SOLD
37,500.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2013 Sep 15 @ 14:10UTC-6 : CST/MDT
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Rare World War II Singer Tool Room/Prototype M1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Documentation
This is a rare example of probably a one of a kind Singer Sewing machine company, tool room/prototype M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol with documentation from the original Singer Company employee. As we all know there were exactly 500 fully completed and U.S. Government accepted, Model 1911A1 Pistols manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company during WWII. These were all manufactured under U. S. Army, Ordnance Educational Order No. W-ORD-396, with almost all of these pistols theoretically issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. This was an extremely low number production run with examples in any condition being extremely rare and highly desirable. Now enter this example of a tool room/prototype model of which there may have only been handful made in total with most examples destroyed at some time. What is the rarity of this model? On a scale of 1-10, with "10" being the rarest this has to be a "10"! This would certainly be the center piece of any M1911A1 collection and certainly the center piece of any Singer M1911A1 pistol collection. As noted, this is a tool room model it does not have all the usually acceptance proofs and U.S. Government inspector stamps, because it was made before the normal production run was made, usually intend to test and or set-up the production machines, in theory it was probably one of the very first pistols produced. How do we know it's a tool-room/prototype? Clearly this pistol be identified as an original tool room model based on the overall original, in the white metal machining and surface finish that perfectly matches the slide, which is correctly marked in two lines "S. MFG.CO./ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A.". This is NOT a repolish job or some fantasy pistol, it's the real deal! This describer would estimate that this rare pistol is 99% complete with all machining performed on the frame, slide, barrel, slide stop pin, mainspring housing, grips and trigger, with only minor hand-fitting and polishing left to be accomplished. The frame has all the holes and machined/broached areas with the raw cross pins still in place indicating it was at the last stages of completion. Even the slide shows all the machining and milling marks, with only one last operation to complete it and that is the installation of the firing pin bushing, which has NOT been installed so the slide is also 99% complete. The remaining parts; the thumb safety, hammer, grip safety, barrel bushing, recoil spring cap, magazine release button and rare, original Singer high polished blue magazine were all produced/fitted from later completed parts as they are nicely, polished and blue. This fantastic pistol is being offered by as being liberated by one of the original machinist at the "Singer" factory, either during or after the War. Accompanying this pistol is a copy of the machinist apprenticeship certificate from the Singer factory dated April 1937. Interestingly the grips are the correct early Singer patterns that have the hollowed out back sides with no reinforcing webs with no mold markings, however they have unusually wide grip screws that are countersunk into the grips without the reinforcing rings. This may have been an early style grip that was obviously dropped from production. This is just an outstanding example of a rare, one of a kind Singer preproduction M1911A1 pistol.
Manufucture: Singer
Model: 1911A1
BBL: 5 inch round
Stock:
Guage: 45 ACP
Finish: in the white
Grips: brown plastic checkered
Serial Number: NSN
Very fine in the original factory in the white metal finish, with minor areas of light rust just starting to form in some areas from lack of oil. The grips are noted as original Singer mfg. grips, showing only some minor handling marks on the left side. As noted the various parts all appear to be 99% machined with only minor final hand-fitting and polishing left to be finished.
Auction Location:
7819 42nd St W, Rock Island, Illinois, 61201, United States
Previewing Details:
Thursday, September 12th 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, September 13th 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Saturday, September 14th 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Sunday, September 15th 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Please contact the auction house for the preferred shipper’s contact information.
Payment Details:
Payment Information: Auction sales are strictly for cash, cashier’s check or checks (with prior approval of the management), MasterCard, Visa or Discover. NOTE TO ALL BUYERS: Method of payment will be U.S. currency or certified check drawn on an American bank. All sales are final at the fall of the Auctioneer's hammer. Buyer’s Premium: All bid prices “hammer prices” (means the price at which a lot is knocked down to the purchaser) will be subject to a buyer’s premium payable by the purchaser of 20.5% of the bid price. There is a 2.5% discount for payment with cash, approved check or wire transfer. The premium is added to your successful bid and the two together equal the total purchase price. At the announcement of “SOLD”, the highest bidder will have purchased the offered lot. This purchase is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchaser assumes full responsibility thereof and if requested will sign a confirmation of the purchase. The purchaser further agrees to pay the purchase price, buyer’s premium and any applicable taxes before any lot may be transferred. All items purchased by successful bidders must be paid for in full the day of sale. All items purchased by absentee bidders must be paid for in full immediately upon notification.
