REMINGTON M 1911 A1 with clear grips

jerichopix

How do the clear grips on this 45 affect its value?

nmyers

Welcome to the forum; we are always glad to have new folks.

The answer to your question is, "It depends."

If you have a commercially refinished Mixed Parts Mongrel, then absence of original grips probably doesn't matter. If it's an arsenal refinished gun, any USGI grips would be appropriate & easy to find.

If your gun has the original finish & parts, it would still not be a great reduction in value, as original grips are not that hard to find, especially if it's a late production gun with Keyes Fibre Grips (K inside a 5 pointed star) with ribs & reinforcing rings around the screw holes. The early production Keyes Fibre grips without reinforcing rings will be more difficult to find.

Neal

By the way, Remington didn't make any M1911A1's; Remington Rand did.

32 Magnum

jerichopix,
I've seen several WW2 vintage U.S. Gov.t Property stamped 1911-A1's over the years with clear grips made from aircraft canopy or windo plexiglass. These guns usually had some sort of name, number, date inscribed somewhere on one or the other or both grips. If this is one of those, the grips add value to a collector. Check out the grips for any kind of inscriptions before throwing them away.

perry shooter

+1 on 32 magnum answer During WWII many GI'S made these clear plastic grip and put a picture of loved ones under them. The U.S. government did not give these pistols to the GI but many found their way back in a duffel bag by accident. remember this was 60 + years ago so that GI most likely either died or someone else took the picture out. I don't think it would hurt or increase the value. much

givette

Ernie Pyle's book "This Is Your War" makes reference to GI's fabricating M1911 grips from aircraft plexiglass, and put girlfirend's picture under the grip panel. You might have [WWII period] grips. I don't know if there's a way to determine if the plexiglass is WWII period or not. If they are found to be authentic [period], they may/may not enhance value. They certainly won't detract from the value...to a serious WWII collector, if you can back up the information in my post with some sort of documentation. However, it's a long shot. Best, Joe.

jerichopix

quote:Originally posted by nmyers
Welcome to the forum; we are always glad to have new folks.

The answer to your question is, "It depends."

If you have a commercially refinished Mixed Parts Mongrel, then absence of original grips probably doesn't matter. If it's an arsenal refinished gun, any USGI grips would be appropriate & easy to find.

If your gun has the original finish & parts, it would still not be a great reduction in value, as original grips are not that hard to find, especially if it's a late production gun with Keyes Fibre Grips (K inside a 5 pointed star) with ribs & reinforcing rings around the screw holes. The early production Keyes Fibre grips without reinforcing rings will be more difficult to find.

Neal

By the way, Remington didn't make any M1911A1's; Remington Rand did.

jerichopix

Quite right, it is a Remington Rand, Syracuse, N.Y. U.S.A.
It was taken off a captured German officer by a second lieutenant scouting for Patton. This is strictly anecdotal, no documentation.
It came with an original US holster. It has not been restored of mix 'n matched. The perspex story sounds right, as the grips have a hand finish.

Thanks for your quick and thorough responses.

bobski

clear ww2 grips were also used on firing lines in bootcamps to ensure the gun was unloaded. it helped the line officer see the guns condition with mag out faster.

nmyers

Hmmm. There, but for fate.....that German officer would have gone home & showed off the .45 that he "took off a dead American".

In any case, we can't tell you any more about your gun without photos.

Neal

tobefree

quote:Originally posted by jerichopix
Quite right, it is a Remington Rand, Syracuse, N.Y. U.S.A.
It was taken off a captured German officer by a second lieutenant scouting for Patton. This is strictly anecdotal, no documentation.
It came with an original US holster. It has not been restored of mix 'n matched. The perspex story sounds right, as the grips have a hand finish.

Thanks for your quick and thorough responses.


Odd story... if this story could only be documented.... To me the recovering this gun from a German officer would up my bid quite a bit Could it be proven.... Although I don't think that a German found carrying a 1911 in WWII would have been a documented CAPTURE unless he was spilling his guts on some very important stuff.....