Remington Rand - Now this is just wrong :(

[garrettwc]

Why would someone do something like this?

http://nas4.atlanta.gbhinc.com/GB/050017000/50017383/pix1272899375.jpg

Saw it for sale at Gunbroker.com

[1911Tuner]

AARRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!

Wait...Is it pure Rand or is it an IthacaRand?

No matter. That's just wrong!

[John]

That's an awful thing to do, even on a Charles Daly. Oh sucks, I forgot, that's how the CD come from the factory! Who did that??!

[Joni Lynn]

I saw an older Hi Power with an adjustable rear sight riveted on. Yuk!!!!!

[Hersh]

The purist in me believes that some things should just not be altered. Obviously not all folks have that same outlook. Truly sad.

Hersh

[BWa]

Well it could be worst .....like Rusty....at least this can be saved and made in to a shooter with a good re-parkerize job .. I had one very much like it from an estate sale that a friend made in to a shooter very happy with it ...besides it beats going to a gun buy back and cut up for scrap...JMHO

[exitwounds]

Buy it for what it is if you like it, but to invest in a refinish to restore it to what it was will not make it any better. For the investment you can/could find an all original pistol with 80% or so finish for likely the same overall cost if your simply looking for a shooter. As the all original pistols fade away over time the truly original ones will likely retain more value than the altered or refinished ones to the die hard collector, IMO.

[garrettwc]

And the thing about it is all those add on gee gaws aren't even from "name" vendors. Close up pictures of them reveal them to be cheaply made gun show knock offs.

Exitwounds, you are of course correct. I have no intention of buying it. I was just browsing GI guns and ran across that. There were a couple of 80% Rands on there in original condition that were much less than this one.

[bgiven]

.....obviously a product of inbreeding..... :nono:

[Old Trooper]

This is why! I am in Iraq. Needed a quality, reliable, weapon in the worst possible way. Only reasonably priced one that I could find was a arms room stock M1911-A1. This weapon needed some attention (See Before Picture). I had a choice, carry an original M1911A1 with severe issues or re-build it to a reliable functional weapon that I could stake my life on. Guess which one I chose? The sad thing is that this weapon is considered a "war trophy" and I will probably end up "feeding the lake" upon departure! :( When I acquired this weapon, it was one of four within 1,000 in SN# of each other and was told it was not very popular since ammunition was hard to find. Asking the price? I was told $350.... for all four!

I thank the folks at Brownell's for their assistance in this project! Only remaining original parts are the frame and grip bushings(See After Picture). Has been 100% reliable through 1,000+ rounds and shoots 1 1/2" groups at 25M.

I would be the first one to cringe when modifying an original M1911A1, but I would hate even more becoming a CNN moment because I did not!

Before:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g89/Old_Trooper/Before.jpg

After:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g89/Old_Trooper/After1.jpg

[John]

Hey Old Trooper, can you please tell me what you did, when you entered this post? I received a database error, which doesn't make much sense. Did you try to save the post as a draft first? Did you get any error message yourself?

As for posting pictures, read this (http://forum.m1911.org/faq.php?faq=a_few_words#faq_postingpictures)

[Old Trooper]

Yes i tried to save it first (so I could figure out pictures) then got an error. Decided to submit without pictures and figure it out later. Everything seemed to work then.

[garrettwc]

Welcome to the forum Old Trooper, and thanks for your service.

I think we would all agree that your situation is probably a bit different than the one from the image I posted. Improvise and overcome, right? Too bad you and so many others have had to "feed the lake".

Hope you get the image thing figured out. I would like to see the pics.

In the meantime, keep low and watch your six.

[Joni Lynn]

Is the safety the one Colt used to use or the other one? (Muesche?)

[Joni Lynn]

If you end up feeding the lake with it, can you strip it of parts first?

[Old Trooper]

Yes the safety is the same as the one Colt used to use (sold by Brownells as the "Muesche"). I originally had a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips on it and an extended safety does not work unless modified. My gunsmithing tools are 8 time zones away so I went for simple! Believe me! It will be a stripped frame that goes swimming!

[Joni Lynn]

Glad that's going to work that way, it's a shame to have to scrap a frame, but better than the entire firearm. I like the safety, it's what I have on my series 80.

[garrettwc]

Trooper what kind of issues did you discover when you started out with the Rand? I can't see anything cosmetic in the "before" picture other than tiny sights.

Also, tell me more about the thumb safety setup in the "after". I've never seen an ambi cut like a standard mil-spec. Did you do that or did the Muensche come that way? [edited because I posted before I read Joni's comments]

[Old Trooper]

The springs were shot, magazine was worn out, slide / frame fit was way too loose, half cock notch broken out in hammer, sear severely chipped (half gone!), disconnector didn't, barrel pitted, breech face pitted severely, trigger worn severly where it contacts the sear, slide stop worn to the point it would not hold slide open, plunger tube dented / loose and the sights were way beyond my 53 year old eyes! Weapon had been re-built in Anniston in 6/75 and had been provided to the Iraqi army in 1985 during the Iran / Iraq war.

[Old Trooper]

Regarding the safety. This is a standard size safety on both sides (my preferance). This is the way it came from Brownells, no modifications. They also make the same style safety in the "extended" versions. It is a good positive safety that is very reasonable for holstering / concealment and operation. It also does not require a cut out in the right grip panel. Been using this style on all my M1911's since the mid-80's with no problems

[Joni Lynn]

I like that safety better than the others, I may even switch some of my other guns over to that one.

[garrettwc]

Trooper, that sounds pretty far gone all right.

Joni, I'm with you. I kinda like the looks of that safety much better than the "dual surfboards". It would make a good "old school" gun. That safety, a Yost-Bonitz retro rear sight, some Herrett grips.

Oh man, there go the wheels turnin' again. :p

[Conrad Berry]

This is why! I am in Iraq. Needed a quality, reliable, weapon in the worst possible way. Only reasonably priced one that I could find was a arms room stock M1911-A1. This weapon needed some attention (See Before Picture). I had a choice, carry an original M1911A1 with severe issues or re-build it to a reliable functional weapon that I could stake my life on. Guess which one I chose? The sad thing is that this weapon is considered a "war trophy" and I will probably end up "feeding the lake" upon departure! :( When I acquired this weapon, it was one of four within 1,000 in SN# of each other and was told it was not very popular since ammunition was hard to find. Asking the price? I was told $350.... for all four!

I thank the folks at Brownell's for their assistance in this project! Only remaining original parts are the frame and grip bushings(See After Picture). Has been 100% reliable through 1,000+ rounds and shoots 1 1/2" groups at 25M.

I would be the first one to cringe when modifying an original M1911A1, but I would hate even more becoming a CNN moment because I did not!

Before:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g89/Old_Trooper/Before.jpg

After:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g89/Old_Trooper/After1.jpg
I don't usually brag about our work, but when Old Trooper contacted www.GunGrips.net, we were pleased to take the job of adding the custom artwork to the grips he sent us. We are equally proud that he took the time to show the gun with our work shown so clearly. By the way, that "crack" is not as it appears. It's part of the material and just looks like a crack.

[ttpete]

In the early '60s, the DCM price for a .45 was $17.00. Hindsight is 20/20.........

[terrelljm28]

Trooper,


Glad to see you were able to locate a 1911 over in the sandbox, I looked but couldnt get one while working PSD I got stuck with a Glock 17 and needed more stopping power than 17 rounds of 9mm were giving me. The weapons caches I ran across as a Marine we werent allowed to touch. To bad you have to put it in the lake. What are you carrying for a rifle/carbine on the PSD side I carried an AK plus that boat anchor M4. Good work and love them grips, I will have to get some made up with that Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

T Rex

[exitwounds]

Only reasonably priced one that I could find was a arms room stock M1911-A1. This weapon needed some attention (See Before Picture). I had a choice, carry an original M1911A1 with severe issues or re-build it to a reliable functional weapon that I could stake my life on.

At some point prior to your modification that "arms room stock M1911-A1" was refinished anyway. The rebuild marks indicate it was rebuilt at Anniston Army Depot in June 1975, during that refurbishment the pistol would have been parkerized, not blued, therefore it has been refinished since that time. Your modifications did not hurt it any since it was a refinished shooter anyway. Nice job on the pistol. Good luck and be safe. ;)

[Old Trooper]

Don't know where the re-finish job occured. Interesting thing is that, as best as I can determine, this one was officially listed as "lost" in Southeast Asia (Vietnam) in April 1975. Makes you wonder how it got through Anniston in June of 75 and subsequently provided to the Iraqis in the early 80's. Remember we only provided "dual use" equipment to the Iraqis (right).

[Johnny Peppers]

Old Trooper,
Where did you find the additional information on Colt No.951640? The only thing I found in SRS was this notation.

951640 - - 102947 - CANADA -

[Old Trooper]

From a friend in a position to discretely check records.