This is an outstanding and extremely rare variation of a World War II production U.S. Model 1911A1 pistol that was manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company. Singer Model 1911A1 pistols certainly need very little introduction, and their desirability in the 1911 and 1911A1 collectors market is unmatched. There were 500 of these extremely rare pistols produced for the U.S. as part of Educational Order No. W-ORD-396 awarded April 17, 1940. It is reported that almost all of the 500 that were produced were issued to the Army Air Corps early in World War II. Standard production Singer 1911A1 pistols are incredibly rare in their own right, but this pistol is a true rarity, as it bears no serial number or inspector markings, meaning it was likely intended for presentation to a high ranking official or important member of the Singer company. These guns are often referred to as presentations or prototypes, examples of which can be seen from all of the manufacturers of 1911A1 pistols and were often produced at the beginning or during production runs, or alternatively pulled off the production line by employees with "sticky fingers". This example appears to have been pulled off the standard assembly line early in the process. It displays the same high quality fitting that makes the standard production Singer 1911A1 pistols so desirable to collectors, along with a nearly mirror polished "in the white" finish that was likely left as is by the factory until allocation for presentation and finishing. It is very likely that, after assembly, this specific pistol sat at the Singer factory in its present state awaiting a presentation that never came, before eventually ending up in private hands decades later. A similar presentation example bearing serial number "X00" is known which was presented to Wilbur S. Peets, Singer's Vice President of Manufacturing, upon his retirement in 1968. That example is noted as having been left in the white and stored in the Singer vault until it was removed and blued by in the Singer tool room just before being presented to Peets. The description of the journey of serial number X00 may be an indication that this unserialized example was another pistol that laid in wait in the Singer vault and was ultimately never finished for presentation. Some of the sheltered areas on this specific pistol show some light tool/manufacturing marks, as if awaiting a final polish and application of finish. The left side of the slide bears the standard two-line Singer address, while the right of the frame has the standard U.S. property, model, and U.S. army markings. The only other markings on the pistol are on the blued barrel, which is marked with a small "G" (1938-1941 production) on the bottom in front of the lug, "P" on the left of the lug, and "COLT 45 AUTO" on the lower left. (It is noted that this is concurrent with Singer production date. Being that this gun is a prototype, it is very likely that Singer could have acquired the barrel from Colt). It is fitted with a half-moon blade front sight, dovetailed flat top notch rear sight, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, short milled trigger, long grip safety, wide checkered hammer, checkered arched mainspring housing with lanyard loop, the correct non-reinforced hollow back grips, and an unmarked two-tone magazine.

Excellent as factory finished in the white, likely for awaiting application of a presentation finish, and without serial number. There are some scattered light manufacturing marks that likely would have been polished away before finish application and presentation. There are some scattered light handling/takedown marks. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered light handling marks and a molding abnormality near the top of the left panel. Mechanically excellent. This is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a prototype/presentation model Singer Model 1911A1 pistol, one that will enhance your collection greatly!