Springfield M1a Super Match Serial Numbers
A lot of debate has gone around on the internet about what the ' NM' serial number prefix stands for. Some believe that it stands for 'National Match', which is typically the case when you see that marking, however it's not so with Springfield 1911's.
The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured. The National Match M1A and the Super. Browse all new and used Springfield Armory Rifles - M1A for sale. 308 Serial number: 290364 National match stainless. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY M1A SUPER MATCH.
It is well known that Springfield Armory Inc. 1911's start from IMBEL forgings from Brazil. The 1911's that have the 'Brazil' import marking's on the frame have more than 50% of the work performed by IMBEL, these would have the ' N' prefix. The GI's are also made in Brazil and have the WW prefix. The Mil-spec model's can have either a N or NM prefix, with the N being more common. Springfield's Loaded models, could either have the N or NM prefix. Model's with the N prefix are imported almost complete with the exception of the sight and beavertail grip safety cut's.
These cuts are done at Springfield's facility in Geneseo, IL. The NM prefix Loaded's (as well as the Range Officer, TRP and Trophy Match) have the magwell and most of the internal cuts done, but no rail cuts. The final CNC machining on NM prefixes is done in Illinois. This information was from this. The rest of the 1911 prefixes such as LW, TGO-2, TGO-3 and EMP all come from Springfield's Illinois facility, though I have seen some older LW's marked 'Brazil'. The Custom Shop gun prefixes such as CRG, FBI, DEA, and TGO-1, as well as any other Custom Shop marked gun, are also made in Illinois. According to Springfield, the Custom Shop marked guns are built using 'National Match' frames.
SA N vs SA NM guns While at a LGS today, I saw that they had a SA Mil-Spec parkerized. And then saw it was a NM marked gun. So I had to check it out. Damn was this thing nicely put together.
The frame and slide was tight and rolled on bearings. Nicktropolis Com New Game on this page. Barrel locked up was really nice, and it took some effort to break it out of battery. This is also true for Quack's SA Mil-Spec NM gun. Having own a SA Mil-Spec SS, and it's a N marked gun, it's completely night and day between the two guns. After a trip back to SA, and a barrel replacement (under warranty) my MS has the same lock up tightness as the NM marked gun. Corsair Motorhome Manual Levelers. However, my MS slide is still looser and not as nicely machined as the NM ones.
From my experience. In general the NM#'s have a better fit and the machining is cleaner. There are exceptions as my longslide (N#) had a very good fit and outward finish. The internal machining showed more machine marks and the ramp was a little rough. My first encounter was when shopping for my first 5' SA.
The stainless loaded's I saw were rough and loose while the loaded target's were much better. A lot of it was just the difference between pistol 'a' and pistol 'b'.
Shopping and looking over several can have advantages. I have two N Mil-Specs and one NM Mil-Spec. I have found that the NM is definately tighter in the slide to frame fit, but also in some other areas that I don't care for. The thumb safety is difficult to remove compared to the N guns.
Schlage Gf3000 Installation Instructions. The main spring housing is tight and needs to be pryed out of the frame. The trigger does not slide out freely.
All easy to fix stuff and no big deal really but. The one that I don't like is that the NM slide over hangs the rear of the frame when it is in battery. Not by much but still noticable. The N guns are perfect all around. Maybe I got two perfect N Mil-Specs, or I got a not so perfect NM Mil-Spec.
They all shoot very good and are dependable running guns with all of the ammo I've tried so I am happy with all three guns. I have two N Mil-Specs and one NM Mil-Spec.
I have found that the NM is definately tighter in the slide to frame fit, but also in some other areas that I don't care for. The thumb safety is difficult to remove compared to the N guns. The main spring housing is tight and needs to be pryed out of the frame.
The trigger does not slide out freely. All easy to fix stuff and no big deal really but. The one that I don't like is that the NM slide over hangs the rear of the frame when it is in battery. Not by much but still noticable. The N guns are perfect all around.
Maybe I got two perfect N Mil-Specs, or I got a not so perfect NM Mil-Spec. They all shoot very good and are dependable running guns with all of the ammo I've tried so I am happy with all three guns.
If he doesn't have documentation, then I wouldn't buy into the guy's story. NM rifles were sold to civilians through the DCM program and came with documentation (receipts, paperwork, etc). You could pay the fee with the CMP and have them run the background check on the serial for you. There's no way to visually confirm if a rifle is a true NM rifle.