Thompson M1a1 Serial Number Database



Owing to the scarcity of original M1A1 carbines, here are a few essential things for collectors to look out for. It should be noted that original un-rebuilt M1A1s are very rare and the vast majority of M1A1s on the market, have either reproduction or fake stocks. Also, since the war, many will have been rebuilt with later parts.

M1A1 Serial Numbers

Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors was the only manufacturer of the M1A1 and manufactured approximately 140,000 by the close of the war. The M1A1 was manufactured in two main production runs, both of approximately 70,000. The first was produced and delivered from late 1942 through until October 1943. M1A1s produced during this run will have early production features, such as flip sights, type 1 barrel bands, high wood etc.

The Thompson, popularly nicknamed the 'Tommy Gun', is an American submachine gun that was designed by John Talliaferro Thompson and produced by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation. Originally conceived during World War I as a portable machine gun to break the stalemate of trench warfare, the Thompson entered production in 1921 and was primarily marketed for law enforcement purposes. Nov 18, 2013 Serial #'s T/C Contender 'Blued' Year Jan. June July - Dec. 1967 1001-2250 1968 2251 - 3060 3061 - 4330 1969 4331 - 7500 7501 - 11075. M1A1 Serial Numbers. Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors was the only manufacturer of the M1A1 and manufactured approximately 140,000 by the close of the war. The M1A1 was manufactured in two main production runs, both of approximately 70,000. The first was produced and delivered from late 1942 through until October 1943.

The second production run, started in April 1944 and finished at the end of 1944. M1A1s produced during the beginning of the second run, will have the same characteristics as the first run, but towards the end of the run, will have features typical of a late M1, such as low wood, adjustable sights and even type 3 barrel bands at the very end of the run.

There are no actual records kept for M1A1 serial numbers and so unfortunately there is no specific way to identify if an M1A1 is original from the serial number alone. Also, during an Arsenal re-fit, M1s produced by other manufacturers could be fitted to M1A1s.

In personally examining real examples both in hand and from pictures, I have noted some of the serial numbers and barrel dates used.

First Run
Dec 1942 123xxx
Dec 1942 142xxx
March 1943 220xxx
March 1943 260xxx
March /43 317xxx
June/43 454xxx
July 43 529xxx
Sept 43 852xxx
Oct 43 866xxx
Second Run
3/44 5,102xxx
3/44 5,163xxx
3/44 5,279xxx
5/44 5,231xxx

There are many details, but here are the main things to look at:-

M1a1 thompson for sale

Manufacturer

All originals are manufactured only by the Inland Division of General Motors.

M1A1 Stock

All original M1A1s are made of walnut. Any other wood is wrong. Also, check out the shape and angles around the cut away for the folding stock. Fake or reproduction stocks often get this wrong.

The Pistol Grip

The side or back of pistol grip, should have a “P” proof mark, either circled or un-circled, indicating that the gun has been test proof fired.

The underside of the pistol grip should have a marking of OI and a crossed cannons emblem.

The Stock – barrel channel

Thompson M1a1 Sbr For Sale

There should be an OI stamped on the inside of the barrel channel. The OI stands for Overton Inland, who were the manufacturer of the stocks.

The Butt Stock

In the butt-plate number B257614* should be cast with a logo of a sunburst in a circle completed by a drawing number between 3 and 12.

All metal on the stock should be parkarized and not blued.


The leather part of the folding stock should be of a very good quality and a dark brown, almost black colour. It is very common, to find the leather on the cheek pad missing.


Rivets used to attach the leather should be dull and not shiny. Brake lining rivets were used on re-builds, sometimes with a “7/4” marking. All original factory production were unmarked.

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The serial number listings by month presented below were developed by Scott Duff, a recognized authority on and author of a series of books on the M1 Garand. The following information can be found in the books 'The M1 Garand: WWII' and 'The M1 Garand Serial Numbers and Data Sheets' found at Fulton Armory, and are used here with Mr. Duff's permission.

PLEASE NOTE: The following information is copyrighted and may not be copied, distributed or used in any other forms of publications, or in any other written or electronic form without the expressed permission of Scott Duff or Scott Duff Publications.
Serial

The tables below list only the Springfield Armory and

theWinchester Repeating Arms Companyserial numbers.

