1911 .45 with serial no 403444 questions

combatink · October 9, 2012, 10:04 AM

Hello and thanks for reading my post. So I finally got my hands on what I thought to be a genuine 1911 45. I've spent the last week trying to figure out what exactly I have here but no luck. the serial starts with the old "NO" with the O underscored. the slide says remington rand with syracuse ny usa on it. the left side of the lower assembly is stamped with united states proerty and there is a stamp over the left side magazine release with what appears to be a triangle over "S17". the slide is the rounded one with the early fixed sites and it has a "P" stamp in front of rear site. It has the original hand grips of brown plastic with the ring around the screws and has the checkered rear grip below the handle safety as well as a lanyard ring.the part of the lower where the barrel sits has a "c" stamp and "H" and "G" stamped by hammer. The barrel has a "P" stamp on the left side and a "F" stamp on right side. Thats it for what I can find for markings and this weapon is a totally new platform for me. Another thing that has me puzzeled is that the trigger, hammer and safety have a worn gold/brass look that I cant find any refference to. Any insight would be greatly appreciated by this old Soldier. Thanks for your time. Oh I have a bunch of pics but new and unsure how to add.

sgms · October 9, 2012, 11:06 AM

Can you post a few clear pictures? Would make it a lot easier.

polyphemus · October 9, 2012, 11:28 AM

No gold/brass accents on genuine Rands.Right over the sear pin on the right hand,what do you see?and on the left what do you see under the slide stop
and under the magazine release?and here's an often overlooked detail right under the lanyard loop,is it flat?by the way it is REMINGTON RAND INC.
I don't shoot mine I just admire it.1943 Pacific theater.

RickB · October 9, 2012, 12:56 PM

Sounds like a classic "parts gun", assembled from a WWI-vintage Colt frame and WWII-vintage Remington Rand slide.

combatink · October 9, 2012, 02:54 PM

So these are the pics I thought had the most chance of getting answered. Could the trigger and hammer and safety al have been an after market done to personalize the piece? The weapon is exceptionally tight and smooth through out function. By the apperance I assume someone enjoyed using it because some of the stamping is pretty worn. Thanks for all the insight so far. I'm trying to determine if I should be putting it away or just enjoy using it?

combatink · October 9, 2012, 02:58 PM

pic

RickB · October 9, 2012, 03:10 PM

Looks like cold blue over original rust! Someone wanted to add some bling to their "shooter" (as opposed to collectible), and gold-plated the small parts. There's no way to "restore" a mis-match, but if you want to make it look more like its wartime origins, you could have the current finish stripped, and refinish in parkerizing.

polyphemus · October 9, 2012, 03:41 PM

It's a shooter,take care of and learn from it.

Kreyzhorse · October 9, 2012, 03:50 PM

As pointed out, it's been reworked killing any collectible value it might have had at some oint. Go shoot it and enjoy.

laytonj1 · October 9, 2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Sounds like a classic "parts gun", assembled from a WWI-vintage Colt frame and WWII-vintage Remington Rand slide

After seeing the pictures, that's exactly what it is.
The SN on the frame dates it to 1918. While I can't make out the slide, if it's Remington Rand then 1943 to 1945.

Jim

combatink · October 9, 2012, 08:27 PM

Thanks much to all for the insight on this piece. I've definately enjoyed the learning that has come with this piece. I never had a clue so many variations of the weapon system existed or half the history. Thanks again

combatink · October 9, 2012, 08:36 PM

Back again, so this weapon has no magazine? where can I find the CORRECT magazine and how would I tell? I've been to the local gunshop but they're a bit clueless as I'm in the woods a bit. I've been told they make replacements but they don't function as well as a re-sprung original.

RickB · October 9, 2012, 09:28 PM

Correct for the slide, or correct for the frame? Just about all you could want to know about USGI 1911s is here: http://coolgunsite.com/pistols/Magazines.htm

polyphemus · October 9, 2012, 09:43 PM

Mr.combatink sir,the correct magazine for an M1911 is the GI type and for your
firearm any make should work,7 Rd Check Mate for example.The other two types are Wadcutter and Hybrid.Vintage magazines are not hard to find but for
your purpose it may not be worth the search Scovil and General Shaver are examples.Trial and error will eventually determine what works best there is a
great river of knowledge running through this forum and if you run into issues
you will no doubt find the right answers.

