This spoon's for tradin
 

I just acquired a mid to late 80s Springfield 1911-A1.

I know very little about Springfields and the internet sources I checked seem very ambiguous.

Back in 1989 the weapon was customized by Tussey Custom to the tune of over $1000 jet only has had 600 or so rounds put through it.
They did a trigger job (3lb), Barsto barrel, Bomar sights, SAA magwell (arched), checked front strap & trigger guard, Commander hammer and a Svenson ambidextrous safety.

It throws a lump of hot lead down range almost as well as my Svenson Gold Cup.

My questions are: What does the NM prefix on the serial number really mean ? Any information on Tussey?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1317912722.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1317912847.jpg

national match parts?????

Springfield is known for quality guns and top notch customer service.

Both of my Springers' serial nos. start with N, but have only digits thereafter. Yours looks like a tricked out Mil-Spec. Love the checkered front strap while keeping the old style slide serrations.

"NM", I believe, means assembled in Illinois and not in Brazil.

FWIW it's Armand Swenson, not Svenson.

http://www.tusseycustom.com/

Spelled Swenson but pronounced Svenson :)

Left over from working with a big old Swede back in the day.

Yep. Just mentioned that to help out any googlers. :)

As a lefty 1911 nut I appreciate his contributions more than many. :D

http://coolgunsite.com/comm_pistols/custom/swenson/swenson.htm

The NM prefix indeed indicates it was assembled ("made") in Illinois, not Brazil. This is a bonus for guys who want a Springfield. Besides the additional checkering, I personally don't put a lot of additional value on the "custom" work. They are really just parts that were swapped in (besides the trigger spring tuning and barrel fitting), but some guys may want that and feel someone with a known name adds value. It might bring 900-1200, but there's a lot of 1911's out there at the upper end of that range...with more "custom" work.

It's rare to get an NM prefix new theses days (so it seems). The factory in Illinois will only put NM on the pistol if it has 51% or more parts made in the US. They didn't elaborate to me what "made" means, and I suspect all the castings and forgings come from Brazil. The final machining of some parts may be done in Illinois. I did notice the quality of an NM frame is better than an "N" frame when I sent my "N" back to Geneseo, and got an "NM" frame back.