

One of the best made and fitted Mil-Spec pistols I've seen lately had the "MADE IN BRAZIL" rollmark. The Springfield 1911A1 pistols that are marked "MADE IN BRAZIL" are equal in quality to any done in Geneseo. Springfield's higher line of 1911A1 pistols are all finished (> 50%) in Geneseo, IL. hence, there really isn't any outsourcing that was done to reduce labor costs. It's been like that since day one for Springfield Armory. all SA 1911A1 pistols start as frame, slide and barrel forgings made by IMBEL in Brazil. yet, the price of their product has not declined. i have no doubt that cheap foreign labor has substantally increased their profits. i am very upset that a company who claims to be "The First Name In American Firearms" has chosen to out-source the production of an American icon for an increase in profits.

On the Springfield Armory website, "Brazil" does not appear on the image they have of the pistol. regardless of what markings are later applied or where the majority of the work is done. There the frames, slides and barrels are forged. Understand this part- ALL Springfield Armory 1911A1 pistols start their life in the forge presses of IMBEL in Brazil. If you find a NM serial number prefix, those markings are usually always absent and the "GENESEO IL USA" rollmark still appears above the serial number on the frame. The locations are the bottom side of the dustcover and underneath the right grip panel on the frame. for example, in the Mil-Spec line, if it has a N serial number prefix, you will find "IMBEL BRAZIL" or "FI BRAZIL" laser etched in two places. There's essentially two common variants of this. That is one variety of markings that will show up on Springfield's G.I., Mil-Spec and Loaded pistols.Īnother is the "Geneseo IL USA" found just above the serial number. That is where the "MADE IN BRAZIL" rollmarks come from. Should > 50% be done in Geneseo, IL, then it does not require a "Brazil" marking. if > 50% of the work is done on one of their pistols in Brazil, then somewhere on that pistol it will be marked "Brazil". This comes straight from Deb/Vicky at Springfield.

however, i was very disappointed when i saw "Brazil" engraved on the frames of mil-specs at my local gun shop. I've been saving money for a mil-spec for a long time.
