WWII US Remington Rand 1911A1 1911-A1 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,750.00
LSB#: LSB250818JK010
Make: Remington Rand
Model: M1911A1
Serial Number: 998135 (Please note: this serial number falls in a range which was used by both Remington Rand and Colt. The lack of Colt’s verified proof as well as the “FJA” inspector’s mark indicate that the frame was made by Remington Rand.)
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Short-Recoil Operated, Fed by Detachable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “REMINGTON RAND INC. / SYRACUSE, N.Y. U.S.A.” The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 998135” and “M1911A1 U.S. ARMY.” Below the slide stop it is marked “FJA”. Just below the magazine release is marked “P”. The barrel is marked “SP”. The magazine is marked “COLT .45 AUTO.”.
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 a later model Keyes Fibre, with reinforced rings and with strengthening ribs. The grips have fairly even light handling wear. The checkering is well defined. There are little to no signs of tooling on the grip screws. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized Slide, Parkerized Frame, Blued Barrel
Finish Originality: The frame and barrel finish are Original.
Bore Condition: The bore is dark with worn rifling. There is moderate erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6.5/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 65% of its current metal finish. The slide shows thinning with a few small scattered marks and light freckling on the left of the slide. The frame shows light marks scattered throughout. There is an “idiot mark” under the slide stop on the left of the frame. The action shows operational wear.. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about 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 Colt magazine.
Our Assessment: A stout, service-oriented 1911A1 built to wartime specification: arched mainspring housing, shortened trigger, longer grip safety, simplified sights, and a parkerized finish typical of military-issue pistols from the era. The metalwork and controls read rugged and purposeful—positive thumb and grip safeties, firm single-action trigger cadence, and the familiar 7-round single-stack magazine that made the 1911A1 the U.S. sidearm standard. Mechanically straightforward and dependable by design, this example carries the utilitarian lines and service-fitment you expect of a 1943 military production piece.
Dated to the height of World War II, Remington Rand’s wartime 1911A1 production reflects the massive industrial mobilization that kept U.S. and allied forces supplied—contract manufacturers, depot repairs, and subcontract work all combined to deliver large numbers of service pistols quickly and to uniform specification. Many examples from 1943 often show the hard-use finishes and practical trim of field-issued arms and stand as tangible artifacts of mid-century military logistics and production scale. C&R eligible. We are no longer offering layaway. Be sure to check our detailed pictures for a better understanding of the firearm. -C.R.
