Remington Rand 1911a1: Markings Better

The right side of the Remington Rand frame holds the official government ownership and serial number stamps. These were stamped after the frame was heat-treated and finished.

Whether you are authenticating a new acquisition, researching a family heirloom, or simply deepening your knowledge of military firearms, the markings on a Remington Rand 1911A1 tell a detailed story. The slide logo identifies its production era. The serial number dates its birth. The FJA stamp connects it to a specific Ordnance officer. And the small assembler stamps—cryptic as they may be—represent the individual workers who inspected and assembled each pistol.

A small P is usually found on the top of the slide (ahead of the rear sight) and on the left side of the frame near the magazine release. This indicates the pistol passed a high-pressure "proof" test. Barrel Markings

| Manufacturer | Production Years | Approx. Quantity | Key Marking (Inspector) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 1943-1945 | 958,764 | FJA on frame | | Colt | 1912-1945 | 629,000+ | GHD on frame (WWII) | | Ithaca Gun Co. | 1942-1945 | ~335,000 | FJA on frame | | Union Switch & Signal | 1943 | 50,000 | RS on frame | remington rand 1911a1 markings

Remington Rand, a business machine company formed from the merger of the Remington Typewriter Company and Rand Kardex Corporation, was an unlikely player in military firearms manufacturing. Yet, like many American manufacturers during World War II, the company retooled its "C" Division typewriter plant and warehouse in Syracuse, New York in 1942 to produce M1911A1 pistols, the standard U.S. military handgun since 1926. Remington Rand received drawings, gauges and tooling from the Army's Springfield Armory, which had been previously used to manufacture M1911s.

Prefixed with "NO.", located on the right side of the frame behind the trigger. Remington Rand serial numbers fall strictly within these blocks: 916,404 – 1,041,404 1,471,431 – 1,609,528 1,743,847 – 1,816,300 2,380,014 – 2,445,291

Remington Rand holds a unique place in American history, transitioning from a producer of typewriters and office equipment to the largest manufacturer of M1911A1 pistols during World War II. Between 1942 and 1945, they produced over 770,000 pistols, more than double the output of Colt. The right side of the Remington Rand frame

Remington Rand used three distinct left-side slide roll marks during production. Identifying these variants helps verify if the slide matches the serial number block on the frame.

This is a on the markings found on Remington Rand 1911A1 pistols manufactured during World War II. Remington Rand (typewriter company) was one of the primary contractors for the M1911A1, producing approximately 877,000 pistols between 1942 and 1945.

: Stamped behind the right grip panel. Early pistols may lack this, while late-war pistols feature a highly defined wheel-and-cannon design. Left Side Markings The slide logo identifies its production era

Are you looking to range or check the authenticity of a specific pistol you've found?

REMINGTON RAND INC. SYRACUSE, N.Y. 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY

Initial production faced serious difficulties. After the first 255 pistols were accepted in November 1942, subsequent testing revealed major problems with parts interchangeability. In March 1943, company president James Rand Jr. halted production entirely. Only after management changes and a thorough overhaul of inspection and manufacturing operations did production resume in May 1943. Despite these early setbacks, Remington Rand ultimately produced more M1911A1 pistols than all other wartime manufacturers combined.