Yet another Remington Rand thread

gregintenn · #1 02-19-2021, 07:23 PM

I feel bad about walking all over F4 phantom's thread about his Remington Rand 1911a1, so I'm starting a new one. I still don't have much of a clue what I'm looking for, but I bought one today. It appears to me to have the correct frame, barrel, and slide for a 1944 vintage Remington Rand. Beyond that, I don't know.

Perhaps I don't know where to look, but I've yet to locate an arsenal rebuild mark. The slide to frame fit is much tighter than I remember many other 1911a1 pistols.

Kurusu · #2 02-19-2021, 07:39 PM

I first said it seemed reparked but I'm not so sure anymore.

gregintenn · #3 02-19-2021, 07:41 PM

I sure don’t know. It looks pretty good to have been through a war.

Kurusu · #4 02-19-2021, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregintenn

I sure don’t know. It looks pretty good to have been through a war.

I know what you mean. Mine is a mixed RR and Ithaca with a Flannery barrel it was rebuilt in Augusta Arsenal, that closed in the late fifties, but Apparently it was not reparkerized. And it looks like it didn't miss a war since it was made.

Shoots good though.

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AJ · #5 02-19-2021, 07:59 PM

Ask on this forum: Colt Semiauto Pistols | Colt Forum

gregintenn · #6 02-19-2021, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurusu

I know what you mean. Mine is a mixed RR and Ithaca with a Flannery barrel it was rebuilt in Augusta Arsenal, that closed in the late fifties, but Apparently it was not reparkerized. And it looks like it didn't miss a war since it was made.

Shoots good though.

Mine has a Flannery barrel as well. I read that they were correct as wer Ho Standard barrels.

Kurusu · #7 02-19-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregintenn

Mine has a Flannery barrel as well. I read that they were correct as wer Ho Standard barrels.

Curiously they were correct both on Remington Rand and Ithaca.

but they were also "replacement" barrels.

hkcavalier · #8 02-19-2021, 11:58 PM

CMP gun.

VaTom · #9 02-20-2021, 09:33 AM

Great pieces.

You see the white spot where the finish is worn on right hand side of frame at serial number. See that on many unrefinished pieces that were carried during war. Read one time that it was caused by the holster. On inside of holster there is the back side of the metal stud that sticks through for the flap to latch. It makes sense as it is about the same place where that area of the frame would rub against it.

vonn · #10 02-20-2021, 09:46 AM

I think many of the finished challenged guns were carried a lot and fired very little. Thinking MP’s ,guard duty , etc.

G-Mac · #11 02-20-2021, 09:52 AM

My mother-in-law, 95 years old now, worked in the Remington Rand plant in Syracuse. She may have had a hand in building some of the pistols pictured in this thread.

Kurusu · #12 02-20-2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonn

I think many of the finished challenged guns were carried a lot and fired very little. Thinking MP’s ,guard duty , etc.

You are probably right. Mine as a lot of little dings apparently made being put and taken off a gun rack very often. But I do think the barrel of mine is a replacement. The bore was shiny new.

Edit. Anyways, Military pistols in general are carried a lot and fired very little, even in war time.

JH1951 · #13 02-20-2021, 10:03 AM

I picked up this one several months ago at a LGS. I am a sucker for a USGI 1911 / 1911A1, and this one drew me to it appearing not to have been refinished. Got a price better than CMP offerings, and condition is excellent.

IMG_2847.jpg

gregintenn · #14 02-20-2021, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Mac

My mother-in-law, 95 years old now, worked in the Remington Rand plant in Syracuse. She may have had a hand in building some of the pistols pictured in this thread.

Now that is cool!

PALADIN85020 · #15 02-20-2021, 10:46 AM

This is my Remington Rand M1911A1 example, produced in 1944 and all correct in every respect - no rework evident. RR was the most prolific of the WWII manufacturers, and they were once very widely available - not difficult to find a good specimen. I got mine when they were plentiful, and also one of each of the other stateside manufacturers, except Singer - I didn't want to take out a second mortgage on our house...

Here are some of my other .45 caliber U.S. service handguns of the 20th Century. I took this photo for a large article I did on these guns that appeared in the 2003 Gun Digest.

John

VaTom · #16 02-20-2021, 12:37 PM

Here is a website link that has lots of information. Go to the ID pages for specific information about each manufacturer's pistols and changes that occurred during war production years. Changes were meant to speed up production and lower cost. The stamped trigger developed by Ithaca in 1943 and later seen on later Colt, Remington Rand pistols saved 10% in cost which was about $5 on each unit.

In addition to the trigger these small parts saw changes as production progressed through 1944-1945. Mainly the machining of the part (checkering to serrations).

Slide Stop
Safety Level
Hammer
Main Spring arched housing.
Barrel bushing may also have been changed.

For example: My 1943 Ithaca has a serrated slide stop, safety lever but a checked hammer. Later Ithaca's had a serrated hammer. (see picture)

http://coolgunsite.com/

F4phantom · #17 02-20-2021, 12:47 PM

I had editied my original post to include:

After some searching around, it appears I have a franken gun. The frame is RR with serial number around the beginning/middle of 1944, the slide is a type 2, the trigger appears to be milled (Colt?), hammer is RR type 2, slide stop is serrated circa '43-45, barrel is Colt and the magazine is Risdon for Colt i.e. marked C-R. The original must have really messed up or the armorer went crazy.

Go to the http://coolgunsite.com/ they have the most information.

gregintenn · #18 02-20-2021, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PALADIN85020

This is my Remington Rand M1911A1 example, produced in 1944 and all correct in every respect - no refurbishment. RR was the most prolific of the WWII manufacturers, and they were once very widely available - not difficult to find a good specimen. I got mine when they were plentiful, and also one of each of the other stateside manufacturers, except Singer - I didn't want to take out a second mortgage on our house...

Here are some of my other .45 caliber U.S. service handguns of the 20th Century. I took this photo for a large article I did on these guns that appeared in the 2003 Gun Digest.

John

Mr. Marshall,
I always enjoy your writings and treasure my signed copy of your book.

Everybody else,
Thank you for the comments and keep them coming. The education I get here is truly invaluable!