Colt Slide Serial Numbers

[Fogtripper]

Starting this thread with the purpose of listing volunteered serial numbers of slides owned for 1911s/1911A1s. My WB colt has a colt slide but of a different SN. I will not be listing frame SNs (that is really nobody's business but that of the owner). Will keep the OP updated as numbers are posted (SLIDES ONLY)

As I understand it, it was mainly Colt that had the matched SN stamped under the firing pin retainer on slides for a period of time.
Colt Serial Number Lookup (to find production dates)
https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup







Slide Serial.............Slide Year of Manufacture......................Current Owner

843,726...................1943.................... ................................hsrifkin (SN of frame <100 from match)
879,575...................1943.................... ................................Goldiver (Lives on a WWI frame)
1,117,438................1943..................... ...............................Fogtripper (Is currently on a 1942 WB frame)

[Quicksilvergoat]

FYI it was possible for a frame to leave the factory with a mismatched slide. Due in part to interchangeability testing and general production mishaps. Just because the slide serial number doesn't match doesn't mean it wasn't that way from the beginning and not original to the pistol.

[Fogtripper]

Originally Posted by BobJ50

Time to get out the sack-cloth and ashes. The weeping and gnashing of teeth is going to be unbearable.
Pitchforks and torches are optional and unhappy "Colt" buyers can meet in the CMP M1911 parking lot 30 days after pistols are received.

Originally Posted by Medic!

As to guns leaving the factory without the matching slide?

Who cares. There is no way to prove when a slide was separated from a frame.
It just make's a collector pass it buy.

Originally Posted by RazorBurn

Trying to figure out when the last time I saw someone detail stripping a slide to see if the numbers matched at a gun shop, gun show, etc... Good luck getting permission to do that.

I do understand wanting the frame and slide to match, but that would be comparable to a needle in the proverbial haystack. I can see why the OP wants to try to trade his slide for one that is numbers matching to his. Numbers matching will bring more money. Gonna be hard for someone to ID their slide as matching to his without knowing his serial number though...

I was pretty clear what this thread was for. If you guys want to add nothing but commentary from the cheap seats, start your own thread elsewhere. This thread is to serve as data for those with serial numbered slides, akin to the WIN/SA duplicate SN thread.

Again, if you have nothing to add, please leave.

[hsrifkin]

My WB colt has a slide #843726. This is within <100 of the frame, so I can think of several scenarios of how it happened

[MajorD]

It was only Colt that did it and only for a limited time of production. No other maker during 1911A1 production did this. On the other makers ( most notably Remington Rand- the largest producer of 1911A1’s) it can be determined by variations in how the slides were marked

[Moonracer364]

For you experts - what are the chances my slide matches my 47,000 series?

No serial number on the back of the slide -

[Moonracer364]

This one matches -







Got this from a son of a WWI - WWII Col. Too bad he kept it in his basement that flooded.

[RazorBurn]

Originally Posted by ZvenoMan

I think this thread is for people wanting to match slides with frames.

You are correct sir!!!

My 1933 matching Argentine Contract Colt Government before and after my rust blue refinish of it.







Shoots pretty good for an old fart too!

[Goldiver]

I have a 1943 Colt slide with serial number 879575 on my WWI Colt frame.

[Fogtripper]

Originally Posted by Goldiver

I have a 1943 Colt slide with serial number 879575 on my WWI Colt frame.