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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1911A1 NATIONAL MATCH .45 SN# 889254
Maker/Manufacturer:	BROWNING, JOHN M.
Date of Manufacture:	1943
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1323
Measurements:	OL: 21.5CM 8 1/2" BL: 12.7CM 5"

Object Description:

U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1911A1 NATIONAL MATCH .45 SN# 889254
Manufactured by Ithaca Gun Co., Ithaca, N.Y. in 1943 - Standard recoil-operated, semi-automatic M1911A1 NM pistol with 7-round box magazine. SN# assigned to Ithaca. Modified to National Match specifications at the Springfield Armory. Possibly a very early NM rebuild as some of NM features (NM barrel and bushing) are missing. Equipped with National Match sights and grips.

Markings:
Frame: U.S. PROPERTY/NO.889254 M1911A1 US ARMY/SA/NM. FJA. FJA = Frank J. Atwood.
Slide: REMINGTON RAND INC./SYRACUSE N.Y. USA.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 3 January 1962. At that time weapon was appraised at $75.38.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES:
1JAN55 - 30JUN55 - "During this period the Product Engineering Branch designed a special Barrel, Barrel Bushing, and Barrel Link, for incorporation into Cal..45 Automatic Pistol M1911A1, National Match for the 1955 National Matches. In addition, technical assistance was furnished the Armory Operations Division and the Inspection Division during the program to remanufacture and convert 800 standard Cal..45 Pistols to National Match Quality.
Engineering studies were initiated for improvement of the National Match Pistols. Close surveillance was maintained on the above manufacturing program fro the purpose of accumulating information for the engineering studies which, it was planned, would continue through fiscal year 1956....
Experiments were conducted on a fixed type targeting fixture for targeting Cal..45 National Match Pistols. From results of the tests, it was determined that a securely clamped pistol will not target properly."
1JAN56 - 30JUN56 - "Engineering studies for improvement of National Match pistols were continued. In addition, technical assistance and data, necessary to re-manufacture and convert standard Cal..45 pistols to National Match will be as successful as those used in the 1955 National Matches.
The document on general requirements for National Match pistols was finalized on 6 January 1956. This document outlined the proper procedure to be used in assembling specially designed components into standard M1911A1 pistols thereby producing weapons of National Match quality. This procedure will be used in producing the 1956 National Match pistols.
A member of this branch will represent the Armory at the forthcoming Matches to observe performance and function of the pistols."
1JUL56 - 31DEC56 - "Attended National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, 16 August 1956 thru 27 August 1956 and conferences on National Match weapons held at Springfield Armory on 26 and 27 September 1956. High, wide, fixed type sights are being incorporated into National Match Pistols for the 1957 National Matches. Knurling of the front strap has been postponed because of difficulties experienced in funding."
1JAN57 - 30JUN57 - "Processing of the Caliber .45 M1911A1 National Match Pistols was begun early in the period. Late deliveries of barrels and barrel bushings from the contractor made it impossible to maintain an even work flow and required addition of an extra shift at assembly in an attempt to meet the Armory's schedule for this item. Additional refinements were made in this weapon during the period. Newly designed front and rear sights were fabricated at the Armory to replace the sights installed by the manufacturer. Due to variations in bedding points on the slides, it was necessary to hand fit approximately 30% of the new sights by hand filing to correct height after assembly to the slide in order to target accurately. Another refinement was bending of a stippled rubber forestrap to the Receiver to give a better grip on the weapon when user's hand might be wet. This division suggested a better method of effecting the desired improvement would be to check the metal at gripping points in the receiver, and this is now under consideration....
Work during this period consisted of design improvements and the incorporation of these improvements tentatively scheduled for pistols to be used in the 1958 National Matches.
RedesigStudies for the improvement of the Trigger, Sear, Hammer relationship resulted in the fabrication of six each prototype Sears and Hammers representing variations in design. Evaluation of tests performed indicated one of the six combinations was worthy was worthy of additional testing for finalization. Further function, interchangeability and endurance testing was initiated. Restriction of modification to the use of standard components in the interest of the economy created a major difficulty. Upon completion of final testing of the Sear and Hammer design, it will be documented in drawing form with a reliable method of determining and setting functional Sear spring pressure....."
1JUL58 -31DEC58 - "On the caliber .45 Pistols, the height of Front Sight was changed to permit adjustment to meet tightened specifications, and serrations had to be machined in the receiver grip."
1JAN59 - 30JUN59 - "Targeting specifications for both National Match Rifles and Caliber .45 Pistols were tightened during the period, necessitating closer surveillance in the selection and assembly of both weapons and replacement of more components....Higher front and rear sights were furnished on the Pistols, as well as a newly designed trigger made of a steel bow with a black plastic finer piece....
For the .45 caliber National Match Pistol, changes (incorporated into production of pistols for use during 1959 match season), were made to the Trigger, Barrel and the Receiver. More stringent targeting and accuracy requirements were put into use and the acceptance range advanced from 25 to 50 yards. A new modified machine rest was completed and added to test equipment for checking weapon accuracy. A standard accuracy barrel for selection and control of ammunition accuracy, which ties in directly with the new weapon requirements, was provided. Text and illustrations for the aforementioned changes were prepared and forwarded to O.W.C. for the 1959 National Match Pistol Brochure."
1JUL59 - 31DEC59 - "On the caliber .45 National Match Pistols, the new method of locking barrels on lugs had been put into effect with good results. New tooling to aid assembly has been ordered, some of which is already in operation."
