Springfield Armory Confusion

[becker_atc]

Ok...so i was looking over my Stainless Springfield Armory GI (well started life as that) that I bought off a member several months back.

On the factory grips that it still has on it is says "Springfield Armory Since 1794"

On the roll mark on the slide the crossed cannons crest (like on the grips) It says "Springfield Armory 1974"

What gives? Is 1974 when this company started or is this a typo LOL

 

[Fyrtwuck]

Maybe this will help. Explains it better than I can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Armory,_Inc.

 

[Spata]

Springfield armory has been around since the 1770s

 

[WTJ]

In 1974, the Springfield Armory name was licensed to Robert Reese, to form Springfield Armory, Inc., a company that manufactures semi-automatic versions of the M14 rifle and M1911 pistol. The company is not located in or near Springfield, Massachusetts, much to the chagrin of Springfield Armory purists, and has no association with the authentic Springfield Armory. This private company using the "Springfield Armory" name is based out of Geneseo, Illinois.
[edit]See also

 

[becker_atc]

i see the real SA closed in '68 and SA, inc. opened in '74

 

[HackerF15E]

Springfield armory has been around since the 1770s

Not the same organization as currently sells firearms.

 

[WTJ]

1911 dates and S/N data for the original Armory:

Springfield Armory (M1911)Return to top)
As part of the original negotiations for the Model 1911 contract, the Ordnance Department secured the right to manufacture the pistol at Springfield Armory. The negotiations allowed the U.S. Government to manufacture one third of those pistols produced after Colts had produced an initial 50000 pistols. Production at Springfield was, by necessity, done in batches of serial numbers as the original authorization for Springfield specified that Colts Manufacturing Company would be given contracts for 2/3 of the pistols produced and the orders for same would be given simultaneously with orders to Springfield. Springfield prepared a set of drawings and eventually started production, and completed the first pistols in January of 1914. Other than marking, the pistol made at Springfield had few obvious differences with the Colts made pistol. However not only were there many subtle difference in the parts, but many of the parts will not completely interchange between a Springfield and a Colts made pistol. It was not until WWII that proper tolerances were specified for all parts to function and interchange. Parts made at Springfield can usually be identified by these subtle differences in the parts, and although many parts made at Springfield were stamped with an “S”, many were not so marked, especially in the later pistols. Therefore unmarked parts can usually be identified if they were made at Springfield.
Throughout production at Springfield there were only three changes that are apparent when viewing the fully assembled pistol. The original Springfield made hammer (used from serial #72651 to about serial #76200) was short but somewhat thicker than the short Colts made hammer. At about serial #76200, the short spur hammer was replaced with a longer spur hammer that is also distinctively shaped and easily identifiable. This second type hammer had a rather sharp rear edge that often pinched the hand of the shooter. To avoid “Biting the hand that feeds it,” the sharp edge of the hammer was rounded sometime later. (Officially the change occurred by serial #102597, however type two hammers are sometimes seen in later pistols.) Springfield pistols use a distinctive magazine (made at Springfield) with folded over and brazed bottom lips as well as a copper plated section at the rear top of the walls and a lanyard loop on the floor plate. The magazine also has a distinctive coloring due to the brazing and heat treatment. A few Springfield magazines have been found without lanyard loops, however it is uncertain if these were ever issued with any pistol.

An unknown number of Springfield and Colts made pistols were furnished by the National Rifle Association to members from late 1914 through June 1917. Most of these pistols are marked N.R.A. just below the serial number but a few are so marked on the same side ahead of the slide stop pin. While the total number of original N.R.A. marked pistols is not known, most observers believe it to be less than 1000. Reference Charles Clawsons “Colt .45 Service pistols”.

1914
(S/N 73,952)

Early 1915
(S/N 82,xxx)

Late 1915
(S/N 106,xxx)

1917 N.R.A.
(S/N 127,xxx)

Springfield suspended S/N info
(S/N 128617-133186)

 

[WTJ]

The A1 NM series:

National Match Pistols (Springfield Armory 1955-1967)(1968 RIA NMs)
The match pistol program was launched in 1954, the first year of competition the pistol issue for competitors was standard military M1911A1 pistols. The second year (1955) Springfield Armory introduced a match-grade pistol for competitors to use.
Each year since 1955, Springfield Armory had rebuilt a number of Service pistols to provide Match-grade pistols for competitors and students at the National Matches. Some National Match pistols were sold by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) after the matches. National Match pistols that were not sold would be kept in the rebuild cycle until the receivers were not serviceable and then destroyed.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) was created by the U.S. Congress. The original purpose was to provide civilians an opportunity to learn and practice marksmanship skills so they would be skilled marksmen if later called on to serve the U.S. military. Over the years the emphasis of the program shifted to focus on youth development through marksmanship. From 1916 until 1996 the CMP was administered by the U.S. Army. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (TITLE XVI) created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety, Inc. (CPRPFS) to take over administration and promotion of the CMP.

1961 NM
1962 NM
1963 NM

1964 NM 1967 NM Pre WWII NM