1943 Remington Rand M1911A1 US Army
- Thread starter us.marine
- Start date
All of the 1911A1s in my arms room @ the 221st Signal Co. in Long Bihn VN looked like that...well, maybe not quite as nice and all the barrels were badly pitted. there were Ithacas, Singers and Remington Rands oh my. Anyway does yours have the original barrel and what does it look like?
Barrel
I do have the original High Standard barrel, but when I bought the pistol, it had a Springfield barrel. Both have nice, bright bores.
In addition to those two, I found some new, un-issued Army Pistol Team barrels from the 80's (they are basically black USGI match barrels), and that is what I usually keep on the pistol when I carry it and when I shoot it. When the gun its in the safe or I take it to a vintage surplus meeting, I put the original barrel back in.
I love the pistol so much that I carry it more than my modern 1911's. I don't shoot it very often, maybe 50 rounds every 3 or 4 months. I have a source for ww2 military surplus 1911 parts that helps me keep the gun in top notch working condition.
I do have the original High Standard barrel, but when I bought the pistol, it had a Springfield barrel. Both have nice, bright bores.
In addition to those two, I found some new, un-issued Army Pistol Team barrels from the 80's (they are basically black USGI match barrels), and that is what I usually keep on the pistol when I carry it and when I shoot it. When the gun its in the safe or I take it to a vintage surplus meeting, I put the original barrel back in.
I love the pistol so much that I carry it more than my modern 1911's. I don't shoot it very often, maybe 50 rounds every 3 or 4 months. I have a source for ww2 military surplus 1911 parts that helps me keep the gun in top notch working condition.
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A friend was in State Dept. security, guarding Karzai. He rejected more modern guns in favor of a 1943 Remington-Rand M1911A1. He said it worked - every time.
I have not seen him for a while to ask what he thinks of the current State Department orders for its security people to retreat and not engage terrorists because it might offend someone.
Jim
I have not seen him for a while to ask what he thinks of the current State Department orders for its security people to retreat and not engage terrorists because it might offend someone.
Jim
Routine Overhaul
I was feeling that my gun needed a spring overhaul, so yesterday I received a complete set of USGI springs and a new un-issued firing pin. Replaced everything with no problems at all.
Most of the parts were still covered in Cosmoline, I made sure to keep the Remington Rand plunger spring package. Just want to make sure that the pistol stays in good working order because, to be honest, I carry it more that my other guns.
I was feeling that my gun needed a spring overhaul, so yesterday I received a complete set of USGI springs and a new un-issued firing pin. Replaced everything with no problems at all.
Most of the parts were still covered in Cosmoline, I made sure to keep the Remington Rand plunger spring package. Just want to make sure that the pistol stays in good working order because, to be honest, I carry it more that my other guns.
A Little story to ruin your day.
An elderly friend of mine who is in his mid 80's has been collection fire arms since the late 1940's.
Well the story he told me is that the NRA in the early 60's had some kinda sale going on to purchase WW2 fire arms, and he bought for $12.50 a 45ACP still wraped up in the oil paper. What he recieve was a nice Remington Rand 45ACP.
The heart breaker is he took an electro pencil and engraved his name and telephone number on the slide. I have seen and shot this gun, it shots like a dream but hat engraving is sooooooooooooo fugly. OUCH !
An elderly friend of mine who is in his mid 80's has been collection fire arms since the late 1940's.
Well the story he told me is that the NRA in the early 60's had some kinda sale going on to purchase WW2 fire arms, and he bought for $12.50 a 45ACP still wraped up in the oil paper. What he recieve was a nice Remington Rand 45ACP.
The heart breaker is he took an electro pencil and engraved his name and telephone number on the slide. I have seen and shot this gun, it shots like a dream but hat engraving is sooooooooooooo fugly. OUCH !
Oh man! That is a shame!!! I know a guy that bought a lot of m1911a1's like that. he built most of them into match guns, it was the common thing to do. But he also kept several in original condition. I have been trying to convince him to sell me one for the past year. He wont budge!
I am willing to make a small wager that, if nothing has been messed with, the old R-R doesn't need any new springs or kits or anything else. Those guns were built to rigid specifications, enforced by hard nose government inspectors, and they did it right. Too many of today's makers seem to turn out trash and make little effort to get things right until someone complains.
Jim
Jim
New Springs
Well, I completely agree with you on the low standards of today's manufacturers.
While the US issued 1911's were well made and reliable, I prefer to make sure my gun has good springs and pins at all times, along with inspecting for cracks on all parts. First because of my personal safety, second for the gun itself. Its an antique piece that I also carry on a regular basis, and I shoot it, not often, but I still do.
These guns have age, and they are known to show stress cracks if not properly maintained or by shooting the wrong kind of ammo. For example, I have seen vintage military 1911 frames crack because of a weak recoil spring that allowed the slide to hit the frame (recoil spring guide in between) harder than it was intended to. Metallurgy in those days was not as advanced as it is in the present day.
I also make sure that I get all my parts from a reputable source that can provide genuine military issue parts for my gun. No aftermarket crap on my baby.
Better safe than sorry.
Well, I completely agree with you on the low standards of today's manufacturers.
While the US issued 1911's were well made and reliable, I prefer to make sure my gun has good springs and pins at all times, along with inspecting for cracks on all parts. First because of my personal safety, second for the gun itself. Its an antique piece that I also carry on a regular basis, and I shoot it, not often, but I still do.
These guns have age, and they are known to show stress cracks if not properly maintained or by shooting the wrong kind of ammo. For example, I have seen vintage military 1911 frames crack because of a weak recoil spring that allowed the slide to hit the frame (recoil spring guide in between) harder than it was intended to. Metallurgy in those days was not as advanced as it is in the present day.
I also make sure that I get all my parts from a reputable source that can provide genuine military issue parts for my gun. No aftermarket crap on my baby.
Better safe than sorry.
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Beautiful R-R, us marine
I have a 'US property' 1911, Colt, 1918 production. It had been made into a target pistol so I swapped in the correct rear sight, but there is a larger, target front sight which is nicely installed, there was some light machining to install it. It made the pistol affordable and no matter what- it's an original Colt 1911. And it works like new.
I have a 'US property' 1911, Colt, 1918 production. It had been made into a target pistol so I swapped in the correct rear sight, but there is a larger, target front sight which is nicely installed, there was some light machining to install it. It made the pistol affordable and no matter what- it's an original Colt 1911. And it works like new.
