Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Any Remington -Rand USGI 1911-A1 Experts Here?

Need advice as fast as you can get it to me. At the gun show I saw a very nice, near mint, USGI Remington Rand 1911-A1. All proof marks are correct. My problem is that it was made in 1943, and I know that some time in 1943 (I think it was March) Remington Rand had to shut down for lots of problems with parts interchangeability and failure to meet inspection. When they retooled a few weeks later (also in early 1943), they started making the best 1911-A1s in the war, but my concern is whether this is a pre or post shutdown gun. The seller tells me it doesn't matter because none of the pre-shutdown guns that had a problem ever got a final inspection proof mark, and this one has all proper proof marks.

Serial number is 1585566. Questions are: Is it pre or post shutdown? Does it matter if it's pre or post shutdown? Is it less desirable if it's pre-shutdown. Is this even an issue, so long as all proof marks are correct? Thanks. Thanks.

PS Asking price is $1600.00.

Production date does not matter, only the good ones made it out of the plant and into service.

REMINGTON RAND - approx. 1,086,624 mfg. 1943-1945 in Syracuse, NY, ser. no. ranges 916,405-1,041,404, 1,279,649-1,441,430, 1,471,431-1,609,528, 1,743,847-1,816,641, 1,890,504-2,075,103, 2,134,404-2,244,803, and 2,380,014-2,619,013. Parkerized finish.

Grading
100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
N/A $2,000 $1,600 $1,300 $1,100 $900 $800

Thanks, TLee. This one appears to be in 98% condition, apart from the Gomer scratch (not bad) on the frame near the slide stop.

In the light of day (the gun show, as usual, was dimly lit), I'd say the condition is closer to 97% to 98%. Still a good deal, I think.

That is a very nice Remington Rand. Makes me want to hang onto mine even more.

Yep. I'm proud to own it. I did buy it, by the way. Wondering if I should shoot it or not. The seller suggested that if I shoot it that I switch out the recoil and firing pin springs and guide rod and set them aside because they are original GI and wouldn't want to batter them any when it's not necessary. I think I will do that, since I want to shoot it at least a little. Here are a couple more pictures.

My buddie has RR 1911

he took out most all of the original parts and saved them,and made all kinds of improvements,it is a custom pistol in a RR shell.

great pistols,I would keep mine original if I had one though.

Yep. The days when Remington Rands were the basis for custom 1911s are long over. This one's remaining 100% GI. I would only put in the new springs and guide rod for the purpose of shooting it, so as not to wear out those GI parts. I probably won't shoot it much even then. Just nice to have an all original USGI 1911A1 in nice shape like this one is in.

I have ran one magazine thru mine. It shot just fine too. I'd say that there aren't many of those, in that condition, in circulation. That's a VERY good gunshow find.

Had a Remington Rand that I bought for $100. in 1979 It had been customized with micro sights, front strap stippled, slide peened, etc. Ended up selling it a year later while going through a devorce, for the same $100. (kicks self in azz!)
Virgil B.

some people have all the luck.

sheesh. no wimmin, no good gunz.

i'm gonna go to bed.

wah.

-tom

The serial number puts it as 1944. The grips look correct (Keyes reinforced rings). Does it have (a long shot) a General Shaver magazine? General Shaver magazines had a G stamped on the lip and that's what was shipped with the gun. A lot of pistols in your serial number range were shipped to the Navy.

I'd say you did good, but I would not shoot it much...if at all. Unmolested 1911-A1's are getting scarcer by the minute.

Looks like you scored a real good one there TRH, congrats Sir.

Dang, that is a sweet one!

The mag has an "S" on the base.

Thanks.

PS I decided not to shoot it. Just not right to shoot a nice old collector piece like this.

I don't collect, I shoot everything I own or sell it.

I'm conflicted. Believe me. There is enough fun associated just with owning a war piece like this one to make up for the loss of fun I'd get from shooting it, though. I have other 1911 type pistols I can shoot. I have a 1927 commercial Colt (with an original military style mainspring housing/lanyard loop) that's all original, except that it had been reblued at some point in the past. I think I'll have that one parkerized and shoot that when I'm feeling nostalgic and want to shoot something like a USGI 1911A1.

Show us a picture of your WWI 1911 again.

The magazine was made by Scovill and Risdon (they supplied mags for several contractors), and is correct for the pistol. General Shaver (a division of Remington Rand) made about a million magazines and most were shipped with them.

Good deal