Help with 2 semi auto's

[MoBuckChaser]

New guy here. Been lurking for a while and thought I would post.

I have 2 guns my dad left me. Would like to know the age of both, and if they are worth much. One is a Model 1911, 45 cal, made by Remington Rand ser# 394748
The other is a Colt woodsman, 22 cal, ser# 139231

Anyone have any ideas, of age or where I could find some info? Thanks!

 

[Furncliff]

Try here:

http://www.model1911a1.com/Remington.htm


and here:

http://www.colt22.com/faq.html


To give an accurate valuation pictures are necessary because much of the value of your pistols will depend on their condition. To get a rough idea you could go to Gunbroker and look in their closed auctions file to see what has sold and for how much.

Here is the link...

http://www.gunbroker.com/

click on advanced
then completed items
then fill out the form

 

[MoBuckChaser]

Hey thanks, looks like the woodsman is about a 1940 model. Can't find anything on the 1911 yet though.

 

[Furncliff]

I couldn't find anything made by Remington Rand with that serial number....might be my old eyes.

Seems like the starting sn was in the 900,000 range??

You may want to check that 1911 again.

Here's another site...
http://coolgunsite.com/images/rem%20rands%20group/remrandstory.htm

 

[MoBuckChaser]

I found the same bunch of guns on gun broker. But have not found anything close to the ser no 394748 yet. Thanks for the help, I will keep looking. Here is the link to the guns.

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=*1911+remington+rand+&Condition=4

 

[Ibmikey]

Your Remington Rand may be a parts gun that was put together when dumped into the cleaning solvent many years ago. The only way to determine what you have is with the receiver S/N as all numbers from various contractors are widely known. You may have a 1911 or a 1911A1 frame from a contractor other than Rem Rand, internal parts and markings are all documented in research material. Any 1911/1911A1 is selling for very large numbers, including mismatched pistols.

 

[Jim Watson]

You do not have a Remington Rand pistol.
You have a Remington Rand slide on a 1918 Colt receiver. The receiver rules, you have a Colt... sort of.
When the Army refurbished a gun, they did not care if the parts were all of the same brand, they had interchangeability specifications to let them use any combination of parts on hand.

Depending on the details, you may have a legitimate service pistol produced by arsenal overhaul. (Is there a small AA stamp on the left side? Or SA, RIA, BA?)
Or you might have a depot level repair which is harder to prove because they are not specially marked. Or you might have something assembled out of surplus parts. Or maybe something from a squad cleaning party as mikey describes.

Close clear pictures of the gun and all markings would be a big help.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

Hope these come through. There are no other markings than the words Remington Rand Inc, Syracuse NY USA. United States Property, And the serial Number of 394748

 

[Jim Watson]

Yup, WWII Remington Rand slide on a WWI Colt receiver.

It has been buffed hard and reblued. Any small rework or inspectors' marks are long gone. Looks like it was dismantled by somebody who did not know how to get the thumb safety off and beat it with a hammer. Are the trigger and slide stop gold or is that just the lighting? Good that the serial number is still there or it would be illegal to own.
And who knows what were they thinking about when they reshaped the hammer like that.

Dollar value is low, treasure it as a family relic from your Dad.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

Just lighting on the trigger. trigger looks like chrome to me. Thanks for the info Jim.

Can you tell me if this is a gun that my dad may of carried with him in the airborne in WWII? Or would he of carried one similar?

 

[Jim Watson]

Could have been, I suppose. There is hardly ever a way to track the issue of smallarms.

Understand it did not look that way in the Airborne, it was polished and blued after it was pilfered or surplused.

 

[2 Wild Dueces]

Was just thinking.......If your keeping this gun for your family......you may want to document everything you learn and keep that info with the gun for future owners. Hard to find this kinda information in another 50 years.

Good to see you here MO.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

Thanks WD, I will keep track of things. Very interesting on how much stuff a guy can find out on here. Thanks again guys!