North American Arms sighting

[westgard]

If you are ever in Quebec City, make sure you take a tour of the citadel, the fort in the old city. In the museum sitting there with a few other pistols is NAA #78. It turned out to be a nice surprise for me! I didn't expect to see a 1911 there, much less a rarity like that. (Oh and the other stuff in there, along with the changing of the guards is pretty neat too!).

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Duane Hansen]

I have only seen one North American Arms 1911 in all my years of collecting, it was at the Colt Show in Reno, Nevada last year. They are definately a Rare Bird.

[browningautorifle]

I was at the Citadel doing military training in '96 and had occasion to look through the museum. The Van Doo soldiers that were with me had no idea what they had there. They had been postecd there for years and had a prize like that sitting dead center (as I remember) in the cabinet. From the description in blue book of gun values, it was in better than the 98% condition the book showed. It had been made not more than a mile away and had not travelled anywhere. When gramps died, thank goodness the executor of the will said "let's give this to the army museum" and it's there for all to see. I have pics as well. What a beauty!

[westgard]

Yes, I think most people don't have any idea, they just say, 'oh it's some old .45 pistol....'. This was the second one of these that I have actually seen up close.

[koldt]

I posted this on another forum, but it's appropriate for this thread. Here is the (in)famous NAA 1911 at the Citadel. I took this picture last year.

[hsr]

I posted this on another forum, but it's appropriate for this thread. Here is the (in)famous NAA 1911 at the Citadel. I took this picture last year.

OK, I'll ask. Why is it infamous?

[Johnny Peppers]

North American Arms did have a contract to build the 1911 pistol during WWI, but none were completed before the war ended. Just like the other WWI contractors that did not deliver any pistols, the contract was cancelled with the end of the war. The specimens seen today were made up following WWI.
As to prices, a year of so back a British proofed Singer in really nice condition but with an incorrect magazine sold at auction for $80,500 including the buyer's premium. A lesser condition Singer with an incorrect magazine and barrel sold for somewhere in the $60/70,000 range.

[ltcboy]

How much more value does one have over a Singer?

[Duane Hansen]

I don't think that they bring as much as the Singer does, as it was never accepted and used by our military.

[Rob Greer]

While the North American's are more scarce than Singers, as Duane states, a Singer typically will bring almost twice the money than a similar condition North American will. The only reason I can think of is also as Duane states... the North Americans were never accepted or used by the U.S. military. Therefore, it can easily be argued that these exceedingly rare pieces are not even military pistols.

koldt... thanks for posting that picture! That pistol is in far better condition than I expected.