Extremely Rare WWI North American Arms #89 Model 1911 Pistol, 1918 C&R
Sold for $48,075.00
LSB#: 220902TM001
Make: North American Arms Co.
Model: 1911
Serial Number: 89
Year of Manufacture: 1918
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “MANUFACTURED BY / NORTH AMERICAN ARMS CO. LIMITED / QUEBEC, CANADA.”, the “IMITED” has smaller letters than the initial “L”, a characteristic of North American Arms markings, and the left-rear is marked “89” immediately behind the slide serrations. The left of the frame is marked “89” near the bottom grip screw bushing, concealed by the grip when installed. The left of the trigger is marked “89”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a “U”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screw escutcheons. The grips show light handling wear with a patch of compressed checkers on the left panel below the top diamond. There is minor tool marking around the screw heads and some light nicks and scuffing. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and some light pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 30% of its metal finish. Most remaining finish is in protected areas such as around raised features and under the grips as well as on some controls. Other areas show wear and some discoloration from oxidation. There is some scattered surface erosion, most notable in the trigger guard and the top of the slide. The dust cover is bent in on the left-front corner and there is a matching line of wear on the left of the slide. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches including an “idiot mark” under the slide stop on the left of the slide. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp. The slide has no play to the frame, taken up by the dent in the dust cover pushing on the slide. We did not fire 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 with the top in the white. The magazine has operational wear, scattered 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. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of “the slide”, which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns.
As would occur in the next World War, the demands of the U.S. war machine outstripped Colt’s ability to produce pistols and various other makers would supply Model 1911 pistols to the United States. These included Remington UMC and Springfield Armory, but there were also some companies who received contracts to produced pistols but never got around to delivering them. This is an interesting and exceptionally rare example which was produced in 1918 by North American Arms in Quebec, Canada. Due to wartime demand and complications with transportation, all new factory space or repurposing of factory space in New England had to be approved by the War Department, so the Ordnance Department began looking into other locations for production and settled on the Ross Rifle Company in Canada, though that company had recently closed. The North American Arms Company took over the factory and secured a contract to produce 500,000 1911 pistols. At the time, most of the Allied powers believed that the war would continue for at least a few more years. The German offensive Operation Michael had just been halted and the Second Battle of the Marne, the first successful Allied offensive, was just starting. No one would guess that the war would end less than 6 months later.
When the war ended, so did North American Arms Company’s contract with no deliveries actually made. In fact, only tool room prototypes and parts for approximately 100 pistols had been made by the time of the contract’s cancellation, making them one of the most rare wartime production, though not issued, 1911s. This example is one of those few North American Arms pistols. It has proper markings, or rather lack thereof, with only the manufacturer’s slide legend and serial markings on the slide, trigger and frame. The pistol is in Good condition, typical of most known examples. For the dedicated 1911 collector, this is a wonderful opportunity at an exceedingly rare and high condition piece. Please see our photos and good luck!