the receivers of guns rebuilt or inspected at the arsenal. | ||
Inspectors cartouche and Arsenal rebuild stamp examples | ||
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|
|
Inspection initials found on 1911/1911A1s; located under the slide stop on the left side of the gun | ||
WGP Monogram: Walter G. Penfield, Major Colt S/N 1-101,500 | ||
Arsenal Inspectors from Rock Island: | ||
| ||
Click here to see common exterior markings examples | ||
Parkerized/blued bullet feed ramp finish | ||
Bullet feed ramps where blued in receivers to serial number 710,000, then at SN 710,001 they where machined after the receiver was blued or parkerized, leaving this area of the gun in the white and unfinished. This area should show machine marks and not be polished. In mid-1944 Colts bullet feed ramps where parkerized, this began at approximately SN 1700000. |
Double Crown Over U Proof Mark
Rev 1.1c