When evaluating a M1911 or M1911A1 you will find some manufacturers may have variations on hammer design within serial number ranges. Manufactures with variations include Colt, Springfield, Remington Rand, Ithaca, and Remington UMC. Below you will find images with links to close-ups of these variations. Study them well because if the hammer is incorrect then the whole pistol can be suspect. Pistols rebuilt at arsenals could have updated/different hammers but these pistols are usually accompanied by a arsenal rebuild marking somewhere on the receiver. Examples include AA, SA, RIA, and MR. Visit the Arsenal Rebuilds page in the Pistols ID Pages page for more details.
Serial Number 1 to about 90000
Top
Side
Back
Serial Number 90000 to about 109000
Top
Side
Back
Serial Number 109000 to about 714000
Side
Top
North American M1911s are very rare and command a very high price when found. Proceed with extreme caution as there are lots of counterfeits in the market place. Images courtesy Karl Karash.
Top is Type 1
Lower is Type 2
There are two different observed checkering patterns on the hammer. A fine and a course checkering. See image at left.
(3 variations)
Type 1
SN 72571to about 76200
(Short hammer)
Type 2
SN 76201to about 82000
(Sharp edge)
Type 3 (Side)
SN 82001 to about 127978
(Long hammer, rounded edge)
Type 3 (Top)
SN 82001to about 127978
Wide-spur hammer
Serial Number 1700000.
Narrow-spur hammer
hammer in late 1944 or approximately 1700000.
(2 Variations)
Type 1
1943 Ithaca
(observed as late as 1220000)
Type 1
1943 Ithaca
Type 2
late 1943-1945 Ithaca (TOP)
Type 2
late 1943-1945 Ithaca (Side)
(2 Variations)
Type 1
1942-43
Remington Rand (Rare)
Type 2
1943-1945
Remington Rand (Side)
Type 2
1943-1945
Remington Rand (TOP)
Singer M1911A1s are very rare and command a very high price when found. Proceed with extreme caution as there are lots of counterfeits in the market. Images courtesy Karl Karash.
1943 US&S (Side)
1943 US&S (Top)
Rev 1.2