Remington Rand 1911A1 Drake 1964 National Match NM Slide .45 ACP Pistol C&R
SOLD FOR: $3225
LSB#: 220111MZ002
Make: Remington Rand frame, Drake Mfg. Corp. slide
Model: M1911A1 frame, 1964 National Match slide
Serial Number: 1033262
Year of Manufacture: The frame was made in 1943, the slide in 1964
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine
Markings: The left of the slide is marked “NM 7791435”, the right is marked “DRAKE MFG. CORP.”. The left of the frame is marked “FJA” below the slide stop with a poorly struck “P” below and behind the magazine release. There is a hardness-test punch mark on the top of the slide. The right of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / NO 1033262”, “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” and behind the grip with an Ordnance wheel. The top of the frame is marked “G” by the disconnector. The barrel is marked “45 AUTO / NM 7791414 / 785132” at the chamber, the left link-lug is marked “M” and “P”, the right link-lug is marked “C” in box. The link is marked “S”. The front face of the bushing is marked “7267718 / N M”, the outside of the barrel bushing is hand-scribed “2072”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall patridge blade with a serrated rear face and integral serrated, ramped base fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is an HEG (Elliason) square-notch adjustable for windage and elevation dovetailed to the rear of the slide. The left of the rear sight base is marked “TRIANGLE / HEG”, the right is marked “U.S.”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered plastic with reinforcement rings around the grip screws and reinforcement ribs on the interior. The interior of the grips are marked with a post-WWII part number. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Parkerized, Aluminum Trigger (see Our Assessment). There is a patch of black paint on and around the front sight.
Finish Originality: The slide’s finish appears Original, but the slide is not original to the frame. The frame has been refinished. The mainspring housing, hammer and trigger are not original to the frame. Some other small parts may have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The most notable wear is in the frontstrap where there is an odd pattern as though someone was preparing to checker or stipple the surface. There are some scattered light nicks and scuffs, some under the finish. The trigger has wear on it consistent with a previously installed trigger shoe. There is a faint “idiot mark” under the slide stop on the left of the frame. Black paint has been applied on and around the front sight. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this handgun is in Very Good condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide to frame fit has no play, but the slide moves fairly smoothly. A rubber buffer has been installed on the guide-rod behind the recoil spring. The trigger has a little bit of creep. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, it may need a thorough cleaning to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 7-round magazine marked “L” on top of the floorplate. The magazine has been refinished, showing scattered wear and pinprick erosion with intact feed lips and a strong spring.
Our Assessment: Developed from the standard-issue 1911 sidearm, the National Match pistols were accurized and fitted with adjustable target sights for use by U.S. military competition shooters. Using Bill Jenkins’ book “U.S. Military Match and Marksmanship Automatic Pistols” for reference, we have confirmed that this pistol’s slide assembly, including barrel and bushing, has proper markings and features for a National Match pistol assembled in 1964. The assembly has been fitted to a 1943 production Remington Rand frame, and well fit at that, with no play between the slide and frame. The pistol has also been equipped with a wide-spur hammer and a 1911-style flat mainspring housing. It looks like someone got ready to checker or stipple the frontstrap, but didn’t complete the job. While this should make for a great target pistol for another lifetime, USGI National Match pistols are also sought-after collectors’ items. With its 1964 slide assembly, this pistol will certainly have interest from the collectors, too. Please see our photos and good luck!