Remington Rand 1911A1 Colt 1963 National Match NM Slide .45 ACP Pistol C&R
SOLD FOR: $2675
LSB#: 230918RD004
Make: Remington Rand frame, Colt slide, Springfield Armory re-worked.
Model: M1911A1 National Match
Serial Number: 1513754
Year of Manufacture: 1944
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine
Markings: The right of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The left of the trigger guard is marked “4”. The left of the frame was marked “FJA” below the slide stop (faint, incomplete) with a fairly clear “P” below and behind the magazine release. There is a larger “P” above the magazine release with a punch mark in its loop. There is what appears to be a remnant of a small “P” on the top of the slide in front of the rear sight. The right of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY”, “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” with the serial number “1513754”, “S A”, a larger “SA”, “T” and behind the grip with an Ordnance wheel with crossed cannons (faint, incomplete). The right of the trigger guard is marked “N M / X”. The left of the slide is marked “NM7791435”. The rear face of the slide is marked “54” beneath the firing pin plate. The barrel is marked “45 AUTO / NM 7791414 / 1513754” at the chamber, the right link-lug is marked “C” in box, the left is marked “M” and “P”. The front face of the bushing is marked “7267718 / N M”, the outside of the barrel bushing is hand-scribed “3754”. The right of the rear sight is marked “TRIANGLE / HEG”, the left of the base is marked “U.S.”
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a patridge blade with integral serrated, ramped base fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a Triangle square-notch adjustable for windage and elevation in a base dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood. The frontstrap is checkered. The grips have minor handling wear. There are a few light marks, most notable is a nick at the bottom edge of the left panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 96% of its metal finish. There is infrequent edge-thinning and a few minor marks. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings range from clear and crisp to worn and shallow (see Our Assessment). Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide to frame fit has no play. The trigger is crisp. 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 “C-S” on the bottom of the floorplate and “S” on the top.
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 features and markings, including serial-matching slide, barrel and bushing, are proper for a National Match pistol assembled by Springfield Armory in 1963. The pistol has been built on a 1944 production Remington Rand frame, and well fit at that, with no play between the slide and frame. Since then, it appears to have seen limited and gentle use. While this should make for a great target pistol for another lifetime, USGI National Match pistols are also sought-after collectors’ items. As a correct example of a 1963 National Match, this pistol will certainly have interest from the collectors, too. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
