NM 1911 and Lugers

Emmett Dunham

I was over to the local Turners in Signal Hill, California and they have a SA, NM, 1911 for sale on consignment along with about five Lugers. I don't know anything about the 1911, just wanted them to get it out and hold it, look at some of the marking and put it back.



Emmett

perry shooter

Hello just a bit of information Colt made the first pistol that was Marked "National Match" these were Pre WW II pistols made just like all other colts made for the Civilian market with the letter C as a prefix.but were hand fitted and some had adjustable sights. After the war they were marked National match and had NM as part of the serial then Came the GOLD CUP still with NM as part of serial. Starting in the 1950's The military marksmanship teams starting building Target grade match pistols and contracted for special parts SIGHTS, TRIGGERS, and other small parts These pistols were Known as National match "GRADE" And had NM on the parts. Later contracts Went to the U.S Springfield Armory and they along with Rock Island Arsenal build match grade guns WITH MATCH SLIDES AND BARRELS along with the small NM marked parts. If you shot at Camp Perry you could either borrow a pistol for the week or even buy a "National Match"PISTOL then the 1968 gun control act dictated the end of building NM guns and sales but you could still borrow one for the week of the national matches. Now the Government closed Springfield and Rock Island they sold the rights to the name but todays Springfield is not the Springfield of the 1860's to the 1960's and sorry GET HER DONE the Rock Island is NOT YOUR DAD'S Rock Island Arsenal. Along with this Springfield had a lot of their frames marked with "nm" as part of the serial number.[xx(]These are not in any way shape or form a NATION MATCH PISTOL IMHO. " SORRY ABOUT THE RANT there is just a bunch of misinformation out there about national match pistols. Now about the Lugers . This can be a even bigger bag of worms Because there are more then 100 variations of lugers and they can run anywhere from a $300.00 shooter to $xxxxx.00 guns.

agostino

It sounds like you're referring to what used to be called a National Match Rework. Springfield Arsenal, the real one, reworked military pistols for use by the Army pistol teams. To a lesser extent, so did the real Rock Island Arsenal. The gun I have has a mismatched slide and receiver. Of course so many other parts were changed the guns were unrecognizable from their original configurations. The goal was shooting accuracy, not purity. And "SA" is stamped in several places on the gun as if with a cold punch. I have seen one similarly stamped "RIA." Many were later sold through the CMP. From what I've read, value is determined by condition and the presence of government paperwork.

Emmett Dunham

This .45 has SA marked on the frame and the slide, it also has a lot of proof marks around the barrel pin. The rear adjustable sight has a number stamped in the front of it and it is extended back from the dove tail toward the rear of the slide. the finish on the slide is uneven, the over all condition of the .45 is good.

I thought that most of these pistols are locked up and if anyone in the local area wanted to take a close look at one they could drop by Turners. The asking price was 1700.00, I have seen some on this site that were estimated at above 2000.00.


Emmett