Springfield NM 1911-A1

I have a SA  1911-A1 that has a serial number that begins with NM. the barrel and magazines are also marked NM so of course I'm thinking "National Match".  According to SA the date of manufacture was Dec 1988. It has an adjustable rear sight and what may or may not be an aftermarket target style trigger.  Other than that it appears to be MIL-SPEC.  My question is whether this thing is worthy of upgrading to a ball gun or is it just a run of the mill 1911.

I don’t know much about what Springfield might have made back then but if there is a target style adjustable rear sight, and a target style front sight, then it stands to reason that it was either manufactured as a “target” pistol or it was built by Springfield’s custom shop as a hardball gun. Others here may no more. It’s possible it was just a stock mil spec that someone added sights to and that’s all. No telling with out someone who knows how to build them and is familiar with what Springfield made at the time to look it over. Someone once told me that the NM prefix to the serial number meant that the frame came out of Brazil. Again I don’t know much. Someone else might know more. Got any pictures?

A Springfield Armory pistol with the serial number starting with NM has nothing to do with National Match. Some other manufacturers had barrels and bushings stamped NM
and that did mean National Match. Many of those were "military' parts. So the answer is no NM being the first part of the serial number on a Springfield Armory pistol does not mean National Match. I'm sure that Springfield Armory has benefited from the confusion over the years. Having said that, I own a couple of Springfield Armory 1911's and think that they are quality.

That was (and may still be) the serial prefix applied to Springfield Armory 1911s.  Most were dressed up WW2 variants and competing with Colt.  My Hardball Clark is built on one.  Clark would only work on commercial Colts or Springfield Armory Commercial Pistols by this point. 

 Springfield Armory did have a few “target” models with adjustable sights but even today’s Range Officer are set up better.  That said, I’d take it out and shoot it with ASYM 185 Match ammo and see how well it really does.  https://asymammo.com/shop-ammo/handgun-ammunition/45-acp/national-match-target-185-grain-jhp/

Until recently the NM serial # meant the pistol was assembled in the US .. all previous Springer frames were made in Brazil by IMBEL. The NM frames had most of the work done in Brazil but the frame rails were done here in the US.

Today they no longer import from IMBREL and the frames are all made here. Or at least that what I understand..

The old Springfield Armory closed in the 60s and I think the new SA started sometime in the 70s. When they first started they actually sold frame and slide kits...but no longer.. I have a carry pistol I made from one of those kits...

jglenn21 wrote:Until recently the NM serial # meant the pistol was assembled in the US .. all previous Springer frames were made in Brazil by IMBEL. The NM frames had most of the work done in Brazil but the frame rails were done here in the US.

Today they no longer import from IMBREL and the frames are all made here. Or at least that what I understand..

The old Springfield Armory closed in the 60s and I think the new SA started sometime in the 70s. When they first started they actually sold frame and slide kits...but no longer.. I have a carry pistol I made from one of those kits...

this is my understanding as well, re the NM on the frame, 

I have a frame from the early 80's, it started out as a GI type 9mm gun, (now wears a Colt Conversion 22 slide)

it has nothing to do with National Match, 


as far as the old armory that closed (in Mass) and Springfield Armory Inc, they only share the name,  
SA Inc started in the mid 70's , selling M1A's and later commercially made Garands etc etc 
Elmer Balance in  Devine Tx,  IIRC , started it and it was sold and moved to IL