Library Subscription

We offer several services to collectors of U.S. martial arms. Our primary mission is digitizing the vast array of primary source documents at the National Archives. Our specialty is first-half 20th-century small arms, including Krags, M1903s, M1917 Rifles, M1 Garands, M1911 pistols, and much more. These can include the issuance, testing, evolution, and reports on these various firearms.

Our library is available to subscribers for a monthly subscription of $9.00 a month.

At present, our documents are not OCRed, but this may change in the future. For now, we invite you to enjoy the original text, as you’ll never run out of material to keep you from running out of new data. Read straight from the source and become your own expert in your chosen topic.

Letters for Provenance

The National Archives only stores 3-5% of all government documentation. Finding documentation on where a rifle, carbine, or sidearm was issued is extremely rare. It does happen, but we stress that it isn’t a common occurrence, which is why we love to be a part of providing provenance when we can.

It’s important to note that we are not affiliated with the Springfield Research Service (SRS) in any way. However, we can sometimes work off one of their citations. If you have an ‘SRS hit’, we will be able to examine the citation and determine if we can locate the document for you. This process ensures that you are fully informed about how we can assist you.
If the records are found at the National Archives:

$350 for a copy of the documents and a certifying letter.
$250 for recurring subscribers.

Sample Letter, please click here. (link to follow)

If the request is for a Director of Civilian Marksmanship Sales ticket and letter

$75.00 for a copy of the sales reciept and certifying letter.

There is no charge for recurring subscribers, we accept donations from our subscribers if they wish to contribute.

Sample Letter please click here (link to follow)

 

Specialized Research Projects

Our project acceptance process is highly selective and is conducted on a case by case basis. This is due to our own research goals and limited time working towards completing projects.

 

Pre-WWI M1911 Letters

When our researchers are working on digitizing files on the early adoption of the Model 1911 pistol, they frequently encounter assigned serial number blocks.
These blocks include assignments to manufacturers (Colt or Springfield), specific branches (Army, Navy, and USMC), and specified markings (marked U.S. Navy or U.S. Army).

It also includes shipment records and receipts of pistols after inspections.

This practice of record keeping stopped in early 1917.

Nevertheless, if you’re a subscriber and your pistol falls in the associated serial number list, let us know; we’ll provide you with a certifying letter and a copy of the primary source.

As we spend more time in Navy and Marine Corps records, we are hopeful that more documents with serial number blocks will surface, and we can expand upon this, filling in the blanks.

This service will be free of charge to our subscribers. If you wish to donate, such as covering the cost of postage and a few dollars towards office supplies, we won’t turn it down.

Please review the serial number blocks below to see if your M1911 falls into one.

• 501-1000 (Marked Navy)
• 1001-1500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 1500-2000 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 3501-4500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 4501-5000 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 5001-5500 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 5501-6500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 6501-7500 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 7501-8500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 11501-12500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 12501-13500 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 14501-15000 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 15001-15500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 17001-17500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 19501-20500 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 20501-21260 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 21261-21431 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 21932-23931 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 23931-25438 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 25439-27438 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 28940-30939 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 30940-32939 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 36169-38168 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 38169-39493 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 41794-43793 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 43794-44000 (Marked U.S. Navy)
• 44001-45793 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 47794-49793 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 49794-51637 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 51638-53460 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 59461-62460 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 62461-65460 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 65461-68460 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 68461-71460 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 71461-72570 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 76351-76400 (Defective Safety Locks)
• 83856-83900 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 83901-84400 (Reserved for USMC)
• 84401-85355 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 84401-102596 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 85356-88355 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 88356-91355 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 91356-94196 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 94197-95196 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 95197-96000 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 96001-97537 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 97538-97596 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 97597-99096 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 99097-102596 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 107597-108596 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 107597-113496 (Assigned Colt)
• 108597-109500 (Marked Army)
• 109501-11000 (Marked Navy)
• 110001-110596 (Marked Army)
• 110597-113496 (Marked Army)
• 113497-117616 (Assigned Springfield Armory)
• 117617-120566 (Assigned Springfield Armory)
• 120567-121566 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 133187-151186 (Marked U.S. Army)
• 151187-151986 (Contract with USMC)
• 205781-205986 (Assigned)
• 205987-205586 (Assigned)