1JAN60 - 30JUN60 - "This year marked the first use of lug-locking barrels on the Caliber .45 National Match Pistols, a feature designed to improve accuracy. This construction relies upon the cam action of barrel lug against slide stop pin to put the weapon into battery, and precise fit is necessary. This cannot be obtained by ordinary production methods because of wear in older weapons being rebuilt for National Match use. It is necessary to use gunsmithing practices and special tooling to achieve the proper fit. As only a small percentage of barrels received this year were adaptable to the lug-locking method, only 6% of the weapons at the National Matches will be so assembled. It is anticipated that all barrels for next year will be adaptable to lug-locking."
1JUL60 - 31DEC60 - "Pistols being produced for the 1961 Match season will have incorporated a new lightweight trigger having a cast aluminum finger piece and nylon stop screw. Both long and short triggers are being produced and the finger piece configuration remains unchanged from the previous Polyethylene design. All barrels being procured for current and future production will be of the heavy lug type for fitting to the slide stop pin."
1JAN61 - 30JUN61 - "Spot check accuracy test of 255 N.M. Pistols produced for 1961 season indicated improved accuracy from previous manufacture with an average extreme spread of 4Six N.M. Pistols with chromium plated barrel bores were being tested at Fort Benning for the purpose of evaluating the accuracy. Preliminary report, received as of the end of this period, indicated no increase in accuracy."
1JUL61 - 31DEC61 - "Eight hundred pistols having 'MICRO' adjustable rear sights were produced by Springfield Armory and proved very successful at the 1961 National Matches at Camp Perry.
At the National Match Planning Conference held at Springfield Armory on 3 and 4 October 1961, it was decided that no major design changes would be made in the pistols for the 1962 season.
Preparations are being made for instruction of trainees in the National Match Maintenance School.
A complete set of Ordnance drawings has been made by Hallam Company, and is now being checked and readied for release."
1JAN62 - 30JUN62 - "Pistol, Automatic, Cal .45, M1911A1, National Match. Total requirements for the National Match program was established at 4600. An additional Air Force order for the overhaul of 678 pistols resulted in a total requirement for the overhaul of 5278 pistols placed at the Armory. It was decided at the National Match Planning Conference held at Springfield on 3-4 October 1961 that no major design changes would be made in the pistols for the 1962 matches.
The occurrence of spilt and bulged cases with Cartridge Ball Caliber 45 M1911, Lot WRA 22355 (brass case) in pistol functioning caused considerable concern; however, it was quickly determined that this was the only lot of those available at the Armory in which longitudinal splitting of cartridge caes was encounterd and this lot of ammunition was immediately suspended from use at SA.
All 5278 pistols were overhauled and shipped by 30 June 1962."
1JUL62 - 30JUN63 - "The Caliber .45 National Match Pistols were equipped with new Barrels, hardened Slides, and a new "HEG" Rear Sight. This is a more rugged sight, designed to overcome deficiencies reported by officials after the 1962 National Match Firings. These new sights made a change in height of the front sight necessary; fortunately the front sight casting had sufficient material for this. Barrels were rechambered for headspacing instead of filing the hood of the barrel as was done in the past.
Considerable trouble and delay was experienced on this program. The new, hardened Slides were improperly machined when received and had to be returned to the contractor for reworking. Other machining had to be done to the Slides to fit the Receiver and accommodate the new 'HEG" Rear Sight. The sights as received were of poor quality and there were delivery shortages. The new Slides and Barrels, and the additional machining, increased the cost of rebuild over previous years. Despite delays in receipt of material and unanticipated machining, the program was completed on schedule."
1JUL64 - 30JUN64 - "Caliber .45 Pistols furnished to the Armory for the 1964 National Match program were standard issue pistols and their conversion involved considerably more work than rebuilding an existing National Match Pistol. A new route sheet was required to pick up costs from all performing areas to meet requirements of the new methods for recording costs. Procurement of new Slides and Barrels was initiated with the hope that the parts would be delivered on time for the Armory to meet schedules on 1409 pistols. Only 700 Barrels were ordered with the expIn addition, there were problems with delivery of procured Slides from a Detroit concern. Deliveries were late, the parts supplied did not meet drawing requirements, and at the end of June, Springfield Armory was performing expensive recutting operations on these Slides in order to assemble pistols. It was apparent then that only about 600 Pistols could be delivered for the 1964 Matches.
Basically, however, the problems with meeting delivery requirements on this order were caused by the late receipt of the order, anD the necessity for taking immediate crash action to meet the schedules. This is a situation which arises many years on the National Match programs. It will be noted that National Match Rifles for the 1963 Matches were not completed until the FY 1964."
1JUL65 - 30JUN66 - "The FY 1965 National Match Pistol program had been completed by the end of June 1965. Two new orders were received, initially calling for 1500 pistols each. Delivery on the first order was to start in February 1966 and complete in June; on the second order, delivery would be made in the first half of FY 1967. Later the first order was revised to call for only 1348 weapons. Work was ahead of schedule at the end of June....
Engineering support was furnished to the Ordnance Director at the 1965 National Match, Camp Perry, Ohio. An Engineering Order was released on the adjustable rear sight to the Kenfix Co. Instruction in nomenclature, functioning, identification and correction of malfunctions in standard and National Match pistols was presented to three groups of students at the National Match Rifle and Pistol Maintenance School.
A 'familiarization interview' was held with two Rock Island Arsenal representatives on engineering and design aspects of the NM pistol, the National Match Maintenance School, and other responsibilities. Product drawing requirements were prepared for 75 Technical Data Packages for secondary item procurement.
Engineering services were also furnished to the Armory's Procurement Division, Quality Assurance Office and Operations Division and to outside contractors on procurement, inspection, and production problems."

References:
Bady, Donald. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOLS. Borden Publishing Company. Alhambra, Ca. 1973.