I'm not sure if one may accurately call this a true "rescue", though yesterday I pulled this little number out of the consignment case of my LGS. A quick serial number search confirmed the receiver is from a 1945 Remington-Rand 1911A1 in the final serial number block. Most of the parts are strictly USGI and correct for this pistol. Modifications include the addition of a Bo-Mar low mount rear sight w/ a S&W type red ramp front (insert missing), a beavertail grip safety and an extended thumb safety. The magazine well has also been beveled. Judging from the configuration, I'm assuming this work was performed in the early to mid 1980's. I'm in the process of giving it a minor facelift while maintaining the retro flair. I've ordered new springs, an adjustable "short" trigger and a checkered mag catch from Ed Brown. I'm going to have my smith braze on a new front sight as well as fit a WW II vintage GI thumb safety. I have a brand new set of VZ Tactical Diamonds G-10 grips in Military Brown color though I may opt for a set of GI originals. Attached is a "before" photo. I'll post an update once the work is completed. Thanks for looking!

Before


After

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hjs157,

depending on what if any trigger work has already been done, the WW2 style safety should drop in (as in no fitting required)

Very cool find! While maybe not particularly collectible, that's a cool piece of usable history. It's got some pedigree, but you don't have to be afraid that tinkering with it or shooting it will ruin it's collector value, so you actually get to enjoy it. Some of those modifications I actually like, too, like the beaver tail grip safety (standard GI config tends to bite me pretty badly) and the upgraded sights. I'm not saying I'd do that to a clean example of a '45 Remington Rand, but what's done is done, and provided you were able to pick it up for a price commiserate with its condition, I'd say you did good!

It'll be fun fixing up the old gun. I kinda like those Old School hardball type guns myself.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I'm not saying I'd do that to a clean example of a '45 Remington Rand, but what's done is done, and provided you were able to pick it up for a price commiserate with its condition, I'd say you did good!

Indeed. Modifying an otherwise unmolested WW II 1911A1 is nearly unthinkable. Today with many 1911A1's priced in the collector realm, it is difficult to envision an era when they were simply inexpensive surplus pistols. I recall an old time shop owner once telling me he sold a number of them in the 1960's for $35 a piece! I'm invested in this one at $799 + tax and background check. A short visit to the range however revealed a tendency for the hammer follow the slide to the intercept notch (half cock). Other than this, the pistol functioned flawlessly with the limited rounds I had sent downrange before discontinuing my fire. I'm planning a visit to my gunsmith tomorrow to discuss build options.

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I'm not saying I'd do that to a clean example of a '45 Remington Rand, but what's done is done, and provided you were able to pick it up for a price commiserate with its condition, I'd say you did good!

Indeed. Modifying an otherwise unmolested WW II 1911A1 is nearly unthinkable. Today with many 1911A1's priced in the collector realm, it is difficult to envision an era when they were simply inexpensive surplus pistols. I recall an old time shop owner once telling me he sold a number of them in the 1960's for $35 a piece! I'm invested in this one at $799 + tax and background check. A short visit to the range however revealed a tendency for the hammer follow the slide to the intercept notch (half cock). Other than this, the pistol functioned flawlessly with the limited rounds I had sent downrange before discontinuing my fire. I'm planning a visit to my gunsmith tomorrow to discuss build options.

When I was little kid in the early 80's I rememeber walking into the local hardware store that sold everything from fishing tackle to guns in Burnesville, NC and seeing M1 garands all piled up/sticking out of a 55 gallon wooden barrel with no lid, with a big $35 each sign on the barrel. Who knew......

Yeah, the fact that those milsurps used to be so cheap that people didn't think twice about hacking on them still boggles my mind.

I look forward to seeing what you do with it, hjs. I've got a '43 Remington-Rand in what I suspect is mostly original condition, and have occasionally thought about picking up one that's been Bubba'd for a shooter. It's your gun, but if it were mine, I'd be highly tempted to put USGI parts back on it where I could, and then have it reparkerized. Obviously the sights are a pretty permanent modification, but that was the real weak spot on the originals anyways. The magwell beveling wouldn't bug me. Did they flare and lower the ejection port as well?

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
. . . I'd be highly tempted to put USGI parts back on it where I could, and then have it reparkerized. Obviously the sights are a pretty permanent modification, but that was the real weak spot on the originals anyways. The magwell beveling wouldn't bug me. Did they flare and lower the ejection port as well?

My initial thought also was to return it as much as possible to the original GI configuration. Unfortunately, I've since discovered more of the receiver tang was removed than I realized. Surprisingly, the ejection port was not cut. My plan now is to have my gunsmith rebuild the pistol in its current hardball configuration. I've ordered new springs and internals from Ed Brown which will give him a new palette on which to perform his sear & trigger magic. A new parkerized finish and grips will complete the project. I'll be sure to update as the work progresses.

Well, it's a bit of a shame about the receiver tang, but in the end, the beavertail is more functional. Your plan makes sense and I look forward to the "after" pics.

That's too bad about the hammer follow, but since you're replacing the internals anyway, that shouldn't be an issue. I'm looking forward to seeing pics as your project progresses!

I've had a couple just like that and both had the hammer follow, allegedly because of the too light trigger pull. Target shooters in the 60s to the early 80s didn't care as they only closed the slide (without holding it with their off hand) on a loaded mag and the hammer didn't follow then (in other words, they never dropped the slide on an empty gun allowing it to slam forward). Don't know if, over time, the hammer would start to follow or not.

With both of mine, I had the trigger fixed by the shop's gunsmith and it never happened again. Trigger was a bit heavier, but the guns all shot great. I moved on to the Gold Cups, then the big name 'Smith's guns.

Then suddenly there was this IPSC thing and Bullseye was a thing of the past, at least for me.

Bob

I just retrieved my Remington-Rand project pistol from the gunsmith. He gave the pistol a complete overhaul and machined the slide for a modern dovetail front sight. I've complimented the original worn parkerized finish with a set of USGI late-war Keyes grips. Non G.I. replacement parts from Ed Brown include:

•Barrel & bushing
•Firing pin
•Extractor
•Trigger
•Sear
•Disconnector
•Thumb safety
•Mag release
•Pin & spring kit

An after photo appears above in my OP.

Very nice, I like the way it turned out. Classy nostalgia, but practical and functional.