Remington Rand 1911a1 Markings — !link!
Stamped on the right side of the frame above the serial number.
The lettering became smaller, and "N.Y." was used instead of "NEW YORK." Type III (Late - "Small Lettering/NEW YORK"): Marking: REMINGTON RAND INC. / SYRACUSE, NEW YORK U.S.A.
On the left side of the frame, above and behind the trigger, you will find the inspector's initials . This stands for Colonel Frank J. Atwood, the officer in charge of the Rochester Ordnance Production District, which oversaw both Remington Rand and Ithaca manufacturing during the war. Atwood's FJA stamp appears not only on M1911A1 pistols but also on M1 Carbines, M1903A3 rifles, and other Remington firearm models accepted for military service. This is one of the most prominent and easily identifiable markings on a Remington Rand pistol and is present on all contract pistols produced by the company.
Keep in mind that not all Remington Rand 1911A1 pistols will have all of these markings, and some may have additional markings not listed here. If you're looking to identify a specific pistol, it's a good idea to consult with a firearms expert or collector. remington rand 1911a1 markings
The result is a pistol made up of parts from various subcontractors. Consequently, the markings on a Remington Rand are not just about the brand—they tell a story of wartime collaboration, production shortcuts, and government inspectors.
The right side of the frame is stamped with three important elements. On the frame forward of the grip is marked . This is the standard military designation for the pistol. Just aft of this is the serial number, and above the serial number is stamped UNITED STATES PROPERTY . These markings indicate that the pistol remains federal property—even today, original military M1911A1s were never sold to the public but were declared surplus and transferred through various programs.
The left side of the slide contains the primary manufacturer address. Remington Rand used three distinct rollmark variations throughout production. Type 1 (Early 1942 – Early 1943) REMINGTON RAND INC.SYRACUSE, N.Y. U.S.A. Stamped on the right side of the frame
An appears on various small parts (safety lock, slide stop, magazine catch). This is the Ordnance inspector’s mark for parts acceptance.
Stamped further forward on the right side as "M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY". Inspector of Ordnance Stamps
: Located behind the slide stop pin hole. Remington Rand pistols fall into distinct serial number blocks: 1942 (Early) : 916,405 to 955,004 1943 : 955,005 to 1,041,404 and 1,279,699 to 1,471,430 1944 : 1,471,431 to 1,609,528 and 1,743,847 to 1,816,328 1945 (Late) : 1,816,329 to 2,244,750 On the left side of the frame, above
Similar to Type 1 but "SYRACUSE" and "N.Y." are separated by more space, and the logo size is slightly adjusted.
When evaluating a Remington Rand 1911A1 for historical accuracy, look for these specific indicators: Slide text type matches the official serial number block. Left frame bears the FJA inspector stamp. Right frame is stamped UNITED STATES PROPERTY .
Among all wartime contractors—including Colt, Ithaca, Union Switch & Signal, and even Singer Sewing Machine Company—Remington Rand delivered more M1911A1 pistols than any other. While over 1.8 million of these iconic handguns were produced during the conflict, Remington Rand accounted for approximately 1,086,624 pistols manufactured between 1943 and 1945.