New Guy with a newly acquired 1943 Remington Rand

[RemingtonRand]

Thought I'd introduce myself to y'all and say I've been lurking on this site for a long time and decided to try and post. As per my name, I'd like to share a few photographs of a just acquired 1943 Remington Rand. I do love these old war handguns and it shows as my collection has grown over the years. I don't have the pristine examples of the handguns you fellows post here, but I do my part trying to preserve these historical pieces of our history.

So here goes:

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/RemingtonRand/RemingtonRand1911A1002.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/RemingtonRand/RemingtonRand1911A1001.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/RemingtonRand/RemingtonRand1911A1003.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/RemingtonRand/RemingtonRand1911A1005.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/RemingtonRand/RemingtonRand1911A1004.jpg

I know the pictures aren't that great, but I, like many of you, still like to gander over these M1911/1911A1's. I think this RR is a good example of these handguns that went to war, not perfect, but has operator wear detailed over the entire pistol.

[exitwounds]

Is the serial number in the 1.4m range?

[RemingtonRand]

Yes. The exact number is NO. 1415311. Does this have a way of determining when it was shipped as per month as I'm pretty sure it's an early 1943.

RR

[exitwounds]

Yes. The exact number is NO. 1415311. Does this have a way of determining when it was shipped as per month as I'm pretty sure it's an early 1943.

RR

Actually your Remington Rand is 1944 production, which includes from about serial number 1363700 - 1441430. :)

[RemingtonRand]

Thank you, Sir.

Nice to have knowledgeable people to knock words with. Another question. I noticed after detail stripping the RR that one grip panel is the older style and one has the newer reinforced screw holes. Which grip panel would be correct for this serial number and how do you suppose the swap was made -- company level armorer, factory during transaction period, or some other explanation?

It's not that big a deal, but would you try to match them up as a set?

Also, this one has a Colt wartime barrel -- could it be correct for this RR?


RR

[OD*]

You can find the correct stocks here

http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?cPath=201_262

Also, this one has a Colt wartime barrel -- could it be correct for this RR?
For an early model (some early ones had Springfield barrels), yours should have a "HS" (High Standard) or "F" (Flannery bolt). Is it an arsenal stamped rework?

[RemingtonRand]

No it's not stamped as a rework.

I suppose it's possible to have this as an original barrel, however, most likely swapped out somewhere in the field. The wear patterns say this barrel has been in this firearm a long time.

Thanks for the link, OD.


RR

[OD*]

Yep it's possible, it's also possible the barrel was previously used when put in the R&R, which would account for wear, without documentation, it's really hard to say.

[RemingtonRand]

Well, I've got a 1918 Colt that was reworked at AA and now sports WWII grips and a HS-P barrel. I suppose I could swap the HS barrel from the arsenaled Colt with the RemRd to make them both correct, but I hate changing history even if it would only be me knowing what happened.

The 1918 Colt would then have a correct Colt barrel (at least correct after going through AA - I doubt they cared what they shoved inside as long as it functioned) and the RR would have the proper HS barrel like the one it might (?) have shipped with in '44.

Thoughts, gentlemen?


RR

[OD*]

Well, I've got a 1918 Colt that was reworked at AA and now sports WWII grips and a HS-P barrel
Neat, what's it serial number?

[Doran]

If you believe the 1918 AA rwk is original it's best to leave it alone. Parts develop a wear pattern with each other and an original rwk is worth 1.5x - 2x as much as a parts pistol.

[RemingtonRand]

OD, it's 386114 a Colt 1911 AA rework...

Doran, I tend to agree, but might just have to make them both sort of 'right'. Thr rework, well, that barrel wasn't with it anyway as the original Colt was pulled. as for the RemRand, well, it had the barrel changed at some point without an arsenal stamping, so, in my book, I guess giving it the correct barrel would be no different than removing an aftermarket barrel after buying a correct one off of EBay...just my thoughts.


RR

[OD*]

Cool, we always need pictures.

[Joe v]

Hi,If you go to http://www.sightm1911Production.htmYou will find all the information you need regarding your Remington. This Remington was built in 1943 you were right about that.
Joe

[TattooPaul]

Hi RR - Nice warhorse! As you can see from the adjacent post I just got my first taste of vintage 1911 ownership. Maybe you could share some pics and info of some of the others you have... They don't need to be pristine to be of interest! Welcome to the forum too. As you can see there's a wealth of info to be had and some of these folks seem to know more than the books!

[RemingtonRand]

Thanks for the replies, Gentlemen. I'll certainly post some photos of my other war time handguns down the line. I have a couple nice ones, and some that range in the 60-70% range, guns that would certainly have a story to tell if I could just get them to talk.

This is a nice, honest Remington -- enough wear and dings to know she's seen a few things during her lifetime. Not messed with except to carry and train. I like my war guns like that -- they ooze character ;)

I don't have a deep enough wallet to buy some of the pristine examples that I see floating around at gun shows and on the net; but, you know, some of these I suspect as being secretly reworked in a basement somewhere -- some are too perfect and I'm not an expert enough to know the fakes from the fabulous examples so I'll leave that search to the more knowledgeable collectors and keep buying the ones I know are right.

I enjoy my war guns, but I also enjoy my Commercial colts, especially those dated pre - 1968. My favorites just might be the commercial Colts made between the big wars and early into WWII, especially the National Match pistols. I tend to loose interest in the Colt line once they started donning the collet bushing -- what a disaster, IMO.


RR

[exitwounds]

Hi,If you go to http://www.sightm1911Production.htmYou will find all the information you need regarding your Remington. This Remington was built in 1943 you were right about that.
Joe

Trust me that there is alot of flawed information in that serial number list they show (http://www.sightm1911.com). The pistol is a '44 period. ;)