Inspection & Stamping

Colt M1911 (1911 – 1919)

Walter G. Penfield, Major
Inspector of Ordinance, January 2, 1911 – September 30, 1914
Serial Nos. 1-101,500 (approximate)

Gilbert H. Stewart, Major
Inspector of Ordinance, September 30, 1914 – January 12, 1918
Serial Nos. 101,500-230,000

John M. Gilbert, Lt. Colonel
Army Inspector of Ordinance, August 10, 1917 – March 29, 1918
Serial Nos. 230,000-302,000 (approximate)

Ordinance Dept. Eagles Head / S##
S prefix with a none or two digit number to identify the inspector.
As with all Colt M1911 final inspection marks, this mark signified both
final inspection and acceptance.

M1911 Contract Manufacturers (1914 – 1919)

Edmund E. Chapman, Major
Army Inspector of Ordinance, August 1918 – c. June 1919
Remington Arms-UMC M1911 pistols
Serial Nos. 1-21,676 (actual)

Ordinance Dept. Eagles Head / E##
E prefix with a one or two digit number to identify the inspector. At
Remington Arms-UMC separate final inspection (E.E.C.) and acceptance
(Eagles Head) marks were used.

Ordinance Dept. Flaming Bomb Proof Mark
Stamped on the left rear of the slide and left side of frames on all
Springfield Armory M1911 production

Other M1911 Inspection Marks (1914 – 1919)

Francis (Frank) L. Hosmer (Civilian Inspector)
Assistant Inspector at Colt, December 18, 1911 – August 15, 1925
Serial Nos. 1-710,000 except 133,187 to about 137,400
Early Roman font “H”

Francis (Frank) L. Hosmer (Civilian Inspector)
Later Gothic font “H”
Note: Frank Hosmer’s “H” continued through 1924 production

W.E. Strong (Civilian Inspector)
Temporary Inspector at Colt, August 14, 1916 – October 13, 1916
Serial Nos. 133,187-137,400 (approximate)

Colt M1911-A1 (1924 – 1945)

Frederick W. Hauff (Civilian Inspector)
Chief Ordinance Inspectoral Colt, 1936 – December 31, 1940
Serial Nos. 710,001-721,977
“H” mark from 712,350-717,281

Charles S. Reed, Major
Office in Charge of Outside Inspection, August 2 1938 –
December 31, 1940
Serial Nos. 717,282-723,000 (approximate)

Robert Sears, Colonel
Hartford Ordinance District
Army Inspector of Ordinance, August 3, 1937 – June 30, 1941
Serial Nos. 723,000-750,500 (approximate)

Waldemar S. Broberg, Colonel
Hartford/Springfield Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
July 1, 1941 – June 16, 1942
Serial Nos. 750,500-845,000 and 860,003-860,500 (approximate)

Guy H. Drewry, Brig. General
Springfield Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
June 17,1942 – July 15, 1945
Serial Nos. 845,000-2,360,600 (approximate)

Guy H. Drewry, Brig. General
Large Stamp, later production

John S. Begley
Springfield Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
July 15, 1945 – December 5, 1945
Serial Nos. 2,360,600-end of prod. (approximate)

M1911-A1 Contract Manufacturers (1941 – 1945)

John K. Clement, Colonel
New York Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
July 1, 1939 – June 30, 1942
Singer M1911 A1 pistols:
Serial Nos. S800,001-S800,500 (actual)

Robert C. Downie, Lt. Colonel
Pittsburgh Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
July 1942 – October 15, 1945
Union Switch & Signal M1911 A1 pistols:
Serial Nos. – Total Production

Frank J. Atwood, Colonel (Early Small Mark)
Rochester Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
June 15, 1942 – March 31, 1946
Remington Rand M1911 A1 pistols: Total Production
Ithaca M1911 A1 pistols: Total Production

Frank J. Atwood, Colonel (Later Large Mark)
Rochester Ordinance District Army Inspector of Ordinance,
June 15, 1942 – March 31, 1946
Remington Rand M1911 A1 pistols: Total Production
Ithaca M1911 A1 pistols: Total Production

Crossed Cannons Ordinance Dept. Insignia-Acceptance Mark
First used on Colt M1911 A1’s in 1942, phased in between Serial Nos.
830,000-839,000 (approximate)
Also stamped on Remington Rand and Ithaca M1911 A1’s