This is an exceptional example of a rare pre-production or prototype WWI era "Remington-UMC" Model 1911 contract pistol. This exact pistol is pictured in the book: "US Military Automatic Pistols" by Scott Meadows, page 216. This scarce pistol does not have any of the usual U.S. Army contract proof or acceptance marks; however, as shown, it is marked on the slide with: "MADE BY B.M. KUPERSTOCK JUNE-17th-1918. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.", and it is fitted with an Army contract type all blued barrel that is marked with only a letter "P" on top of the chamber area. It is accompanied by a signed letter from Scott Meadows noting that it was purportedly in the collection of Sid Aberman, a very well known, early, super advanced semi-automatic pistol collector. The markings indicate that it was made in June 1918, which is approximately two months prior to the first scheduled deliveries of the U.S. Army contract pistols. Clearly, it was a pre-production/prototype pistol of some type. "B.M. Kuperstock" was a Remington-UMC employee at that time, so he would have had direct access to this pistol. His position and association to this pistol is unknown. As we all know, these Remington-UMC pistol were produced in their own serial number block of "1 to 21,676" for the U.S. Military and were manufactured at the Bridgeport, Connecticut factory using their own drawings that did not conform to either Colts or the U.S. Government. Consequently most of these pistols were disposed of after WWI due to the non-conforming parts. Certainly this is a rare and very unusual, probably a one of a kind, early Remington-UMC pre-production/prototype Model 1911 pistol.