I own C-200814 "Republic Argentina Armada Nacional 1941" , mfg 1938 with slide numbered to the frame and the Swarz safety. Clawson page 56, states that only 416 Swarz safeties were noted in Colt's production records from serial C185006 - C215083. "... a maximum of 1500 but likely fewer than 1200 gov't models with the Swarz safety were sold in the US. ... Most were returned from foreign countries."
Interestingly, many were sold in 1996 for under $400, as was mine. Won't make any more!!
Ted, I've re-read this page for possibly the 20th time and I still would not bet money that I completely understand Clawson's intention. I now believe that he intended to communicate that there were 416 examples of the safety listed in the Colt production records between 185006 and 198000.
The entire range was 185006 to 215083..about 30K but he discounts the number of examples before 190000 as insignificant...leaving 25K (190000 - 215083) as the Swartz safety serial range. Of these 25K .... 13K were sold overseas and 6575 were x-fered to the Military in 42 leaving about 5425 unaccounted for.
Then he goes on to say that most pistols produced for the US market between 199000 and 215083 contained the NSD. (not sure why he jumped to 199000). All in this range but 1100 were sold overseas or transferred to the Military. "Consequently, a max of 1500 but likely fewer than 1200 GM's pistols with safeties were sold in the US." I don't see where he addresses the pistols between 198000 and 199000 other than their inclusion in the entire overall serial number range 185006-215083.
I now believe that this 1500 estimate is a combination of the 416 from (185006 - 198000) and the 1100 (previously mentioned as not sold overseas) from (199000 and 215083)
It's like you need to develop an algebraic equation to put all of this together to arrive at the total number...that number being the total guns sold in the US with Swartz safeties.....not the total number of guns produced overall with these safeties. Assuming the former quantity is of more significance to us collectors because we didn't intend to actually ever see again most of the guns that originally left the country that contained the safety and the guns transferred to the Military had the parts stripped out.
Any alternative interpretation of this info is welcome for discussion. (Clawson's Commercial book, page 56)
Incidentally, my interest in this information is more than just passing...I own C188036 which includes the Swartz safety and lettered as such but after reading this info, I now determine its inclusion in the range of guns before 190000 to render my gun insignificant :bang_wall:
