WWII US Remington Rand 1911A1 1911-A1 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1943 C&R

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Sold for $2025.00

Make: Remington Rand

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number: 1476568

Year of Manufacture: 1943 (Pg. 394 of Clawson’s “Colt .45 Service Pistols”)

Caliber: .45 ACP

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 rear face of the slide is marked “G” under the firing pin plate. The top of the frame is marked “G” at the disconnector. 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). The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / NO. 1476568”, “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” and at the rear there is an Ordnance mark. The left side of the trigger guard is marked “7”, the right is marked “I” and “B”. The barrel is marked “P” on the left link-lug, “HS” on the right. The top of the magazine floorplate is marked “L”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short serrated, ramped blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered brown plastic with reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips show scattered handling wear, most notable toward the bottom of the right panel and in a patch of smoothed checkers in front of the top mounting screw on the left panel. There are a few other scattered minor marks and some minor tool marks in the reinforcement rings. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some other scattered light finish wear, more notable at the sides of the dust cover and along the top of the slide. There are scattered spots of light surface oxidation. There are some scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches and there is an “idiot mark” on the left of the slide and frame at the slide stop. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the Ordnance wheel is incomplete, as is common. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. There is minor play between the slide and frame. This pistol has manual and grip safeties. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 7-round magazine. The magazine shows operational wear, some minor surface oxidation, intact feed lips and a strong spring.

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. As was the case at the outset of the 1st World War, demands of the US Military would outstrip the production capacity of Colt when the United States entered World War 2. In this case, contracting pistol production out to other companies had been planned for and simplified due to educational orders and a production study, notably conducted by the Singer sewing machine company, which developed comprehensive plans and instructions for a company which had never made a 1911A1 to order materials, machinery and set up manufacturing for the pistol. Remington Rand was the star example of this project’s success, and by the end of the war would go on to produce just about as many as all of the other maker’s combined, at the lowest price and highest quality.

This example was made by Remington Rand in 1943 and is a neat example of a WWII Remington Rand 1911-A1. The pistol is in Very Good condition, showing wear in its original finish consistent with a service pistol of the era, but retaining a good bore and strong mechanics. This would make a nice addition for a collector who wants to add a Remington Rand to a 1911 or WWII small arms collection and may still prove to be a good shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!