May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/29/2020
One of the 500 Model 1911A1 pistols manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company during World War II under the Ordnance Educational Order No. W-ORD-396. This educational order required Singer to furnish the government with a complete set of drawings, operation sheets, time studies, tooling, and a complete set of manufacturing fixtures so that a complete manufacturing operation could be set up using only the supplied documentation. In addition, 500 pistols were to be delivered along with the documentation package. It is believed that most of the 500 pistols went to the U.S. Army Air Corps. Surviving examples are scarce and all original examples are much harder to find. The left side of the slide is marked in two lines ahead of the slide serrations as follows: "S. MFR. CO" over "ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A." with no markings to the right side of the slide. The top of the slide is stamped with a single "P" proof mark oriented to read with the muzzle down. All other manufacturers marked the "P" on the slide to be read with the muzzle up. An identical "P" proof mark is stamped on the left side of the frame immediately above the magazine release. The pistol is correctly unmarked under the firing pin, stop plate. The left side of the frame is stamped with the "JKC" initials of Col. John K. Clement, the Ordnance Inspector of the New Jersey Ordnance District. The right side of the frame is stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY". "No. S800159" in 2-lines with "M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY" above and forward of the slide stop pin hole. Under very close observation the serial number is a slight double strike and is often observed on Singer production 1911-A1 pistols. The pistol has the wide spur hammer with borderless checkering, with fine checkering on: thumb safety, slide stop, milled trigger, and mainspring housing. Grips are the proper early Keyes fibre grips without reinforcing ribs or rings. Barrel is "HS" manufacture with large "P" on left side of trunnion. Magazine is unmarked proper two pin all blue contract magazine. CONDITION: Very fine with an estimated 85% factory blue finish remaining with wear and patina on front strap, thinning blue on mainspring housing and slight holster wear on top of slide at ejection port. Bore is excellent and grips are equally fine. This outstanding example of the most desired .45 1911-A1 pistol would be the center point of any US martial arms collection. TDW
Manufacturer
Singer Mfg. Co.