M1911 Pistol Arsenal Refurbs

[collector]

Here is an example of a Mt Rainier refurb.

Mount Rainier ordnance depot was in operation from 1942-1963.

​photos courtesy of Johan Willaert.

 

 

[memphismeister]

Mine is a 1943 Remington Rand that at some point went through Rock Island Arsenal. The interesting thing about this pistol is that it still retains the original finish and the correct parts configuration for the year of manufacture, so most likely it was inspected instead of rebuilt. Pistols were stamped for both inspections and rebuilds, so unmolested original pistols that exhibit arsenal stamps are still seen from time to time.

 

Nice Piece, However the main spring has been replaced in yours

[usmc3439]

 

Nice Piece, However the main spring has been replaced in yours

 

What makes you believe that the mainspring housing has been replaced by seeing a picture from the side that obviously does not exhibit the checkering pattern?

[1srelluc]

Two Augusta Arsenal refurbs.

 

 

M1911

 

1914 Colt frame.

1918 - 1926 Colt slide.

High Standard barrel. (Parked)

 

M1911A1

 

'43 Colt frame.

Remington-Rand slide.

Blued Flannery barrel.

 

 

 

[kfields]

Here is one of my reworks that ran thru RIA sometime between 1942 - 1946.

 

[kfields]

Some closeup pictures:

 

[everforward]

Colt 1911, #554625, AA Refurb. Sold thru the NRA via the Anniston Army Depot, Dec. 1961.

[WWIIBuff1945]

Here is my Colt 1911 RIA rebuild.

[WWIIBuff1945]

[WWIIBuff1945]

[Irish Rob]

AA rebuild Colt lower and Springfield (Savage) slide, from the recent CMP program. (My aftermarket grips, came with Keyes grips).

 

 

[Navybean]

Colt 1911A1 #1,680,000 range RIA Refurb. Sold thru the NRA via the Anniston Army Depot, Dec. 1961 with box.

Frame is a nice Colt and the slide is a Ithaca. The box has the serial number matching the Colt frame but the box calls the weapon a "Ithaca" maker to match maker on the slide.

Inspector is GHD

 

 

[Navybean]

a few more pictures showing more of the box and the inspectors mark. RIA (Rock Island Arsenal) marking is on the Serial number side of the M1911A1 frame which is a bit different from the location of the Augusta Arsenal (AA) marks.

[collector]

Colt 1911A1 #1,680,000 range RIA Refurb. Sold thru the NRA via the Anniston Army Depot, Dec. 1961 with box.

Frame is a nice Colt and the slide is a Ithaca. The box has the serial number matching the Colt frame but the box calls the weapon a "Ithaca" maker to match maker on the slide.

Inspector is GHD

 

 

 

Navybean, my Remington UMC was labeled as a Colt due to the slide as well.

Even though it is a refurb, they would have wanted more for it because of the relative scarcity of pistols by that maker.

Good lesson for those of us who are into the 1911/1911A1s, maybe get a better deal, but I suppose it could work both ways.

[MWalsh]

AA rebuild Colt lower and Springfield (Savage) slide, from the recent CMP program. (My aftermarket grips, came with Keyes grips).

 

 

 

What grade was this one from the CMP?

[Navybean]

 

Navybean, my Remington UMC was labeled as a Colt due to the slide as well.

Even though it is a refurb, they would have wanted more for it because of the relative scarcity of pistols by that maker.

Good lesson for those of us who are into the 1911/1911A1s, maybe get a better deal, but I suppose it could work both ways.

I would agree Remington UMC is a lot rare. Great find

[Irish Rob]

 

What grade was this one from the CMP?

Service Grade.

[watchmanjimg]

Can anyone comment on whether these pistols actually saw military service after the rebuild, or was this done simply for civilian sales? I’ve always wondered if 1911 frames with A1 slides ever made it back to the troops.

[Rhscott]

2 hours ago, watchmanjimg said:

Can anyone comment on whether these pistols actually saw military service after the rebuild, or was this done simply for civilian sales? I’ve always wondered if 1911 frames with A1 slides ever made it back to the troops.

Military use; not for civilian use at the time.  Until the late 1950s- early 1960s both 1911 and 1911A1s were rebuilt together and reissued as needed using updated/refinished parts so long as the frame was serviceable and the sn# legible. Some frames were converted by adding the 1911A1 trigger guard cuts but not all of them.

[watchmanjimg]

35 minutes ago, Rhscott said:

Military use; not for civilian use at the time.  Until the late 1950s- early 1960s both 1911 and 1911A1s were rebuilt together and reissued as needed using updated/refinished parts so long as the frame was serviceable and the sn# legible. Some frames were converted by adding the 1911A1 trigger guard cuts but not all of them.

Thanks for responding. The Colt 1911 shown here appears to have been through Augusta Arsenal (possibly just for inspection), and at some point underwent a rebuild at Springfield Armory consisting of an Ithaca A1 slide/High Standard barrel, Parkerizing throughout, and replacement grips. I’d be fascinated to learn that it was used in service in this configuration.

[Rhscott]

1 hour ago, watchmanjimg said:

Thanks for responding. The Colt 1911 shown here appears to have been through Augusta Arsenal (possibly just for inspection), and at some point underwent a rebuild at Springfield Armory consisting of an Ithaca A1 slide/High Standard barrel, Parkerizing throughout, and replacement grips. I’d be fascinated to learn that it was used in service in this configuration.

Well it was clearly used at dime point due to the shown wear. 
no reason at all it would not have been reissued if needed. 

[bodydenny]

[bodydenny]

Obviously my boomer skills are wanting on this message board! In post 47 are my offerings. First up is a 612,000 Colt with RR slide that is an Ogden Arsenal rebuild. This was a CMP round 1 gun when a lot were coming from the museum stuff.

 

Next is a 1918 colt with a (you guessed it!) RR slide.This one has DCM papers that interestingly enough, list the piece as a "Remington."

[kfields]

Here's my CMP 1943 vintage Ithaca 884399 reworked at SA.

 

 

[pharbor1941]

Great looking rebuilds.