Lot 1493: WWII Singer Manufacturing Company U.S. Model 1911A1 Pistol

This Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic pistol was manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company in Elizabeth, New Jersey, as part of the 500-gun educational order with the Ordnance Department in 1941. Serial numbered 800,000-800500, the 500 Education Order Singer Model 1911A1 pistols were issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. Singer manufactured all of the pistol components with the exception of the stocks. The brown, checkered stocks were made by the Keys Fiber Company and were a distinctive design with no reinforcing rings around the screw holes and no interior reinforcing ribs or mold marks. The Singer M1911A1 pistols had a distinctive, very attractive polished Du-Lite finish. This pistol has the blued Du-Lite finish on the frame, slide, mainspring housing, grip safety, safety lock, slide stop, trigger and barrel bushing. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped: "S. MFG. CO./ELIZABETH,N.J.U.S.A." in two lines. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped: "UNITED STATES PROPERTY/NoS800379" behind the slide stop hole and "M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY" ahead of it. The "JKC" final inspection mark of Colonel John K. Clement, Commander of the New York Ordnance District, is stamped on the left side of the frame immediately below the slide-stop cut-out. "P" proof marks are stamped on the left side of the frame above the magazine release button and on the top of the slide ahead of the rear sight. The pistol has a wide-spur short hammer with bordered knurling on the spur, Singer mainspring housing with fine knurling, checkered safety lock and slide stop and short trigger with milled face. All of these pieces have the original blue finish. The pistol has a blued replacement barrel marked "HS" (High Standard) on the right side of the lug a replacement recoil spring guide and a blued replacement magazine marked "C-S" on the floorplate. Documents with the pistol indicate that it was the property of Technical Sergeant Marion Ross, U.S. Army Air Corps. T.Sgt. Ross awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster for gallantry in action during WWII.

Very good. This rare pistol retains most of the original Singer Manufacturing Company components with the exception of the barrel, recoil spring guide and magazine. The pistol has 80% of the original blue finish. The slide and the front and rear sights have finish wear on high points. There are scattered minor, handling marks on the top and side of the slide, and the finish on the slide is thin. The "P" proof on the top of the slide, correctly, was stamped after the slide was finished and has bright edges. The Singer legend on the left side of the slide is sharp. The finish on the recoil housing has been re-touched. The frame shows moderate handling wear on the grip strap and mainspring housing and holster wear on the front edge of the frame. The serial number/U.S. Property/nomenclature on the right side of the frame are crisp. The "JKC" final inspection mark and "P" proof mark of the left side of the frame have bright edges. The loading ramp on the inside of the frame is bright. The distinctive, brown, checkered Singer stocks are in fine condition with some rounding of the diamonds on the lower edges and some handling wear on the heels. Surviving original examples of the 500 educational order Singer Model 1911A1 pistols are among the most sought after of all U.S. military firearms. This is a very good and substantially original example of a combat-carried Singer Model 1911A1 pistols that was the property of a highly decorated WWII airman.