GI 1911, .45 acp?

[velocette]

Mi companion, (a serious national level rifle competitor) brought me a 1911 that was her father's. He was a military pilot & flew
C46s "over the hump' before flying for American Airlines. She brought me his 1911 which had been in his safe for well over 50
years. It is a Remington Rand USGI pistol in what appears to me to be virtually un issued condition. She tells me it appears to
have been issued to her dad and that he never shot it.
Are there things to check or look for to be reasonably certain that the pistol is really as issued and never re-finished?

Roger

 

[rabid wombat]

Cool! Sorry, I cannot help you with your question. This should help you get close to a manufacturing date.

Model 1911A1 Dates of Production

 

[Jim Watson]

An expert will make a close examination of markings. Some stamps were hit after Parkerizing and will show burnished or even bare metal in the bottom of the marks if not refinished.
Original barrels were blued, a Parkerized barrel is a refinish or a post war replacement.
Remington Rand did not make their own barrels, they started out with Colt and Springfield barrels, went to High Standard for most guns, and some Flannery Bolt barrels later on.
The best internet source is at http://www.coolgunsite.com/

 

[velocette]

Thank you Jim; By its serial # 10039xx it was made 1942 ~1943, probably closer to '42. No markings on the non parkerized barrel, All markings clear and clean with parking in them. Frame rails barely worn with about 70% of parking still there in wear areas.
Found out that her dad also flew the US mail before the war & she has a Colt .38 revolver that he was issued. This afternoon, will disassemble & clean out all the gummed up oil on and in it. Very carefully of course to not damage any finish.
Edit: I stand corrected. Her dad was a civilian airline pilot hired by the govt to fly the for what she said was MATS during the war.

 

[CapnMac]

fly the for what she said was MATS during the war.

Which is interesting as MATS (Military Air Transport Service) was a branch of the then new (1947) US Air Force, MATS being stood up in '48. It was replaced by MAC (Military Airlift Command, aka "maybe airplane come") in 1966. Which then became AMC, Air Mobility Command, in 1992

 

[velocette]

Here's some photos of the pistol:

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

FJA (Frank Atwood) inspector's stamp is correct for a Remington Rand frame.
Really nice GI 1911. Congrats!

 

[ms6852]

It does not appear to be refinished, but the lighting in the photos is not the best. Sometimes you can tell when the product is refinished if the stamping are not as sharp or the coloring does not quite match. You have a nice piece of history.

 

[Roverguy]

I have my father’s second issue 1911 of WWII. His first went to the bottom of the Slot in the Solomon Islands in early 1943 when his ship went into the drink. It’s a Springfield Armory production gun with that slightly green tint to the parkerizing. Lovely. But those sights!

 

[JDeere]

Nice pistol looks to be original finish. If it went through any rebuild it was not marked which is possible. Of course it could be in original issue condition. I can't tell by pics. I always have to use my Clawson book to compare. That one is a keeper...