Numbers don’t seem to add up … ???

[Carl Casto]

Numbers don’t seem to add up … ???

Joe Poyer’s book says:

“At the start of 1917, just 68,533 Model 1911 pistols were in inventory and available for issue. Colt and Springfield Armory combined had under contract an additional total of 141,970 Model 1911 pistols. Clawson states that Colt delivered 112,875 more Model 1911 pistols as of April 5, 1917, and Springfield Armory, 25,767. …”

“In June 1917, a contract was issued to Colt for 500,000 more Model 1911 pistols at $14.50 each, including one magazine. Colt immediately sought additional subcontractors to help them carry the load.”

“During the rest of 1917, Colt delivered an additional 48,800 Model 1911s.”

So based on the information stated above, Colt delivered 112,785 M1911s between Jan. 1 and April 5, 1917 … then delivered another 48,800 Model 1911s during the rest of 1917. That would make a grand total of 161,675 M1911s delivered by Colt to the U.S. government in calendar year 1917.

But when you look at the production numbers / serial numbers, Colt only produced 79,585 M1911s in calendar year 1917. The beginning Colt serial number for 1917 was 137,461 and the ending Colt serial number for 1917 was 216,986. The difference between 216,986 and 137, 401 is 79,585.

My question is …why do Poyer / Clawson say that Colt delivered 112, 785 + 48,800 M1911s during 1917 for a total of 161,675 M1911s … while the production numbers / serial numbers indicate that Colt only produced 79,585 in 1917?

Carl