Make: Remington Rand

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number: 2237454

Year of Manufacture: 1945 (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 top of the frame is marked “G” at the hammer slot. 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” (Colonel Frank J. Atwood, Sub-Inspector for Ithaca, Remington Rand, and Union Switch & Signal). The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / NO. 2237454”, “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”, and at the rear there is an Ordnance “crossed cannons” cartouche. The left of the trigger guard is marked “7”, the right “V”. The barrel is marked “P” on the left link-lug, “HS” on the right. The top toe of the magazine floorplate is marked "S".

Barrel Length: 5”

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

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece Keyes Fibre checkered brown plastic with reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips have a few scattered light nicks and scratches, most notable on the right panel around the top mounting screw. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good to Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 94% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some minor nicks and scratches with some scuffing consistent with holster-wear. There is a light “idiot mark” on the left of the frame under the slide stop. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine 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 previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one original US WW2 blued 7-round magazine marked “S” on the top toe of the floorplate, denoting manufacture by Scovill of Waterbury, CT, one of the suppliers of mags for Remington Rand.

Our Assessment:The Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol was developed for the US Army in 1911 after the .38 revolver failed to stop charging Moro warriors in the Philippines. The US Army issued the powerful .45 to officers, NCOs, and machine gunners in both World War 1 and World War 2. As was the case at the outset of the Great War, the demand for Colt M-1911A1 pistols by the US Army at the beginning of WW2 would exceed the production capacity of Colt. This time, the US government had already planned to contract-out pistol production to other manufacturers. The M-1911A1 was even able to be simplified due to educational orders and a production study conducted by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, who developed comprehensive plans and instructions for companies who had never made a 1911A1, allowing them to easily order materials and 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, they had produced just about as many M-1911A1s as all of the other makers combined, and remarkably, at the lowest price while being the highest quality.

This US Army WW2 Remington Rand M-1911A1 Type 3 Pistol was made in 1945 and is in Fine condition. It retains about 94% of its crisp, original parkerized finish, a great bore, and strong mechanics. This would make a wonderful addition to a US military or WW2 small arms collection.