The latest surge rolls on: Remington 1911A1 US Army NM

[mawkie]

-I sold a bunch of stuff recently and flush with funds decided to reinvest some of it in bucket list items. That's why you're seeing so much stuff from me (more to come!). This gem is part of that surge. Since getting the Abercrombie & Fitch 1911 holster I've been hunting for an early 1911 or Ace to fill it. It was while on that search that I ran across a GB listing for a 1968 1911A1 National Match that I bookmarked as worth verifying and watching. Pulled out my copy of Bill Jenkins reference on US Military Match pistols I was able to quickly ID it was genuine. Later, when bidding stalled around $1k I decided it was worth bidding on. I was shocked to get it for hundreds under my conservative max bid. Never thought I would get to add one of these to the collection.
-1968 was the last year that Rock Island Arsenal gunsmiths built 1911 National Match pistols. This example was built on a WW2 frame with a commercial Colt slide, Colt NM barrel, NM barrel bushing, AL long trigger with stop and Elliason rear sight. A ramped & serrated front sight blade was installed and the front grip strap was checkered. The slide hand fitted, tight as a tick. Trigger pull measures 65 oz.
-The frame is marked "RIA" on both sides. The left side of the slide is marked "NM7791435", the right side with Colt's name and address. The base of the Elliason sight is marked "US". The barrel carries a "NM 7791414" stamp. The finish is zinc parkerizing.
-The previous owner found and listed a snapshot of a US Army inventory listing for this pistol. It spent time with the NG in Illinois and then at Ft Knox. Would love to know more if anyone has access to info (hint, hint to the ever kind SmokeEaterPilot!).
-Totally an acquisition of chance but one of my favs. Looking forward to some range time with this one. Unlike the vast majority of my collection this one will be shot!

 

[teratos]

Beauty!

I have a 1967 NM.
Smooth as butter and a tack driver. Doesn’t have a label around the front of the triggger guard it came out of RIA with, but you can see the adhesive.

 

[dist1646]

Nice find! The Ft. Knox connection is interesting, I went to Knox for basic/AIT Armor. I have an old NM 1911A1 in my collection too. Yours is a bit better done though. Just happened to stumble into it many tears ago when talking to a collector friend and told him that I was looking for a shooter 1911. It looked ugly as sin but, it was cheap.

 

[somd_mustangs]

That's a really nice NM... Interesting that the sides of the slide look unpolished, e.g. still have light machining marks.

 

[RRomig]

Nice!

 

[mawkie]

Timing was right as my copy of Scott Meadows' reference book on US military pistols post WWI came and this SN falls into the block assigned to Remington.

 

[teratos]

That's a really nice NM... Interesting that the sides of the slide look unpolished, e.g. still have light machining marks.

Mine is ‘67. Sides of the slide are unpolished. For comparison:

 

[calicojack]

Love these threads.

 

[mawkie]

Finally got the chance to do some reading in Scott's book and narrowed the frame date to Dec. '43.