Springfield Armory production 1932 - 34 : 80

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1937

August

120

September

307

October

539

November

696

December

1,034

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1938

January

1,186

February

1,338

March

1,809

April

2,213

May

2,406

June

2,911

July

2,911

August

3,537

September

4,386

October

5,242

November

6,072

December

6,972

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1939

January

7,715

February

8,762

March

9,893

April

10,703

May

11,511

June

12,848

July

12,911

August

14,823

September

17,010

October

19,410

November

21,293

December

23,567

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1940

January

26,729

February

30,008

March

33,790

April

38,034

May

41,679

June

46,221

July

51,970

August

59,868

September

68,054

October

78,306

November

90,177

December

100,000 - 165,501

to 169,073

ThompsonThompson M1a1 Serial Number Database

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1941

January

183,519

February

197,811

March

211,288

April

228,527

May

248,757

June

269,686

July

296,252

August

324,301

September

349,442

October

377,258

November

401,529

December

429,811

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1942

January

462,737

February

498,216

March

542,494

April

588,879

May

638,679

June

691,401

July

749,779

August

809,016

September

872,343

October

940,250

November

1,008,899

December

1,090,310

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1943

January

1,169,091

February

1,200,000 & 1,357,474

to 1,396,255

March

1,469,177

April

1,547,452

May

1,629,565

June

1,710,012

July

1,786,469

August

1,877,654

September

1,978,407

October

2,092,825

November

2,204,430

December

2,305,849 & 2,410,000

to 2,420,191

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1944

January

2,543,412

February

2,634,316

March

2,723,004

April

2,810,312

May

2,900,312

June

2,981,126

July

3,051,952

August

3,114,434

September

3,180,532

November

3,302,641

December

3,359,159

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1945

January

3,450,503

February

3,531,489

March

3,672,442

April

3,717,867

May

3,797,768

June

3,875,601

July

Unknown

August

Unknown

September

Unknown

October

3,888,081

M1 Garand collectors may note some duplication of Springfield and Winchester

serial numbers, particularly in the range of 2,305,800 to 2,533,400 range.

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1941

January

100,501

February

100,831

March

102,701

April

104,901

May

107,801

June

111,501

July

115,501

August

120,111

September

122,081

October

126,130

November

131,130

December

137,960

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1942

January

144,110

February

149,130

March

155,310

April

162,190

May

165,500 & 1,200,001

to 1,203,692

June

1,210,472

July

1,218,972

August

1,228,982

September

1,241,002

October

1,254,002

November

1,266,502

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1943

January

1,282,762

February

1,294,762

March

1,309,772

April

1,323,872

May

1,336,882

June

1,349,982

July

1,364,982

August

1,380,000 & 2,305,850 -

2,305,932

September

2,318,032

October

2,334,032

November

2,349,632

December

2,364,642

Thompson M1a1 Serial Number Database Case

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1944

January

2,379,642

February

2,394,642

March

2,409,642

April

2,242,642

May

2,439,642

June

2,454,642

July

2,469,642

August

2,484,642

September

2,499,642

October

2,513,822

November

2,523,942

December

2,533,142

Year/Month

Serial # at end of Month

1945

January

2,534,232 & 1,600,000

to 1,605,600

February

1,607,100

March

1,613,000

April

1,620,000

May

1,627,000

June

1,640,000

No monthly range of serial numbers has yet been developed for Post-World War II production of the M1 Garand. Following are the serial number blocks assigned to Springfield Armory and the two prime contractors, International Harvester and Harrington & Richardson Arms.

Thompson M1a1 Bolt For Sale

Manufacturer

Serial # Range

Quantity

Springfield

4,200,001 - 4,399,999

5,000,000 - 5,000,500

5,278,246 - 5,488,246

5,793,848 - 6,099,905

1,999,998

499

210,000

306,057

International

Harvester

4,440,000 - 4,660,000

5,000,501 - 5,278,245

260,000

277,744

Harrington &

Richardson

4,660,001 - 4,800,000

5,488,247 - 5,793,847

139,999

306,600

Thompson M1a1 Ww2

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Thompson M1a1 Serial Number Database Software