Remington Rand M1911A1

[XavierBreath]

I purchased a Remington Rand today, which I believe is 100% correct. I do have a few questions though.


Some parts...the slide stop, barrel bushing, extractor and grip safety appear to have a slightly darker finish than the rest of the gun. There seems to be little to no wear on the internal parts. I suspect this M1911A1 was never fired. There seems to be dried cosmoline in the works of the pistol.

In addition to having no wear on the lugs, the barrel has "Colt 45 Auto" on the barrel hood. Is this correct?

The grips appear to be Keyes.

Because it's blued and has a seam up the back, I'm kind of doubting the magazine. There is a G on top of the bottom lip.

 

[XavierBreath]

the holster is nice too.

What is the recommended way to treat older leather?

 

[XavierBreath]

According to this site, Remington Rand did use some Colt barrels, marked in the same way, but lower on the barrel.

Normally found with High Standard "HS" marked barrels on the right lug. Some "Colt" marked barrels on the left lug and Springfield Armory "S P" marked barrels on the right lug found during early production. Also, some Flannery " F " marked barrels on the right lug found during late production.

Serial is 24201XX

OK Old Fuff........I'm waiting.........

 

[XavierBreath]

Fuff Bait

A coupla pics for the Old Fuff.....

Inspector's mark

Slide

Serial, last two digits obscured.

US Army markings
last two of serial obscured

 

[Geno]

Green with envy

I'm sitting here green with envy! Do you know the year of production? Beautiful...just beautiful.

Doc2005

 

[Bentonville]

Maybe a Colt barrel is ok but better double check with experts if you want it 100%. Magazine is correct. General Shaver and the seam is correct. If you can get a hold of Clawson's book on the 1911A1 you will have all the info. you will ever need, afaik. I don't have one because they are so expensive. Also, try jouster.com. AKA Culver's Shooting Page. The forum of 1911/1911A1 is full of guys that know these guns completely. I have dealt with those men in several capacities and I have found them extremely honest and knowledgeable. You have a beautiful gun. I can't remember as it has been years since I was into the collecting phase but seems that there should be signs of bright, bare metal in the FJA showing it was stamped after gun was completed. Maybe on the P on the slide as well. I could have the Remington facts wrong. My Colt has it that way with the WB. It's a 1942 Colt with the blued smaller parts. I just like talking about them and looking at them. I don't know much.

 

[XavierBreath]

Update:

The year of production for this pistol is 1945.
Old Fuff, God bless him, has helped me ascertain that it is the original finish, indisputable.

I am a very fortunate fellow. I recieved a package from the pistol's owner, containing the original HS barrel. I installed it.

Today, I took the pistol out for some shooting.
It performed flawlessly.

 

[Old Fuff]

When ya' going ta' put a duckbutt grip safety, and flashlight on the front of it???

 

[XavierBreath]

I've got to checker the front of the handle and hog out the rejector port first!

 

[Old Fuff]

I've got to checker the front of the handle and hog out the rejector port first!

If Tuner finds out he'll either kill or have a stroke...

Anyway, I'm glad things worked out so well.

 

[sm]

XavierBreath,

Very nice find sir!
I appreciate your sharing with very nice pictures and detailed posts.

Old Fuff,
Thank you as well.



Steve

 

[ArmyCop119]

Magazine

That blued, seamed magazine is a 'G' marked, "General Shaver' mag.

General Shaver was a subsidiary of Remington Rand, and was supplied with RR 1911A1s when new.

I have heard they can go for $60 to $80 to collectors wanting to complete a RR pistol.

 

[mpthole]

Very cool! Where did you find it? Estate sale/auction, friend, ad in the paper, pawn shop...?

 

[default]

If ever there was a "dream gun" that one could still shoot in good conscience, that is it. A bare-bones WWII-production 1911A1 in excellent but not inhibitingly-mint condition. Absolutely beautiful, and nice photos - particularly the one with the slide locked to the rear. In fact, that is one of the (I hate this term, but I can't think of anything more fitting) sexiest 1911s I have ever seen. Congratulations!

 

[XavierBreath]

mpthole,
The story of my acquiring this M1911A1 can be found here. It was purchased at a gun show. I actually bought it from one of my favorite dealers about 30 seconds after I watched him buy it from a walk-in seller.

I'm hooked. I'm hot after another one now............

 

[Old Fuff]

I'm hooked. I'm hot after another one now............

Ah so....

The Old Fuff's "professional research fee" on looking up the next one will be equal + slightly higher then the cost of the pistol. That way he might be able to enhance his own collection ....

You got ripped off bad... I can remember when I could have bought that same pistol for $25.00...

But I was too cheap (or broke) to do it.

Seriously, I notice that the close-up picture showing the serial number also shows traces of cosmoline that was around or under the grips. The color is correct for the preservative used at that time.

 

[XavierBreath]

You got ripped off bad... I can remember when I could have bought that same pistol for $25.00...

But I was too cheap (or broke) to do it.

Yep, I can remember them too. I was just too dumb to buy a crate full of 'em!

 

[Old Fuff]

Yep, I can remember them too. I was just too dumb to buy a crate full of 'em!

Oh darn! With a little foresight we could have retired rich...

 

[DorGunR]

Oops........posted on the wrong thread. Sorry.

 

[KHawk]

OLD FLUFF

If you really want one, there are 2-ea on this collector's web site. Follow the nav on the left side of the screen to Handguns-Remington. Kinda Spendy for me right now.

 

[KHawk]

OLD FLUFF

If you really want one, there are 2-ea on this collector's web site.
http://www.simpsonltd.com/
Follow the nav on the left side of the screen to Handguns-Remington. Kinda Spendy for me right now.

 

[Old Fuff]

Thanks for the tip...

They have a nice one for only $1,995.00

Now if I can only collect what I should have coming from X-Breath...

 

[theDogger]

A little Help

Came across this thread looking for info. on a Rand that I inherited...
Could you please help ID it and possible value also. I would say that it is in 95%-97% condition on the bluing. I did as much research as I could but would like a complete opinion of the gun and its worth as I truly have no idea

Markings are as follows
Left Side: FJA - 5 on trigger guard
Right Side: Upper trigger guard-"V" Lower trigger guard- "T" rear frame- Ordnance department inspectors stamp
Barrel: SP stamped
Magazine Stamped "L"
Serial# 1516836

I m assuming that it is a 1944 based on the Serial #.

any help is great.....

thanks theDogger

 

[XavierBreath]

First, I'm far from an expert, but I will try.

L magazine is a M.S. Little Mfg. Co. mag, original to Remmy Rands.
SP barrels are early production Remington Rand barrels made by Springfield.

Serial# 1516836 is a 1944 gun. Your's appears to be a "Type 3" Remington Rand. A Type 3 Remington Rand should have a serrated slide stop, and a HS barrel.

The real question on your gun is whether it was ever refinished, even while in military service. If it is a true original finish gun, then the value would be $1200-1400. The goocher is the early barrel in a later gun. That leads me to suspect it was rearsenaled at some point. Was your gun inheirited from someone who carried it in the military or from someone who bought it as surplus?

I could, though, be wrong. Old Fuff will likely set me straight.........

 

[Walkalong]

There was a guy at the gun show this weekend that had some Military 1911's. A couple of Remington Rands, an Ithica ( which was nice, but $2100) and a couple of others which I did not see the make of - $3000 to $5200!!

I had a nice Remington Rand when I was 17 and stupid and traded it away!!!:banghead:

It was what made me fall in love with 1911's. Simplisticly Complicated. Pure Genius.