SRS Check

[Johnny P]

Somewhere around here I have a black and white photo of an Ithaca in the 9 million serial number range. It wasn't .30-06 either.

[Johnny P]

Two more mystery pistols recorded in SRS records as a Model 1911 is 636468 and 649855. These were probably made while the Colt machinery was coasting to a stop following WWI.

[Shooter5]

The armorer thinks 678 might be 878, he wants to take a look at it. 97 has what appears to be "OB" stenciled near the takedown pin hole; its been striped down for gauging/inspection. What does "M-P" stamped on the frame mean? Were M1911s re-configured into M1911A1 with the trigger guard frame scallops cut out? If so, When and where arsenal was that done?

[Johnny P]

A proposal was made to reconfigure all the Model 1911 receivers to 1911A1 specifications, but Ordnance turned the proposal down. Still some armories did this, and most seem to be late Anniston Army Depot rebuilds. M-P occasionally shows up on slides, but I am not aware that it's meaning is known. The marking by the mag release opening doesn't look very uniform for the letters OB.

[Shooter5]

618 has 'm-p' on the slide and 97 has it on the frame as does the 618xxx. Guessing they thought it wise to test these really old frames at some point since they were WW1 era mfg. Its really quite amazing to see them still in service! The inspection stamp near the magazine release seems to be obliterated, likely due to the refinishing process, perhaps having been done more than once over the years.
Why does 618xxx have the 'United States Property' stamp near the serial number and 97xxx have it on the left side of the receiver?

[kwill]

It may not be relevant to the M1911 or M1911A1 rebuilds being discussed but in modern parlance M-P or PM or variations thereof usually mean the piece has gone through a magnaflux or magnetic particle test to find cracks or defects that can't be seen with the naked eye.

[Shooter5]

Magnaflux testing makes eminent sense!

[Shooter5]

It was a typo: It was 878xxx! (And they have been Magnetic Particle tested. Good call)