Join Date: May 2003. Location: North Louisiana. Posts: 1,535. Colt serial number database. Anyone have a link to a Colt 1911 serial number prefix page? That would be. I believe that your 1991A1 was manufactured in 1993. Colt Single Action Revolvers top. 1851 Navy 1851 Navy London 1851 Navy (Modern production) 1860 Army 1861 Navy Colt Walker Fluck Pre 1st Model Dragoon Dragoon.

WHEN WAS MY COLT MADE?

WHAT COLT MODEL DO I HAVE?

A common first question for a Colt owner is 'When wasmy Colt made'.The second questionis often 'What Colt do I have'?

And therein lies a real can of worms.

Before you can determine when a Colt was made, you firsthave to determine WHAT Colt model you have.

This can be a most difficult question to answer.

First, identifying a Colt revolver can be frustratingbecause beginning in 1840 Colt always started each new model at serial number'1', and progressed upward until the model was discontinued, OR untilthe mid-1960's when the serial number system changed to meet Federal law.

Since all Colt's started off at number '1' it'spossible to have a number of older Colt firearms all with the same serialnumber.

In 1968 the Gun Control of 1968 was passed.This law mandated that from then on all newfirearms had to have a serial number and that number had to be unique.

To comply with the law, Colt began adding letters to theserial numbers as prefixes and suffixes to make each firearm have a uniquenumber.

An added issue is Colt's often confusing serial numbersystem.Colt often mixed several modelsin the same serial number ranges or split models out by caliber.

During the mid-1950's the serial number data is so mixed asto be almost incomprehensible.

As example you may have a model of revolver made in .22 andin .38 Special, with the .22 revolver serial numbers mixed with a differentmodel Colt, and the .38 caliber version of that model in yet a different modelrange.

Even after Colt began using unique serial numbers in the1960's, Colt often combined a number of models into one serial number range.

As example in the late 1960's Colt started combining allsmall 'D' frame models like the Detective Special, Cobra, Agent,Diamondback, Viper, Police Positive Special, etc in the same serial numberranges.

Because of Colt's serial number systems it may not bepossible to identify what model a Colt is based on just the number.

Since many of these guns used the exact same barrel exceptfor the model name stamped on it, we have situations where an owner isconvinced he has a rare, unknown model of aluminum frame DetectiveSpecial.

In fact, he doesn't. What he has is an aluminum frame Cobrasomeone installed a Detective Special barrel on.

When he attempts to determine when his Colt was made, itcomes back as a totally different model than what is stamped on the barrel.

Since these guns shared the same serial number ranges, itcan be quite confusing as to just what you have.

The problem with identifying a Colt is that Colt onlystamped the model name on the barrel.Most Colt revolvers had the same thread size and it was often possibleto install a barrel from a totally different model on a frame.

Since the frame had no identifying name and often sharedserial numbers with a totally different model, identifying what Colt model youhave can be almost impossible in some cases.

Years ago gun parts were terribly expensive and often almostimpossible to obtain.A gun owner or evengunsmith couldn't just log on or call up a big parts house and order the partshe needed.

Since parts were so difficult to get, it was common forbarrels from other models to be used as replacements.Most people were happy to get their gun repaired and since thebarrel was entirely usable, most people didn't care that the gun was one modelbut the barrel was marked as something else.

When you have anomalous information and just aren’t surewhat you have, then is when you need the experts and that's the experts on theColt Forum.

In most cases they can help you identify exactly what modelof Colt you have.Then you can proceedto determine when it was made.

This leads us to HOW to determine when your Colt was made.

There are several ways.

The first source is the Colt Firearms Company.

Colt now has a serial number look-up data base on their website.You plug in the serial number andit will give you a list of guns it could be.Since the data base seems to be a work in progress, many newer modelsmay not be listed.

Here is where problems may first appear when the data basedoesn't list what you think your Colt is, or returns no information.

If that doesn't return valid data, you can call Colt duringnormal business hours and they will give you a production date over the phone.

Change Log v10.1.7 – Fixed reported bugs.

Note that they won't give you any more information.For that you have to buy a Colt ArchiveLetter.

Also note that the people working the phones are rushed, maynot be totally familiar with Colt models and have been known to give outincorrect information.

Another source of information online is Proofhouse.com.

This site has a data base that ends in 1979, so any Coltmade after that won't be covered:

R.L. Wilson is the last outsider to have access to the ColtArchive, and he has Colt serial number listings in several books andbooklets.His book 'Colt: AnAmerican Legend' has all Colt serial numbers for all models from 1836 into1986 along with magnificent color photos of every Colt firearm model made since1836.

On his web site he sells 'The Blue Book Pocket GuideFor Colt Dates of Manufacture' that goes into 2008.

Last, you can ask for help on the Colt Forum where a gooddeal of data is available from the members.