Which of these 3 would you chose from? RR1911A1, Colt 1911 or Colt Government

Hi guys.


I have the fun opportunity to select one, two or three of the following pistols. The two Colts (1911 and Government) are priced exactly the same, the Remington Rand is a few hundred euros (I'm in Europe but please try to not focus too much on this!) cheaper.

The government is one of the ones sent to Russia and has an excellent original barrel and a two-tone magazine and seems to be original finish
The 1911 is a bit worn but original, but a lot more scarce around these parts (most are Governments). No idea of magazine make
The RR looks to be like new, but could be reparkerized? No idea of magazine

If you would have to choose ONE of these, which would you pick and why?


Thanks!!

I'd take the C number Colt. The center one. It's in better shape and the C number guns are scarcer that the other ones. If it has military provenance it can be worth more.

IF I'm wanting it for a collection, I agree.
However If what I'm looking for is a shooter - Just hand me one with a loaded mag!
Sarge

For a shooter I'd take the 1911A1 on the right...

Some prefer the standard 1911 over the 1911A1 due to the longer trigger and straight grip...

I would take the Remington Rand because that's the one I had in the service. I also had a Thomason SMG.
Skip

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Originally Posted by kruffe

longer trigger

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I never like that part. The straight mainspring I have on my own Auto Ord...checkered though.

Probably the Gov't Model. But that could change with a more detailed examination. 2nd choice likely the Remington Rand, if original condition. 3rd would be the M1911 only because I already have two, and in better shape. I believe the Gov't Model is a little early for the Russia pile o' pistols, but it shouldn't be all that hard to find out. Goddard's book, The Government Models, has a fairly extensive shipping record appendix.

Thank you all for the input. Today I bought the Government AND the Remington Rand. The Government is much nicer in person than in the terrible pics. The RR is like new with HS barrel and Scovill magazine.
I will get some pics up later on. The Government is FILTHY with dried grease, so bad that the safety took some serious effort and the mainspring housing still won't budge. I tried some penetrating oil and letting it soak.

---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:57 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by jmoore

Probably the Gov't Model. But that could change with a more detailed examination. 2nd choice likely the Remington Rand, if original condition. 3rd would be the M1911 only because I already have two, and in better shape. I believe the Gov't Model is a little early for the Russia pile o' pistols, but it shouldn't be all that hard to find out. Goddard's book, The Government Models, has a fairly extensive shipping record appendix.

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The Russian pistols fall into the range C23000 to C89000 so this pistol fits. I will have it lettered later on. Thanks for the input!

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Originally Posted by Beginner

C23000 to C89000

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I had in mind it might be a Canadian issue...

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Originally Posted by Beginner

Thank you all for the input. Today I bought the Government AND the Remington Rand. The Government is much nicer in person than in the terrible pics. The RR is like new with HS barrel and Scovill magazine.
I will get some pics up later on. The Government is FILTHY with dried grease, so bad that the safety took some serious effort and the mainspring housing still won't budge. I tried some penetrating oil and letting it soak.

---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:57 PM ----------



The Russian pistols fall into the range C23000 to C89000 so this pistol fits. I will have it lettered later on. Thanks for the input!

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I remembered that it was about 50,000 pistols, but thought it started somewhat later on in the S/Ns. Guess I need to re-read my Goddard and Clawsons!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff131-1.jpg
Stupidly, this Govn't Model I've remembered being about in the middle of the "English Contract" Russian pistols and it's in the 60,000s....

You might be partially correct; seems at 50000 they started marking the frames with the cyrillic text for English order... This in just the opinion of some collectors, so definately not verified. Does however seem to be the case based on a few dozen pistols here in Russias neighbouring country.

Here are some pics of the guns (with friends)

The other Government is one of the stamped ones sent to Russia in the "English order".
The other RR1911A1 is few thousand pistols apart, very similar (=identical) condition more or less.
The 1902 is from 1905 and VERY shiny :D


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Very nice looking pistols.

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Originally Posted by skip_c

I would take the Remington Rand because that's the one I had in the service. I also had a Thomason SMG.
Skip

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I will really like to hear about the thompson.

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Originally Posted by tmaucher

I will really like to hear about the thompson.

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What do you want to know about Thompsons?

Hmm, Thompsons - you mean one of these?
Sarge
Attachment 79717

Those BARs.... please give them to me. At least one [emoji4]

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Originally Posted by Beginner

please give them to me

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Why would you want those heavy old things? :madsmile:

Heavy? They only weigh 19.5 lbs. What is wrong with that? Besides the weight helps keep them on target when unloading a mag.
Sarge

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Why would you want those heavy old things? :madsmile:

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Funny you should say that: the BAR and the desire to own one was the reason I got into collecting. Still haven't found one but a bunch of other cool guns instead. The BAR is my holy grail

I had three, a Marlin Rockwell, a Royal Typewriter and a NESA. The MR was the nicest, about new and not overstruck from it's original 1918 model marking. Still had the wood butt too. I completely understand.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I had three, a Marlin Rockwell, a Royal Typewriter and a NESA. The MR was the nicest, about new and not overstruck from it's original 1918 model marking. Still had the wood butt too. I completely understand.

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The definitive word I'm reading is "Had". What happened to them?

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

What happened to them?

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They all sold through time. The Royal Typewriter was sold to one of my soldiers back in about '86 or '87. The Marlin Rockwell sold about winter of '92 when I realized I had too many really neat guns and no house. Last to go was the NESA in about '98 after everything else almost had gone. It wasn't perfect so I thought it might be hard to sell...not so much. The Marlin Rockwell was really sweet. Wooden buttstock and original markings of 1918. No overstrikes. I had full EIS for all of them. Mag chargers and clips, mags and belts. I still have a BAR sling in canvas, longer than the M1 sling by a couple feet. That's the only scrap left of all of them...no pictures either.