Odd serial number suffix

[Shooter5]

Saw an "A" stamped onto the end of 870761. As appears, "870761A". What does that indicate?

[Johnny P]

You didn't indicate whether the pistol was a Colt or an Ithaca, but during WWII Colt duplicated approximately 105,000 1911A1 serial numbers with Ithaca, Remington Rand, and US&S. After WWII Ordnance made the decision to add an A to one pistol's serial number and a B to the other if these pistols started to show up in inventory. Apparently both a Colt and an Ithaca with serial number 870761 showed up in inventory.

[Shooter5]

Good to know; haven't looked at the actual frame just the inventory sheet so currently unknown what mfg. Will check if a free minute presents. Interestingly, the other "A" stamped pistol in the inventory is Serial Number "285A". The other two WW1 era mfg pistols are (but without any letter suffix):

618407

97746

[Johnny P]

Those certainly shouldn't have duplicate serial numbers. The information on the A and B serial numbered pistols came from Fred Carpenter of Fort Collins, Colorado, about 1983. According to Mr. Carpenter he obtained the information through the FOI Act. Maybe this was changed in the intervening years, but there should still be no reason for the suffix on the two Model 1911 serial numbers.

[dave]

Well there were serial overruns with Win. & SA M-1's and many of them have A stamped after them. I have one (electro penciled actually).

[Shooter5]

Those certainly shouldn't have duplicate serial numbers. The information on the A and B serial numbered pistols came from Fred Carpenter of Fort Collins, Colorado, about 1983. According to Mr. Carpenter he obtained the information through the FOI Act. Maybe this was changed in the intervening years, but there should still be no reason for the suffix on the two Model 1911 serial numbers.

Could 285A be a RemUMC duplicate with an early Colt? Its the only one of the 1911s with a letter suffix. Interstingly, 97xxx and 618xxx have the frame scallops added. The group in inventory of nearly 300 1911A1 pistols have been at the unit for nearly 15 years and the letters applied on those two before arrival but date unknown. Someone thought it necessary at some point in time and ordered it done.

[Johnny P]

Well there were serial overruns with Win. & SA M-1's and many of them have A stamped after them. I have one (electro penciled actually).

Several U.S. military small arms had duplicate serial numbers, but if the information Mr. Carpenter uncovered was actually used it would be the only time each weapon received a letter prefix/suffix, as the A and B.

There were duplicate serial numbers on the 03-A3/A4 rifles as well.