I'm 26 Years Old and 101 Years Late to the Party

[jlagman]

During a recent trip to the Philippines to visit family, I had the opportunity to handle my late grandfather's service sidearm; a Remington (Rand, maybe?) 1911. It was quite rusted from being buried under the family ancestral home, many years ago, to avoid confiscation, but still seems to have sentimental value for some extended family members:

I knew then that I wanted one of my own and sure enough, within days of returning to Canada, I got one for myself:

Before owning any guns of my own, I fantasized of a semi-tricked out 1911, but after seeing my grandfather's, I felt I could be happy with something closer to GI spec, besides, I didn't shoot the platform well in the past, so at this stage, there isn't much point in starting with a fancier, more expensive 1911. So far I'm happy with the purchase; today, I fed 100 rounds of Sellier & Bellot 230 grain FMJ without a hiccup, and the fun seemed to shoot fairly accurately, by my standards anyways.

 

[ambishooter]

That was a perfect sentimental journey accross the pacific. My grandfather also served during WW2. But he was one of the unlucky ones who never made it back to his family. Again, due to fear of confiscation, they surrendered his firearms. I was told they were Browning. I would try to restore that firearm if given the chance. I hope at least, bore is OK or acceptable, slide and frame not heavily pitted. Rest of the parts are easy to replace. As long as barrel, slide and frame matches, you are good to go. Also, you are still young. Enjoy the hobby. I stopped shooting before I moved here in 1997. It took me another 14 years before I started shooting again. No regrets...

"Semper Fi"

 

[arkangel06]

Great story and congrats on the awesome new gun!

 

[vviking]

Any person who can feel as you do, what that firearm must have meant to a family member going into combat ..... is NOT 101 years too late.

Good on you and yours.

I too, "don't shoot the platform well" ..... but to have that .45 in hand in desperate times?, hell yes.

 

[TheTooner]

Good story. I hope that gun turns out well for you.

 

[shmelmafinga]

...

 

[cigarbufff]

Awesome bud! Welcome to the club

 

[jlagman]

[youtube]O-BcxaDxcBc[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-BcxaDxcBc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

As stated, I'm currently not a great shot with a 1911 but now at least I have the opportunity to practice.

 

[tekarra]

I surely hope your Grandfather's pistol can be restored as it means something to your family. Congrats on your new R1 and let us know how it shoots.

Regarding your last post, the video is private and cannot be viewed.

 

[jlagman]

I surely hope your Grandfather's pistol can be restored as it means something to your family. Congrats on your new R1 and let us know how it shoots.

Regarding your last post, the video is private and cannot be viewed.

Links have been fixed.

Also, with regards to the former, my uncle on my father's side has a friend who is a gunsmith. Next time I visit, I'd like to have him restore my late grandfather's 1911...and maybe take a look at his M1 Carbine, which I imagine, is in equally rough, if not worse shape.

 

[Steve1987]

Congrats on getting to hold your grandfathers Remington Rand with type III slide M1911A1 pistol. It may not be mint anymore, but very few people get to hold the gun that actually belonged to their own grandfather in WWII. Maybe you can look into importing it into Canada? I would not restore or shoot it, just leave it how it is. It may even clean up nicer than you think.

Thanks for sharing,
-Steve

 

[jlagman]

Congrats on getting to hold your grandfathers Remington Rand with type III slide M1911A1 pistol. It may not be mint anymore, but very few people get to hold the gun that actually belonged to their own grandfather in WWII. Maybe you can look into importing it into Canada? I would not restore or shoot it, just leave it how it is. It may even clean up nicer than you think.

Thanks for sharing,
-Steve

Thanks for the confirmation, I'm not much of a 1911 historian, I just remember seeing "Remington", "Syracuse, NY", and "Property of the US government" (lol) roll marks. As for importing it...I like the idea of keeping it in our family's ancestral home, which is older than the pistol itself, and filled with heritage and souveniers from previous generations; it just belongs there, IMO, but having it refinished would be a nice gesture, I think anyways.

 

[stratosonic]

Thanks for posting. Good story.

 

[Steve1987]

Thanks for the confirmation, I'm not much of a 1911 historian, I just remember seeing "Remington", "Syracuse, NY", and "Property of the US government" (lol) roll marks. As for importing it...I like the idea of keeping it in our family's ancestral home, which is older than the pistol itself, and filled with heritage and souveniers from previous generations; it just belongs there, IMO, but having it refinished would be a nice gesture, I think anyways.

Completely understandable! A cool piece.

The finish may not be perfect right now, however it's original. If you have it re-done, it may arguably look better to some but will be 0% original. I would just oil and preserve it the best you can.

-Steve

 

[Grizzly Guy]

it's never too late to take up the shooting sports.fine looking Remington,I like it.

 

[Armored Metal]

Loved your story. Thanks

 

[strider007]

Great story, man. I also had the opportunity of shouldering one of my grandfather's guns. It wasn't a pistol, but was his rifle, which my father now has. I know that one day it will be mine, and later my son's, and hopefully etc, etc...I do plan on fully restoring it, maybe...but it looks great just the way it is...beautiful with age.

Thanks for sharing...

 

[vviking]

Great story, man. I also had the opportunity of shouldering one of my grandfather's guns. It wasn't a pistol, but was his rifle, which my father now has. I know that one day it will be mine, and later my son's, and hopefully etc, etc...I do plan on fully restoring it, maybe...but it looks great just the way it is...beautiful with age.

Thanks for sharing...

Hope you don't.

Restore .... means that your son can never really feel the connection to his Grandfather, which are through the marks/mars of all those years of the older man's use.

 

[ambishooter]

I agree, restoring this piece of history will lose it's value. I stand corrected. Just clean it, and keep it as it is. Have it checked by a gunsmith, specially if you are planning to use it.

 

[ace587]

Awesome story!

in the philippines theres a LOT of 1911s, Colt, Remingtons from WW2 and then onwards. We seem to love the 1911 here thats why we even produce them locally (Armscor) almost every family has a M16/M1 Garand or 1911 buried in their backyard. My uncle has 2 Colt M16s buried in his backyard, i recently inherited one 1911. Some farmers have M1 Garands and some Arisakas that they kept. People went hiding their guns after Marcos declared martial law and started confiscating guns

these are 2 1911s in the family.