Duplicate serial number question.

[PhillipM]

Was the A applied at time of manufacture? If not, how did armorers know which manufacturer to apply the A to or if the A had already been applied to the other manufacturer unless both rifles landed on his bench at the same time?

[dave]

I have always heard the CMP put the A on, and if they had both, probably on the one that was an overrun. I have a SA with an A and the serial was assigned to Win. They are not stamped but look 'scratched' on. As you say how would the manufacturer know? And armorers, no likely to notice, care or, have both. The Germans repeated serial numbers on most all military guns (every year) so the maker name separated them. In MI's case it would be SA or Win, only. With the Germans it was like 15 makers, just for K98k's!

[Dan Shapiro]

Was the A applied at time of manufacture? If not, how did armorers know which manufacturer to apply the A to or if the A had already been applied to the other manufacturer unless both rifles landed on his bench at the same time?

The "A" was applied when a unit armorer found he had two of the same type of weapon with the same serial number IN HIS UNIT. An M1 was an M1, period. Winchester or SA did not appear in the equation. Which one got the "A"? All depends on which one the armorer picked up.

[csm14thbn]

In the early 90's I remember getting a directive thru the supply system stating we had an M1 in our armory that was a dupplicate serial number to another rifle and we were instructed to have the "A" stamped at the end of the serial number. We did not have both rifles.

[PhillipM]

In the early 90's I remember getting a directive thru the supply system stating we had an M1 in our armory that was a dupplicate serial number to another rifle and we were instructed to have the "A" stamped at the end of the serial number. We did not have both rifles.

1990's? What were they used for?

[csm14thbn]

I was in an SF company and we had various weapons to train with. M1, M14, M1 carbine, 1903, BAR, Thompson, M3 grease gun, MP40, PPSH, K98, AK47, 106 recoiless rifle and M16s.

[dryheat]

CMP had nothing to do with it.

[Johnny P]

During WWII Colt duplicated serial numbers with US&S, Remington Rand, and Ithaca. After the war a directive came out that if two pistols were found with the same serial number that an A would be added to one serial number, and a B to the other.

I have never seen or heard of a 1911A1 being marked in this way.

[Orlando]

As already stated this was applied by unit Armorer not by CMP

[dave]

well it sure was not stamped. have never heard of anyone having one with a B marking!

[Orlando]

They were etched

[Johnny P]

Probably electro penciled as the heel of the receiver was hard.

The addition of the A makes the serial number unique, so have no idea why the B was to be added on the 1911A1 pistols.

[Sunray]

"...how did armorers know..." A Weapons Tech wouldn't care who made what. Only time they'd even be concerned with a S/N is at inventory time, when the thing needed work(then for tracking purposes only) or when it was stricken on or off the records.