Identified WWII Remington Rand Model 1911-A1 M1911A1, Parkerized 5” Bringback SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1944 C&R – .45 ACP
SOLD FOR: $2,755
LSB#: 150721RJ02
Make: Remington Rand
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 1772465
Year of Manufacture: 1944 (Pg. 394 of Clawson’s “Colt .45 Service Pistols”)
Caliber: .45 A.C.P.
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “REMINGTON RAND INC. / SYRACUSE, N.Y. U.S.A.”. The left of the frame below the magazine release and the top of the slide in front of the rear sight are marked with a “P” acceptance proof. The left side of the frame above the magazine release is marked “FJA” (Frank J. Atwood Lt. Col., Sub-Inspector for Ithaca, Remington Rand and Union Switch 1942-1944). The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / NO. 1772465”, “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” and at the rear with an Ordnance mark. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “U” and the rear is marked “7”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked “4”. The left side of the barrel lug is marked “P” and on the right side of the lug with “HS”, indicating the barrel was made by High Standard, who supplied most of the barrels used by Remington Rand in 1944 and 1945. The top of the slide in front of the rear sight is marked “P”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a serrated ramp fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered reddish brown plastic. The checkering is sharp and without mars. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: The pistol has a dark grey parkerized finish and the barrel has a black oxide (blued) finish. The mainspring housing is serrated. The trigger has a lightly checkered front surface.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is very light thinning on the front edges of the slide and frame and a spot of thinning on the mainspring housing serrations and another spot on the front strap. There is a shallow ding in the front strap and a few tiny light marks scattered over the slide and frame. The checkering/serrations on the slide, hammer, mainspring housing, safety, magazine release, slide release and recoil spring plug are sharp. The grip screws are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The trigger pull is crisp. The slide is very tight to the frame. This pistol has manual and grip safeties, and this model does not have a magazine disconnect. The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 7 round blued magazine and paperwork. The magazine shows no appreciable wear except for surface loss on the top left shoulder. There is faint thinning on the front edge of the floorplate. The magazine is marked “R” on the top of the floorplate lip, indicating it was made by Risdon Mfg. Co. Risdon and Scovill were sub-contractors to M. S. Little who made magazines for both Colt and Remington Rand. The magazine is in Excellent condition. The paperwork consists of the two page Separation Qualification Record and a black and white copy of a photograph of Major Emmett Emerson who, per his grandson, our consignor, carried this pistol when overseas in the European Theater during WWII.
Our Assessment: > The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. This is a 1911-A1 pistol made by Remington Rand in 1944 during WWII. It is correctly marked for a Remington produced pistol, and has a barrel by High Standard, who produced most of the barrels for Remington Rand in 1944 and 1945. The magazine is blued and made by Scovill, a supplier to Remington through M. S. Little. The pistol is in about Excellent condition with 98% of its military parkerized finish remaining. The pistol shows light thinning on the front edges of the slide and frame, with a spot of thinning on the mainspring housing and another on the front strap. There are also a few tiny marks scattered over the slide and frame. The grips are reddish brown checkered plastic with sharp checkering and no mars. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion, and the slide is tight to the frame. The pistol comes with copies of the Separation Qualification Record and a photograph of Major Emmett Emerson showing that he was overseas in the European Theater during WWII. Per his grandson, our consignor, this is the pistol he carried while overseas. In his book “Colt .45 Service Pistols”, Clawson indicates that by the end of the war, Remington Rand produced the lowest cost pistol and that “during 1944 and 1945 they produced a superior weapon, equal to or better than those produced by other companies”. This says a lot for Remington Rand, despite having a few problems in the early part of 1943 as they tried to ramp up production. This pistol should garner a lot of interest from the collectors of WWI and WWII pistols and 1911’s in particular. It’s not very often we see one in this nice of a condition, so it might be a very long time before you see another one this nice.
