BeltBuckle
Ultimate Member
OK, folks -- here's the situation. I stumbled onto a friend of a friend last week who mentioned he had an old 1911 he wanted to sell. I've been on the lookout for a WWII piece, so asked to see it. It's a Remington Rand with a serial number that puts it in 1943 or 1944. Finish is about 50-60% with a fair amount of surface rust and pitting on the slide; all correct proof marks, inspector's stamp, sight register marks, visible craftsman's marks, etc. (I didn't have my camera, so no pics -- sorry!). Bore has distinct lands and grooves, with rust and frosting, but it doesn't look too bad, though it was obviously rode hard and put away wet at some point. Feed ramp highly polished consistent with significant use, though fit is pretty tight and it cycles (manually) nicely. Slide serrations have a few dings, but no conspicuous idiot marks evident; "Property of U.S. Government" engraving is intact and visible -- nothing funny. Grips are in excellent shape, but do not look to be replacements (unless it happened long, long ago). He had it examined by a smith at Cabela's (this is in Utah) and they gave him a written offer for 700.00 cash, which I saw. But here's the kicker -- the finish is blued. I thought all RRs were supposed to be Parkerized. Anybody able to shed any light?
He's asking 800 or 850, which I'd be willing to drop on it if the finish is original, but if it's re-finished I'm not sure it's worth that much. I would imagine that re-blueing an originally Parkerized pistol would be evident in reduced sharpness of the engraving, but to my inexpert eye this was not apparent. Thoughts?
He's asking 800 or 850, which I'd be willing to drop on it if the finish is original, but if it's re-finished I'm not sure it's worth that much. I would imagine that re-blueing an originally Parkerized pistol would be evident in reduced sharpness of the engraving, but to my inexpert eye this was not apparent. Thoughts?