October 9, 2012, 10:04 AM	#1
combatink Junior Member Join Date: October 9, 2012 Location: Stow Maine Posts: 5	1911 .45 with serial no 403444 questions Hello and thanks for reading my post. So I finally got my hands on what I thought to be a genuine 1911 45. I've spent the last week trying to figure out what exactly I have here but no luck. the serial starts with the old "NO" with the O underscored. the slide says remington rand with syracuse ny usa on it. the left side of the lower assembly is stamped with united states proerty and there is a stamp over the left side magazine release with what appears to be a triangle over "S17". the slide is the rounded one with the early fixed sites and it has a "P" stamp in front of rear site. It has the original hand grips of brown plastic with the ring around the screws and has the checkered rear grip below the handle safety as well as a lanyard ring.the part of the lower where the barrel sits has a "c" stamp and "H" and "G" stamped by hammer. The barrel has a "P" stamp on the left side and a "F" stamp on right side. Thats it for what I can find for markings and this weapon is a totally new platform for me. Another thing that has me puzzeled is that the trigger, hammer and safety have a worn gold/brass look that I cant find any refference to. Any insight would be greatly appreciated by this old Soldier. Thanks for your time. Oh I have a bunch of pics but new and unsure how to add.

October 9, 2012, 03:50 PM	#9
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	As pointed out, it's been reworked killing any collectible value it might have had at some oint. Go shoot it and enjoy. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

October 9, 2012, 08:27 PM	#11
combatink Junior Member Join Date: October 9, 2012 Location: Stow Maine Posts: 5	questions answered Thanks much to all for the insight on this piece. I've definately enjoyed the learning that has come with this piece. I never had a clue so many variations of the weapon system existed or half the history. Thanks again

October 9, 2012, 08:36 PM	#12
combatink Junior Member Join Date: October 9, 2012 Location: Stow Maine Posts: 5	Magazine question Back again, so this weapon has no magazine? where can I find the CORRECT magazine and how would I tell? I've been to the local gunshop but they're a bit clueless as I'm in the woods a bit. I've been told they make replacements but they don't function as well as a re-sprung original.

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October 9, 2012, 11:06 AM	#2
sgms Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Location: Arizona or Ohio depending Posts: 1,021	Can you post a few clear pictures? Would make it a lot easier.

October 9, 2012, 11:28 AM	#3
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 1,055	No gold/brass accents on genuine Rands.Right over the sear pin on the right hand,what do you see?and on the left what do you see under the slide stop and under the magazine release?and here's an often overlooked detail right under the lanyard loop,is it flat?by the way it is REMINGTON RAND INC. I don't shoot mine I just admire it.1943 Pacific theater.

October 9, 2012, 12:56 PM	#4
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	Sounds like a classic "parts gun", assembled from a WWI-vintage Colt frame and WWII-vintage Remington Rand slide.

October 9, 2012, 03:10 PM	#7
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	Looks like cold blue over original rust! Someone wanted to add some bling to their "shooter" (as opposed to collectible), and gold-plated the small parts. There's no way to "restore" a mis-match, but if you want to make it look more like its wartime origins, you could have the current finish stripped, and refinish in parkerizing.

October 9, 2012, 03:41 PM	#8
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 1,055	It's a shooter,take care of and learn from it.

October 9, 2012, 09:28 PM	#13
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	Correct for the slide, or correct for the frame? Just about all you could want to know about USGI 1911s is here: http://coolgunsite.com/pistols/Magazines.htm

October 9, 2012, 09:43 PM	#14
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 1,055	Mr.combatink sir,the correct magazine for an M1911 is the GI type and for your firearm any make should work,7 Rd Check Mate for example.The other two types are Wadcutter and Hybrid.Vintage magazines are not hard to find but for your purpose it may not be worth the search Scovil and General Shaver are examples.Trial and error will eventually determine what works best there is a great river of knowledge running through this forum and if you run into issues you will no doubt find the right answers.