Malpasowildlifer
Member
That the reason they made so few was they were very high quality. So, the government had them switch to other things that required precise, high quality work, like bomb sights on on bombers.
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Is this true about Singer 1911's?
- Thread starter Malpasowildlifer
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I always heard that it was Singer's management that decided to go with the fire control device and turned the 1911 dies and machines to Remington. The original contract was only for 500 pistols anyway.
It was a contract to evaluate how well a company who was not a gun manufacturer can make guns.
I'm sure theres alway two sides to every story.
A side note. I have a friend who had a Singer 1911A1 in like new condition back in the late 60s. He was forced to sell it during a divorce.
It was a contract to evaluate how well a company who was not a gun manufacturer can make guns.
I'm sure theres alway two sides to every story.
A side note. I have a friend who had a Singer 1911A1 in like new condition back in the late 60s. He was forced to sell it during a divorce.
mkk41
US Veteran
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scooter123
Member
Considering the quality of manufacture and service life of the Singer sewing machines at that time I would say this is an entirely believable claim. My mother had a treadle powered Singer that she would actually use at times and I was always fascinated by how well fitted all the parts were, that thing ran smooth as butter.
That is the story I have heard also. They did such good work, they were contracted to make the Norden Bomb Sight.
My M1911A1 is a "half-Singer". I have a Singer slide on a Remington frame. The original Singer pistols were blued. My Singer slide has been parkerized and I assume it went through the refurbishment after WWII. The guns were stripped and the usable parts went into bins and refinished by parkerizing. When the guns were reassembled, parts were just pulled from the bins. The gun came from a Korean War vets estate. His wife said that he brought it home when he returned from Korea. I assume he got one of the refurbished WWII M1911A1s when he was issued a side arm.
My M1911A1 is a "half-Singer". I have a Singer slide on a Remington frame. The original Singer pistols were blued. My Singer slide has been parkerized and I assume it went through the refurbishment after WWII. The guns were stripped and the usable parts went into bins and refinished by parkerizing. When the guns were reassembled, parts were just pulled from the bins. The gun came from a Korean War vets estate. His wife said that he brought it home when he returned from Korea. I assume he got one of the refurbished WWII M1911A1s when he was issued a side arm.
I lived in Gainesville, Georgia in the late 1970's. I was talking to a pharmacist one day and we got onto guns somehow. When he found out I was a collector he grinned, flipped the Open sign on the door around to Closed and took me back to his safe. He pulled out a gun rug and carefully pulled out a very fine Singer .45. I've never seen anyone prouder of a gun they owned- he was positively beaming. I learned a lot more about them that day although I already knew they were legendary in US Military collecting circles. I've seen a couple more over the years but will always remember that one.
Regards,
turnerriver
Regards,
turnerriver
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I don't know why Singer didn't proceed further w/ the WWII Govt .45's, but in the way of differences in quality, etc., I recall only the finish (blue, I believe, instead of the Parkerizing) & the markings were the only real differences.
The equipment to make the WAS transferred to another company, I believe it was Ithaca not Remington.
The equipment to make the WAS transferred to another company, I believe it was Ithaca not Remington.
jaykellogg
Absent Comrade
I am an engineer and I started my career at Westinghouse in the industrial control business. The standard tolerance was +/-.005". It was believed by their manufacturing and purchasing that tighter tolerances cost significantly higher and were next to impossible to hold consistently.
I lost the Westinghouse job and went to General Electric in Appliance controls. There the standard tolerance was +/- .001" and we routinely held tolerances of +/-.0002". I can tell you they were checked at least four times a shift. My next position was with Square D in industrial control. I tried for 5 years to convince them they could hold tighter tolerances but nobody would listen to me.
IMO, it is likely that Singer was in a business used to tight tolerances and good quality control and that is why their guns seem so much better.
I lost the Westinghouse job and went to General Electric in Appliance controls. There the standard tolerance was +/- .001" and we routinely held tolerances of +/-.0002". I can tell you they were checked at least four times a shift. My next position was with Square D in industrial control. I tried for 5 years to convince them they could hold tighter tolerances but nobody would listen to me.
IMO, it is likely that Singer was in a business used to tight tolerances and good quality control and that is why their guns seem so much better.
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