Make: Remington Rand
Model: M1911A1
Serial Number: 1602352
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5", High Standard
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 Keyes Fibre plastic panels with reinforcement ribs on the inside and reinforcement rings around the screws. The grips have even light handling wear some scattered light nicks and scuffing. There are some tool marks around the screws. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished, Springfield Armory
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little scattered stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 9/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas. There is wear on the dust cover and the chin of the slide. There is a little other more minor wear. There is infrequent minor oxidation, mostly in the worn areas. There is a light "idiot mark" on the left of the frame below the slide stop. There are a few other scattered light marks. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as refurbished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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 canvas web-belt with magazine pouch, a pouch with a Handy Pad Supply Co. first-aid packet Carlisle Model in sealed tin, Sears M1916 holster and a single 7-round Risdon magazine.
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 makers combined, at the lowest price and highest quality. This example was made in 1943 and is a good example of a Remington Rand 1911-A1. The pistol is in Very Good condition, retaining about 80% of its Springfield Armory refurbished parkerized finish, 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 should still prove to be a good shooter. It will also display well with the included belt and holster rig. Please see our photos and good luck!
