Make: Remington Rand frame, Ithaca slide
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 1281354
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 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 checkered brown plastic Keyes Fibre panels with reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips have fairly even light handling wear. There are a few scattered nicks, more notable on the left panel. There are some light tool marks around the screws. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished, "AA" marking on frame indicates refurbishment at Augusta Arsenal.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, just a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates 8+/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 70% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is light handling wear in the grip areas with more notable finish wear scattered along the slide. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with odd tool marks on the sides of the grip safety. The left of the frame has a light "idiot mark" below the slide stop. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition as Arsenal 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: Included is a single WWI-era two-tone Colt 7-round magazine. The magazine shows extensive finish wear with a crack at the rear of the right feed lip and a notable dent in the spine near the bottom.
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 II. 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 maker’s combined, at the lowest price and highest quality. This example has been Arsenal refurbished with a frame made by Remington Rand in 1943 and a slide made by Ithaca. The gun shows wear consistent with its age and service, but retains a good bore and strong mechanics. The included magazine is an earlier production example showing some wear and damage, but a replacement should be easy to come by. All in all, this is a nice example of an M1911A1 that has certainly seen some service and will be a neat addition to a collection. It should also still prove to be a good shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
