kwill1911
SWCA Member
H&R was awarded an Educational Order No. W-ORD-395 on April 23, 1940. Supposedly, they finished 10-15 pistols but none were ever accepted (Clawson, p. 288). I don't believe one has ever been seen.
The rarest Model 1911 pistols ever made...
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
RWPBR
Member
I have seen one.. Slide frame and barrel in the white. It was at Numrich Gun Parts back in the late 80s when they bought out H&R inventory after they closed. It was marked HRA from what I can remember.
The reason they were out of spec was because old drawings were sent to them by Springfield Arsenal.
Last edited:
TheHobbyist
SWCA Member
@ John, I will keep an eye out for you, friend, should I find one. My buddy, an older gent who was in my 'circle of friends' bought my gun. We enjoyed 50's hot rods and such and I had a couple at the time.
Years later, I told him I'd buy back that Colt 1911. Guess, what? Not for sale. That is OK. The car parts he sold me over the years, far exceeded that value. But it wasn't about cost...truly. We were just having fun. Still am and that's the most important thing.
Years later, I told him I'd buy back that Colt 1911. Guess, what? Not for sale. That is OK. The car parts he sold me over the years, far exceeded that value. But it wasn't about cost...truly. We were just having fun. Still am and that's the most important thing.
Valmet
Member
Had a North American in my hands at the Louisville show back around 2002 and seller wanted $20k-ish for it.
bushmaster1313
Member
Gun collectors are a funny lot
Almost 2 million M1911A1’s made for WW2 and the scarce one command very high prices.
Almost 2 million M1911A1’s made for WW2 and the scarce one command very high prices.
jag312
Member
Many years ago, maybe about 30 years ago, I saw a North American Arms slide on a Remington Rand frame. I had no idea that the slide was so rare.
outta_ammo
SWCA Member
A Singer just sold on Morphy's for–sit down and hold onto something–
$108,800 including buyer's premium!!!
$108,800 including buyer's premium!!!
Last edited:
chiefdave
US Veteran
In the mid teens Colt shipped shipped a few batches to specific capital Navy ships in batches of 100 in s/n sequence.
AJ
US Veteran
I have actually held one piece of a Singer M1911A1. A long time ago (over 30 years) we (my 1stSgt. & I) were trying to make more shootable M1911A1's out the 50 or so that was assigned to our unit. He & I built M1911A1's as a hobby. We tore all the pistols down and started trying slides to frames for good fit. The the barrel bushing for good fit and so on. Jim found a pistol with a Singer slide. He went home and came back with a like new Remington slide and replaced the Singer with it. I did not know about collecting back then, just shooting. He was very happy!
As an aside, we rebuilt the 50 pistols and go 45 that would shoot a 2 inch group at 25 yards, the other 5 were pretty much hopeless without special tools to tighten slides to frames. Since we only needed about 25 at any given time, we were good to go.
As an aside, we rebuilt the 50 pistols and go 45 that would shoot a 2 inch group at 25 yards, the other 5 were pretty much hopeless without special tools to tighten slides to frames. Since we only needed about 25 at any given time, we were good to go.
Last edited:
OP
When I was in the Army in the early '60s, one of my sergeants had ordered a .45 through the DCM. What he got amazed the both of us - an all original Springfield 1911! I couldn't talk him out of it (surprise, surprise), so I had to buy one years later for some serious coin. He sure had a lucky day!
John
John
mikeruns
Member
I have seen a couple Union Switch & Signal pistols when I was an infantry weapons armourer (USMC) they were maybe the most rare followed by Ithacas’ which I saw one of....the most common was Remington Rand. Two other armourers’ and I had over 1000 1911A1s’ out of deep storage doing limited technical inspections on them which would be every 3 years for deep storage stock at different storage facilities on Camp Pendleton in the 1980s’. Never saw a Singer but had heard of someone else that did repair or inspect one.....btw, 1000 1911s’ takes up a good amount of floor space and took us several days to inspect and do paper work on...
TheHobbyist
SWCA Member
Hope folks may find this interesting. I knew a collector, who had what I'l describe as a wood plank GI Issue or made at camp gun rack for 1911's during WW1. If I recall it was Navy. Stored about QTY 12 1911's in alternating position (left/right muzzle).
Apparently it was the drill instructors or trainer's to take to the range.
Very esoteric collectible, but I thought it was interesting.
Apparently it was the drill instructors or trainer's to take to the range.
Very esoteric collectible, but I thought it was interesting.
AJ
US Veteran
IIRC there are still some around. We had one at the Marine Barracks for use transporting pistols to the range. The nomenclature was "Chest, Pistol". It was old and may have been left over from WWII when the base was first built.
I had a Singer in middle 60s when I was a teenager. I traded a H&R 22 revolver for it. I sold it to the diner owner where we loafed for 50 Large.
$50 was large in those days. I don’t now where gun came from and only remember it because of who I sold it to. I’ve always wondered if the whole gun was Singer or just the slide. Wasnt deep into things at 15 or 16yrs old.
$50 was large in those days. I don’t now where gun came from and only remember it because of who I sold it to. I’ve always wondered if the whole gun was Singer or just the slide. Wasnt deep into things at 15 or 16yrs old.
If you want to count commercial 1911s, then I think this pair might just take the prize: Made by Cabot Gun out of pieces of the Gibeon meteorite.
Behold, $4.5 Million One-of-a-Kind Meteorite Handguns – Robb Report
Behold, $4.5 Million One-of-a-Kind Meteorite Handguns – Robb Report
Similar threads
