| Prefix | Likely Model | Era / Note | |--------|--------------|-------------| | N/A (no letter) | Early M1A | 1970s–1980s | | NM1, NM2, NM3 | National Match M1A | 1980s+ | | WW | WWII 1911 replica | 2000s | | LW | Lightweight 1911 | 2010s+ | | XD | XD/XD(M) | 2000s+ | | HC | Hellcat | 2019+ | | SAINT | SAINT rifles | 2016+ |
: Springfield Armory occasionally updates their website with serial number ranges for specific models. You can check their website to see if your serial number falls within a listed range. serial number lookup springfield armory
| Resource | Coverage | Access | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 1794–1968 all models | Website searchable database (limited) / research request | | "The M1903 Springfield Rifle" by C.S. Ferris | M1903 serials by year | Book (print/eBook) | | U.S. M1 Garand serial numbers | M1 Garand production 1937–1957 | Online tables (e.g., Fulton Armory, US Rifle Cal .30 M1) | | National Archives (NARA) | Select serial lists for military issue | On-site research only | | Prefix | Likely Model | Era /
Searching for the story behind a serial number connects you to two very different worlds: the historic military lineage of the original national armory and the modern commercial products of Springfield Armory, Inc. Ferris | M1903 serials by year | Book (print/eBook) | | U
For firearms made in Geneseo, Illinois, or imported by them (like the XD series made in Croatia), the process is different.
The SRS is the primary source for "papered" provenance of U.S. military firearms. It is a compilation of serial numbers found in original National Archives records, often noting where a specific rifle was issued or used.