Rifleman Q & A: Needing A Hand With My Remington Rand

by
posted on August 16, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rand.jpg

Q: I own a Remington Rand .45-cal. M1911A1 with a stamped serial number of 195XXXX. According to Wikipedia, “Remington Rand produced more M1911A1 pistols in World War II than any other wartime manufacturer,” yet I cannot seem to locate this pistol in either the Blue Book of Gun Values or Gun Digest. On the other hand, Guns International’s website says this model is a “Very rare documented World War II issue.” Can you square this away for me? This Remington is the typewriter manufacturer, not the arms company.

A: According to the serial number you provided, your pistol was made by Remington Rand in 1943 and consigned to the U.S. Army. Additional information can be found within Blue Book of Gun Values, Thirty-Seventh Edition on p. 543. Unless there is some special provenance to this particular pistol, “very rare” is a vast exaggeration, for the vintage is among the most commonly found. For an inexperienced seller, prices shown in books are usually a retail value and a dealer will pay 50-75 percent of the published price.

If you have a relationship with a licensed dealer whom you trust, they can be very helpful, but sometimes, especially if you have something known to be valuable, a professional appraisal might be a good idea. I use books as a ballpark guide. Condition is vital to value and is usually given as a percentage of the original finish.

—Charles E. Petty, Contributing Editor

Latest

Walther Arms Pd380 Rifleman Review 1
Walther Arms Pd380 Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Walther Arms PD380

For its latest compact carry pistol, the PD380, Walther Arms combined elements of its Performance Duty Pistol series with its legacy PK380 platform.

Black Beauty: Nimschke’s Masterpiece Sold By Rock Island Auction

German-born Louis Daniel Nimschke is widely recognized as one of the most talented and prolific firearm engravers of the 19th century.

Springfield Updates Saint Victor AR-15 Lineup

Since 2019, Springfield Armory has offered its Saint Victor line of AR-15s with enhanced features, and for 2025, the company has updated those features to keep pace with consumer demands.

In Memoriam: Wiley Clapp

Longtime American Rifleman Field Editor and contributor Wiley Clapp passed away June 4, 2025. He was 90 years old.

Fiocchi Of America Joins The Kinetic Group, HEVI-Shot Moving Operations

The Kinetic Group has officially added Fiocchi of America—and exclusive rights to Baschieri & Pellagri in the United States—to its lineup of top ammunition brands.

Inside NRA’s New America’s Rifle Challenge

NRA has developed a new competition designed to promote better marksmanship with America’s rifle—the AR-15 platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.