Late Remington Rand, that didn't go to war

[Retired W4]

I spent a lot of time with my copy of Charles W. Clawson's book, Colt .45 Service Pistols (3rd ed.) to verify this gun. I was mainly concerned with the post parkerization marks, FJA, P and ordnance, etc., plus correct/original parts. This one passes all the tests. HS barrel, and even the General Shaver magazine, which is probably the hardest thing to find with a RR. For those who don't know General Shaver was a subsidiary of Remington Rand. RR's last pistol manufactured was NO 2465139 in 1945 and this one was part of that last contract. This makes a great companion to NO 1600035, from 1944, which my former boss gave me 20 years ago.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

That looks like it just came from my Parkerizing tanks!

Ivan

 

[Retired W4]

Yep. It has some nasty reddish brown stuff under under the Keyes Fiber grips but that eventually dissolved and cleaned up very well. A couple other things I look for is the feed ramp in the white with machine marks and the blued HS barrel. It's a real sweetheart.

 

[Retired W4]

Here is NO 1600035. I always thought it was real pretty until I got the new one. Notice this one is pre-hard slide. No arsenal marks.

 

[erikpolcrack]

Are you sure it didn't go to war? I have a March 1918 Colt M1911 that made most of the major US Army battles in WWI. I bought it in the 80s from the aged gentleman who carried it as an artillery forward observer in the 3rd ID.

 

[Retired W4]

Are you sure it didn't go to war? I have a March 1918 Colt M1911 that made most of the major US Army battles in WWI. I bought it in the 80s from the aged gentleman who carried it as an artillery forward observer in the 3rd ID.

NO 2439434 in post #1 was made right around VE day and shortly there after the contract was canceled. Many of these were issued in Korea and Vietnam and almost all of those went through arsenal rebuild at some time or another. This one shows no sign of being in combat or being refinished. That Colt 1911 likely went through that process unless yours was pilfered from the inventory before it could go through.

 

[Faulkner]

That is a very nice Remington Rand, I am a big fan of USGI M1911A1's.

I have a late production RR with a serial number not far ahead of yours, 2247804. It has not seen much use either but it does have a replacement USGI barrel.

 

[22lrfan]

My Remington Rand is a little later than yours (2445xxx) but not in as nice condition. It has the HS barrel but a Scovil magazine.

 

[Retired W4]

Two very nice late Remington Rand. Thanks for showing them.

 

[erikpolcrack]

NO 2439434 in post #1 was made right around VE day and shortly there after the contract was canceled. Many of these were issued in Korea and Vietnam and almost all of those went through arsenal rebuild at some time or another. This one shows no sign of being in combat or being refinished. That Colt 1911 likely went through that process unless yours was pilfered from the inventory before it could go through.

The guy I bought it from had it issued brand new to him as he left to go overseas with the 3ID. I'm not 100% sure how, but he said it stayed with him until he sold it to me in the 80s. Came with two half-blue mags and an ammo pouch stenciled with his arty unit designation. It was still in the original blue, but the finish was pretty rough from 60-odd years of careless storage.

 

[chief38]

Retired W4,
That is one beautiful Pistol! Use it well!

 

[tmd17]

Fantastic RR. I would be afraid to own it because I tend to shoot everything in my safe.

 

[AJ]

Nice looking pistols to all. Once upon a time I collected M1911's.

 

[LostintheOzone]

My RR/Colt/bin parts went through the rebuild. But then I didn't pay an arm and a leg for it.

That has to be one of the nicest ones I've ever seen.

Don't let Ivan get your goat. He's just jealous.

 

[LostintheOzone]

That looks like it just came from my Parkerizing tanks!

Ivan

You can find the correct slide for it at gun shows.

Seriously, that's a beautiful unmolested example.

 

[LostintheOzone]

The guy I bought it from had it issued brand new to him as he left to go overseas with the 3ID. I'm not 100% sure how, but he said it stayed with him until he sold it to me in the 80s. Came with two half-blue mags and an ammo pouch stenciled with his arty unit designation. It was still in the original blue, but the finish was pretty rough from 60-odd years of careless storage.

Stolen US property no doubt. My dad was 3ID in Italy, France and Germany. He said returning GI's had their property searched while on board ships returning to the US. He had a pistol but it was a 25 cal FN. His CO signed a personal property voucher. I have that document in my safe.

I read stories about these USGI bring backs all the time. The odds are it just didn't happen like the story line.

Not sure about WW1 but highly unlikely after WW2.

 

[Retired W4]

My RR/Colt/bin parts went through the rebuild. But then I didn't pay an arm and a leg for it.

That has to be one of the nicest ones I've ever seen.

Don't let Ivan get your goat. He's just jealous.

Stampings burnished through the finish in all the right places. It is a righteous piece. I've learned what to look for. The blued HS barrel is another place to look.

 

[SweetMK]

I read stories about these USGI bring backs all the time. The odds are it just didn't happen like the story line.

Not sure about WW1 but highly unlikely after WW2.

My dad was unable to serve in WWII,, due to health,,
but, a lot of his friends did,,

My brother was borne in 1936,,
many of the returning guys brought weapons back, but thought they were useless,,
so,,
they ended up GIVING them to my brother!!
He had several handguns, several rifles, and LOTS of knives of various sorts,,

Him and his friends played "ARMY" in the back yard with them,,
All of the weapons were left out in the yard to rust, eventually, my mother threw them all away.

I heard this story from a half-dozen of my brothers friends,,
as well as my dad's friends. (I was born in 1950,, I "missed out" on the fun!!)

 

[DixieRanger]

Fortunate to have a Remington Rand 1911 brought back WWII by Navy Captain. None of his grown children showed interest. Shows no wear. Given as a generous gift year before he passed.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Were any Remington Rand’s used in Korea?
One day up in N Korea A 1911 Smoke Stacked on my Buddy when he was making house calls.
It almost got him killed.
The Enemy soldier raised his Nagant, Milt raised his 1911.
Then he realized it was smokestacked.
He had just shot a guy in the house next door.
Then a gun fired.
He had never been shot. Just been in a couple of explosions.
He was thinking, am I shot?
The enemy soldier fell.
It was MSgt. George Crabtree who had touched off his M1 with the muzzle just below Milt’s right ear.
Milt’s Right Ear never worked that well after that.