Springfield/NRA M1911

[mhb]

I'd appreciate any guidance anyone can give as to more specific information concerning the NRA sales pistols. I am aware (in general) of the production facts on the SA 1911 pistols, but have never seen a good reference on the NRA-marked guns. I've acquired an SA 1911 in the 125xxx range, complete, correct and with about 80% original finish remaining.
What I'd like to learn is: how many pistols were sold to NRA members and marked 'N.R.A.', and what might be the value of the pistol as described?
Are there any good, available refences on these issues? Do the original sales records exist? Anything else I should know?
Thanks;
mhb - Mike

[Duane Hansen]

There were 95 Springfield and 47 Colt 1911s that were marked with the N.R.A. designation that were sold from 1914 to 1917 and then again resumed after WWI until about 1922. There are way more fakes out there than the real deal so beware. Show us some close up pictures of yours so that we can better help you with value and authenticity.

[mhb]

Thank you! That is exactly the sort of information I was hoping for. As to photos... I'm pretty much unequipped both as to hardware and know-how for posting any pictures - maybe I can draft one of my fellow laborers here in the mine to help - I'll see what can be done. Meanwhile, your help is appreciated!
FWIW, I've handled and inspected two or three other NRA sales 1911 pistols over the last few decades which I'm confident were correct, and this one certainly looks right...
mhb - Mike

[Johnny Peppers]

As far as I know there are no records of the actual number of 1911 pistols sold to N.R.A. members through the DCM prior to WWI. There are several lists of the N.R.A. marked 1911's that collector's have observed over the years, but to the best of my knowledge no actual sales number is known.
At the same time an N.R.A. member could order the Model 1903 service rifle, and no records exist of these sales. Following WWI the rifles were made available again, and beginning in 1921 records of the rifle sales were kept up until WWII.

[Duane Hansen]

JP is right, the numbers I spoke of were known legitimate NRA marked examples presently known to exist today according to Clawson. The cost at that time was $16.04 including shipping. Sorry for any confusion I have caused.

[bgiven]

Mike,

Welcome to the Fourm.

Hopefully Scott will be by soon to post a picture of his truly oustanding example of a Springfield M1911 NRA. I hazard to guess it is probably the best remaining example.

[Scott Gahimer]

JP is right, the numbers I spoke of were known legitimate NRA marked examples presently known to exist today according to Clawson. The cost at that time was $16.04 including shipping. Sorry for any confusion I have caused.

The only qualification I'd make here is that Mr. Clawson has not seen or examined all the N.R.A. pistols on the list he has. They have been reported through the years by various collectors, both experienced and some not so experiienced. So...

Therefore, the list simply shows those reported. One might assume they are believed to possibly be legitimate (or Mr. Clawson wouldn't have listed them), but all the pistols are not known to be legitimate. Mr. Clawson usually is pretty specific with the wording or footnotes that accompany such lists.

http://forum.m1911.org/showpost.php?p=601283&postcount=3

[mhb]

Thank you for the welcome, additional information, and clarification. J.P., at least, might recognize my nom-de-guerre from other fora we both participate in.
As I said, I've examined only a few N.R.A. sales pistols over the years, and never owned one until most recently: thus my interest in that 1911 variant which brought me here. I did own a 1903 N.R.A sales rifle (an RIA of 1913 vintage), but passed it on years ago (it was badly neglected when I got it).
I had suspected that there might not be much hard information on these guns, and appreciate your confirmation of that much, and guidance on what is known.
I doubt that my pistol has ever been recorded in any existing data base: it having been in private hands (according to the story and provenance I got with it), and having belonged to a WW2 U.S. Army Artillery officer who directed Naval gunfire from the beach on D-Day. If it would help, I will give the serial number of the pistol: 125567. I've examined the pistol thoroughly, and it is, as I said, all correct, so far as I can tell (except the magazine, which, while having a lanyard ring and being two-tone, is not of the folded-base variety illustrated elsewhere in this forum). It shows the expected (and comparable) wear in the proper places, and there only: front of grip, safety and mainspring housing, and very slight holster wear at the muzzle and other contact points. While it is difficult for a non-expert on such matters (me) to quantify remaining original finish, I'd put this specimen as 70-80%. FWIW, I have had access to one other specimen of Springfield/NRA 1911 in the last two or three years, one which was brought into the shop for evaluation. That pistol was a family gun - and in 98% condition, (no foolin'!), but the owner didn't want to sell it (insert censored language here!).
As I can't find any value guidance on these guns, per-se, can you provide any help on proper added value for the N.R.A. sales guns, assuming the pistol to be a correct as-described SA 1911 otherwise?
Thanks;
mhb - Mike

[Duane Hansen]

Was it common for a pistol, in this case sold through the NRA into civilian hands around the WWI era, to be back in Military hands in WWII? Just seems a little strange, at least by todays standards. Maybe this was common practice back then, I just don't know.

[mhb]

It probably wasn't actually back in the military inventory. The WW2 owner referred to in the letter and story which came with the pistol was an officer, and very likely carried his own weapon, having acquired it privately, as did many others. He was born in 1909, and it may have been a family gun when he entered the service.
If it were possible to determine who the original owner was, the mystery might be solved. Does anyone have access to the Springfield Research data base?
mhb - Mike