- How To Check Info On 1911 Remington Rand Serial Numbers Lookup
- How To Check Info On 1911 Remington Rand Serial Numbers Search
How To Check Info On 1911 Remington Rand Serial Numbers Lookup
The Story of the Remington Rand 1911A1
(Produced from 1942 to 1945)
(Click on Images for larger version)
Remington Rand was awarded its first order on March 16th, 1942, for a total of 125,000 1911A1 pistols. The company had no experience building pistols at the time it was awarded the contract. Remington Rand formed a new division (Remington Rand 'C' Division) to take charge of building the pistols. Remington Rand 'C' Division converted a vacant plant into a modern pistol manufacturing facility. The plant was located on Dickerson street in Syracuse, N.Y and was once used for building typewriters. Initially some manufacturing equipment was not available. This caused Remington Rand to acquire parts from other sources to complete the early pistols. They purchased barrels from High Standard, Colt, and Springfield Armory; Disconnectors from US&S; Grips safeties from Colt; and Slide stops from Colt and Springfield Armory (2,865 left over from WWI). Remington Rand 'C' Division inherited much of the documentation, tooling, and machinery that originally was used by The Singer Manufacturing Co. in their Educational Order. Consequently some of the parts of the early pistols were made using Singer supplied tooling and fixtures. Careful examination of Early Remington Rand pistols will reveal striking similarities in some of the parts to Singer made parts such as the triggers and mainspring housings. The first 255 production pistols where accepted by ordinance inspectors in November of 1942. By March of 1945 they where building the lowest price pistol in the war effort and quality was considered second to none. By the end of the war Remington Rand had produced over 875,000 pistols, almost as many as Colt (628,808) and Ithaca (335,467) combined. Reference Charles Clawsons “Colt .45 Service pistols”. Note: Since Remington Rand manufactured more 1911A1s then any other military contractor and the fact that the quality was considered second to none, it is not uncommon to find many Remington Rand receivers as the foundation to the National Match pistols used at the Camp Perry National Matches. Seen pictured at left is a 1964 National Match .45 pistol with a Drake slide. | ||
Remington Rand Slide Variations | ||
There are three slide variations in the Remington Rand series. Type 1 is the rarest and only found on 1942 and very early 1943 production, followed by the type 2 which was only used in 1943, and then the Type 3 used in 1943, 1944, and 1945. Only the type 1 slide stamp has 'New York' spelled out, Type 2 & 3 is abbreviated to 'N.Y.'. Click on images for larger version. | ||
Type 1 slide marking (AKA - New York slide as it is spelled out). Observed from 916405 to approximately 955000. | Type 2 slide marking (Notice how print runs the length of the slide stop). Observed from approximately 927000 to about 1015000. | Type 3 slide marking (smaller markings are shorter then the slide stop, unlike type 2). Observed from approximately 980000 to end of production. |
Common stamps found on a Remington Rand | ||
These are the markings you will find on a USGI Remington Rand. There could be other markings applied from arsenals, other inspectors or even field units, the three below are the required markings for the pistol to enter service. Arsenal and barrel marking details can be found in the 'ID Pages' section of the site. | ||
Proof mark, sizes may vary. But if more then one on a pistol they will be the same size. Slide and frame P marks will match. | Ordnance Inspectors mark of Col. Frank J. Atwood. Some pistols will have numbers or letters on the trigger guard, these are marks of factory inspectors. | Ordnance department inspectors stamp. |
Remington Rand Shipment Dates Serial Number Range | ||
Year | Serial Number Range | Quantity (Total Production 877,751) |
1942 | 916405-921699(1) | |
1943 | 921700-1041404(1) | 125,000 |
1943 | 1279699-1363699(2) | |
1944 | 1363700-1441430(2) | 161,732 |
1944 | 1471431-1609528 | 138,098 |
1944 | 1743847-1816641 | 72,795 |
1944 | 1890504-2031599(3) | |
1945 | 2031600-2075103(3) | 184,600 |
1945 | 2134404-2244803 | 110,400 |
1945 | 2380014-2465139 | 85,126 |
Note: (#) indicates same/single contract | ||
Remington Rand Parts | ||
Hammers | Thumb safeties | Slide stops |
Grips | Grip safeties | Barrels |
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How To Check Info On 1911 Remington Rand Serial Numbers Search
Rev 2.0 | Photos from the T. Moore Collection |