Remington Rand 1911a1 Markings |link| 【Bonus Inside】

Decoding History: The Complete Guide to Remington Rand 1911A1 Markings

For collectors of military sidearms, few names evoke the spirit of World War II quite like Remington Rand. However, unlike Colt or Springfield Armory, Remington Rand was not a traditional firearms manufacturer. Before 1942, they were famous for typewriters and business machines. Yet, during the war, they became the largest producer of the M1911A1 pistol, delivering over 875,000 units to the U.S. Government.

Because of this unique corporate history, Remington Rand 1911A1 markings are some of the most studied, confusing, and counterfeited in the collecting world. Understanding these marks is essential to authenticating a pistol, determining its value, and tracing its service history.

This article provides a deep dive into every rollmark, inspection stamp, serial number range, and subcontractor code found on a Remington Rand M1911A1. remington rand 1911a1 markings

Ordnance “Eagle’s Head” Stamp

An eagle’s head with an S (or other number) appears on various small parts (safety lock, slide stop, magazine catch). This is the Ordnance inspector’s mark for parts acceptance.

Eagle/S1 – Remington Rand slide stop
Eagle/S2 – Safety lock
Eagle/S3 – Grip safety (rare)

Missing eagle heads don’t automatically mean fake—many parts were mixed during arsenal services—but all-matching eagle heads increase collector value significantly. Decoding History: The Complete Guide to Remington Rand

The "X" Factor: The Savage/X Factor

In the 1.69 million serial range, you will occasionally find a frame marked with a crude "X" on the left side. This is the "Savage 44" frame. During a subcontract, Savage (famous for the 1907 pistol) produced raw forgings for Remington Rand. These frames have a distinct "X" stamp and slightly different contouring near the slide stop pin.

The "FJA" Mark

As noted, Frank J. Atwood’s initials are the final acceptance mark. However, note that on very early pistols (serial 856,001 – 860,000), the FJA mark is missing. The inspection was done by a Major R.S. Edwards. Those pistols have a R.S.E. mark instead. An FJA-marked pistol is standard; an R.S.E. marked pistol is a rarity worth a premium. Eagle/S1 – Remington Rand slide stop Eagle/S2 –

Type 4 (Late 1944–1945): The Simplified

Left Side: Same as Type 3.
Right Side: The patent line is simplified to: PATENTED DEC.19.1905 – FEB.14.1911.
Note: The 1913 patent is completely missing. This was a wartime expediency.

Pro Tip: If you see a Remington Rand slide marked "HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON" or "ITHACA GUN CO.", you’re looking at a post-war replacement slide. Remington Rand never made slides for other contractors.

A Collector’s Guide to Remington Rand 1911A1 Markings: History Rollmarked in Steel

When you pick up a Remington Rand 1911A1, you’re not just holding a firearm—you’re holding a piece of wartime industrial history. Unlike the commercial-grade Colt pistols, Remington Rand’s markings tell a story of mass production, government contracts, and the subtle evolution of one of America’s most iconic sidearms.

Type II Slide (Mid-late 1943)

Three lines:

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

Serial Number Ranges: Your Pistol’s Birth Certificate

Remington Rand produced approximately 877,000 M1911A1s from early 1943 to late 1945. Serial numbers are on the right side of the frame, above the trigger guard.

Lowest known: 184xxxx range (first contract, Remington Rand Type I)
Highest known: 245xxxx range (late WWII production)
Post-war overlaps: Some frames in the 2.2–2.4 million range may have been assembled from leftover parts in 1946–1947.

Pro tip: If your serial number falls outside 1,840,000–2,450,000, it may be a commercial model or a mixmaster—proceed with caution.