Letter A under Colt serial no. means what?

DG45 · July 27, 2009, 11:34 PM

I have an old (mfg. 1930) Colt Police Positive Special, serial #384XXX. Directly under the serial number that's on the inside of the crane is the letter A. Does anyone know what the A indicates?

James K · August 1, 2009, 10:46 PM

I don't know the answer, and apparently no one else does either or they would have answered. FWIW, I suspect the A is the mark of one of a number of Colt factory inspectors. I have never seen a Colt serial number with a letter suffix and doubt it was intended to be part of the number.

Jim

old knife buddy · August 2, 2009, 12:57 PM

jim i would say your right its an inspecton mark. just guesing the gun might have been issued to military or a large police contract, then the where hand inspected

Dfariswheel · August 2, 2009, 06:12 PM

On the pre-war Colt's the letter "may" have a specific meaning.

As example, a "T" indicates the gun was factory targeted.

However, in most cases, then and now, a letter under the serial is a factory inspectors stamp.

July 27, 2009, 11:34 PM	#1
DG45 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Posts: 904	Letter A under Colt serial no. means what? I have an old (mfg. 1930) Colt Police Positive Special, serial #384XXX. Directly under the serial number that's on the inside of the crane is the letter A. Does anyone know what the A indicates?

August 1, 2009, 10:46 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I don't know the answer, and apparently no one else does either or they would have answered. FWIW, I suspect the A is the mark of one of a number of Colt factory inspectors. I have never seen a Colt serial number with a letter suffix and doubt it was intended to be part of the number. Jim

August 2, 2009, 12:57 PM	#3
old knife buddy Member Join Date: January 14, 2009 Location: n.j. Posts: 36	jim i would say your right its an inspecton mark. just guesing the gun might have been issued to military or a large police contract, then the where hand inspected

August 2, 2009, 06:12 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	On the pre-war Colt's the letter "may" have a specific meaning. As example, a "T" indicates the gun was factory targeted. However, in most cases, then and now, a letter under the serial is a factory inspectors stamp.