The rarest Model 1911 pistols ever made...

[PALADIN85020]

No, although the Singer Sewing Machine Company made only 500 M1911A1 pistols during WWII (and they are incredibly expensive when found today), they are still not the rarest.

During the World War I period, the U.S. government placed a contract with North American Arms Co. Ltd. in Quebec, Canada to produce Model 1911 pistols. None were apparently delivered, and it's believed only about 100 were produced. This is perhaps the rarest 1911 pistol of all the variations.

Thought you'd like to see one - and you'd be very lucky indeed to actually find one for sale. Of course, you'd hope that the owner would not know that he had a gold mine!

John


(click for larger picture)

 

[moosedog]

Very interesting, I was not aware of that.
I wonder how many were chromed or turned into Bullseye guns?

 

[rockquarry]

I've only seen one North American and it was at a Dallas gun show at least thirty years ago. Asking price was $10,000; don't know whether it sold or not. I can't imagine what these guns would bring now.

 

[Sevens]

There is a gentleman that shows one at OGCA. I have seen it. He doesn’t have a price on it, it really is there to be shown and talked about. I’m sure that he would sell it, but I have no idea what kind of money it would require to get it.

I should add that it’s been more than a year since I have seen it — but this isn’t to say that it won’t be there at the next show or that it hasn’t been there at every show, I’m simply saying that I haven’t looked for it or noticed. I tend to keep moving past tables loaded with guns of this vintage. Sure, I like them, but these are not what I’m chasing, so I tend to keep moving.

If I see it again, I think I’ll ask him a bit about it so I can share it here.

PALLADIN85020... is the one you show in your picture in your collection?

 

[Hill536]

Interesting pistol and I have one question! In looking closely at its finish does yours have the appearance of being “copper clad” at some point prior to its being blued? On the two I’ve examined they seem to give off that appearance.

My buddy has a numbered pistol really close to yours. Yours appears to be “84, can’t really tell .... the photo isn’t the best.

Nice firearm and enjoyed your write up.

/K

 

[krsmith58]

Singer

i came that close to getting one made by Singer. my friend's wife whose father had passed. i couldn't do it. they had no idea. couldn't help myself so i told her. her brother decided to keep it. krs/kenny

 

[outta_ammo]

I've seen 4 go on GB and RIA. Low was $15,025, high was $74,750, and median is $41,250.

 

[6518John]

Aren’t the Singer’s way higher than that?

 

[PALADIN85020]

To answer some questions -

First, this gun is NOT in my collection. I definitely could not afford it!

The number on the left rear of the slide is 34.

It's the same pistol as shown here with other views. On closer examination, it appears to have conventional bluing.

I don't have a clue what these would be worth today. I think "A lot" would cover the ground, though!

John

 

[Sevens]

Aren’t the Singer’s way higher than that?

The Singer is indeed worth more... based on the numbers posted, significantly more.

The difference is that this one was never Govt Issued and the Singer was.

 

[6518John]

Sevens—Thanks. I did not think had imagined that. I was thinking a Singer had bumped up to 7 figures, but I may be thinking of a Colt Walker that sold recently.

 

[Hill536]

Thanks for your reply. Interesting pistol!

 

[quikdraw67]

IIRC the US Army Air Force got the Singer manufactured M1911A1's

I also remember reading that there are more fake Singers out there than the genuine article.

 

[outta_ammo]

Aren’t the Singer’s way higher than that?

I've recorded 3 Singers with a low of $14,976, high of $95,393, and median of $55,186.

 

[Protocall_Design]

These are pretty rare...

https://www.armoryblog.com/firearms/hand-guns/arsenal-double-barrel-1911/

 

[Peak53]

OK - I'm saddling the steed, sharpening the lance, and venturing out on the quest. Will let the bank know later

Wow!

 

[Sevens]

Sevens—Thanks. I did not think had imagined that. I was thinking a Singer had bumped up to 7 figures, but I may be thinking of a Colt Walker that sold recently.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...st-condition-us-singer-manufacturing-co-model
December 2017, $414,000!

You definitely did not imagine it.

I’ve seen two others go on Gunbroker, both over $75k if I recall.

 

[gregintenn]

Ain't many Remington UMC 1911's either. I've no idea how many were produced.

 

[sodacan]

The last Singer I saw at RIA went for $414K, plus the buyers premium, in 2017.

 

[hkcavalier]

Firearms News did an article about some 1911s that were sold to China in the 1920s or 1930s during the warlord years. IIRC none have ever been recovered or sold back into the American market. Perhaps there's a few in boxes tucked away in quiet Chinese villages...

EDIT: Not the Shanghai Police ones, these are pretty well documented.