Manufactured in 1943, this is an exceptional example of a pre-production Remington-Rand Model 1911A1, that the company referred to as a "demonstration gun". These pistols are discussed on page 313 of "Colt .45 Service Pistols: Models of 1911 and 1911A1" by Clawson, where it is stated that only 145 of these were produced before the company began normal production of their pistols for World War II. A number of cutaway examples were also produced, although it is unclear if these were a part of the 145 or not. These demonstration pistols were intended to be used to instruct employees on the form and function of the finished product, and the importance of each step in the process. They show all the standard markings and features of the production Remington-Rand Model 1911A1 pistols apart from the government inspector markings. The only external marking on the pistol are the two-line Remington-Rand Syracuse address on the left of the slide and the serial number on the right of the frame. Many of these demonstration pistols were presented to high ranking Remington-Rand employees after the war. A badly stained copy of a letter included with this pistol discusses much of this information as well as stating that a grouping of the pistols, including this one, were discovered in a safe at the Buffalo, New York office of Remington-Rand. It goes on to say that it is unclear how the pistols found their way to the Buffalo office from Syracuse, but that a former accountant at the Syracuse plant who had been transferred to Buffalo purchased the 24 pistols of the group that appeared unfired and unaltered, including this one, and the remainder were sold through the accountant's son who was licensed to deal with firearms. The unknown writer of the letter, which appears to be dated October 1968, indicates that at one time he had nine of these pistols available for sale or trade, those being serial numbers 127,128, 130, 131, 135, 136, 140, 142, and 144. Also included is the original factory, kraft style box with black ink markings including "REMINGTON RAND INC./C DIVISION" and hand numbered "#142" in pencil. Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection