It is common knowledge among
Remington collectors that Rem-UMC manufactured 21,698
Colt Model 1911 Autoloading Pistols for the U.S.
Government during World War I. These are desirable
collectibles, and quite expensive to acquire in NRA
Excellent condition.
Remington did not continue the manufacture of these
pistols after the war because Colt's Patent Fire Arms
Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut held the
Browning patents for this popular autoloader, not
Remington. So Remington embarked upon manufacturing
their Pedersen patent Model 51 autoloading pistol
(1919-1926).
Thereafter, Remington was not in the pistol or
revolver business, as Remington management made the
decision to concentrate on sporting rifles and
shotguns. They manufactured M1911 Pistols and Mark III
Signal Guns during the late war, only to help America's
war effort.
So, if a buddy said he had a Remington Model 1911A1
pistol you'd think he made one hellava mistake. Or
you'd think that he had a M1911A1 manufactured by
Remington-Rand during World War II.
You'd probably ask him to look for a Rem-UMC ball on
the left side of the slide, and then you'd tell him
that his pistol was a Model 1911, not an 'A1. But guess
what? You'd be wrong, not him, because just such a
pistol does exist!
This rare gun was acquired from the family of a man
who worked for Remington many years ago. Upon close
examination this pistol has all the M1911A1
improvements you'd expect, including the hump-shaped
backstrap. And it was made as a new gun, not a
modification of a M1911.
This Remington M1911A1 is completely unmarked, except
for a factory stamp on the left side of the slide.
Although this stamping is known to have been used by
the factory prior to World War I, it is believed that
this pistol was made after 1920.