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1. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE. The following conditions of sale make up the entire terms and conditions on which items listed in our catalog, on the internet web site and addendum sheets will be offered for sale or sold by Rock Island Auction Company (known hereafter as “RIAC”). All bidders who participate by bidding in this auction agree to the terms and condition of sale and agree to be bound by same. Any notices, posted or oral during the sale, are also part of our condition of sale agreement. Acceptance of a bidder card or a bidder number constitutes acceptance of the following terms and conditions of sale. The purchaser’s rights and our respective rights and obligations hereunder are governed by Illinois law. By bidding at our auction whether in person or by agent, sealed bid, telephone bid, via the internet or other means, the buyer or bidder agree that the contract created by these conditions of sale is made and performed in the County of Rock Island, State of Illinois and further agrees that should any dispute arise from this contract the jurisdiction for contractual disputes is Rock Island County. Auctioneer is not responsible for any errors of the buyer including but not limited to the buyer bidding on the wrong lot.
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This is not an aggregate percentage on the total items bid rather a per item percentage rate. The premium is added to your successful bid and the two together equal the total purchase price. Some items are exempt from Illinois sales tax and others may be subject to Illinois sales tax or local sales tax. The tax is computed on the total purchase price. To establish a tax free sale, a copy of a valid reseller’s permit or other instrument of information must be provided to our satisfaction establishing a sales tax exemption. Any purchaser claiming an exemption yet unable to provide proof will be required to pay the tax to us and seek a refund from the State of Illinois. Generally, all items shipped out of state are tax free sales. We have been authorized by the consignor to retain as part of our remuneration, the buyer’s premium payable by the purchaser.
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4. TERMS OF PAYMENT. At the announcement of “SOLD”, the highest bidder will have purchased the offered lot. All sales are final at the fall of the Auctioneer’s hammer or at the announcement of “sold”. This purchase is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchaser assumes full responsibility thereof and if requested will sign a confirmation of the purchase. The purchaser further agrees to pay the purchase price, buyer’s premium and any applicable taxes. All items purchased by successful bidders must be paid for in full the day of sale. All property must be removed from our premises at the purchaser’s expense no later than 5:00 p.m. five days following the date of sale unless otherwise agreed. If the property is not removed, it may be transferred to a public warehouse for the purchaser at the purchaser’s risk and expense.
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15. FIREARMS LAWS. All post - 1898 firearms must be registered in compliance with Federal and Illinois State Law. Buyers of post - 1898 firearms must complete state and federal registrations forms at Rock Island Auction Company, 7819 42nd Street West, Rock Island, IL 61201, unless otherwise specified. A 3-day waiting period is mandatory for modern handguns, a 24-hour waiting period on modern long arms. Dealers and out-of-state buyers must have in their possession on the day of sale, signed copies of their Federal Firearms License in order to accept same-day delivery of modern weapons. Buyers who act as agents for FFL dealers must have a letter of agency as well as a signed copy of the dealers Federal Firearms License (FFL).
16. CLASS 3. All firearms designated as Class 3 must be registered in compliance with the NFA registry. A $200 federal tax payment is required each time a functional NFA firearm is transferred to or from a private owner. This fee as well as full purchase payment is due at time of purchase in order to process the paperwork. The new owner of the Class 3 firearm will be required to complete 3 forms - 1) ATF Form 4, 2) fingerprint card, 3) ATF form 5330.20 Certificate of Compliance. These forms will be provided to you by Rock Island Auction Company. Note: if state of local law requires a permit or license to purchase, possess, or receive NFA firearms, a copy of the transferee’s (buyer) permit or license must accompany the application. Rock Island Auction Company then mails the paperwork for the Federal Transfer Tax to BATFE. The BATFE says that it can take up to 90 days for approval. We will receive back one of the Form 4’s (they are sent in duplicate) with a Federal Tax Stamp attached to it. This is given to the new owner when he/she picks up the NFA firearm. No further tax is due. The following states do not allow individuals to own machine guns: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, Rhode Island. SPECIAL NOTE: If you are an SOT (Special Occupation Tax) payer (Class 3 dealer) you are able to transfer functional NFA firearms to or from other SOT payers and government agencies with BATFE approval, but without having to pay a transfer tax.
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18. All delivery, shipping and storage charges must be paid by the successful bidder prior to delivery of the firearm.
SHIPPING. If packing and handling of purchased lots is done by Rock Island Auction Company, it is done at the entire risk of the purchaser. All items must have shipping insurance; this insurance is mandatory. RIAC will not charge any labor charges for shipping. We are not liable for any acts of omission in packaging or shipping. Purchased lots handled by outside carriers or packers including those we may have recommended such carriers or packers may carry their own insurance and any claims for losses or damages should be addressed directly to them. We will arrange for packing and shipping at our earliest possible convenience. We will attempt to ship as soon as possible, however, due to our high volume of absentee bids shipping can take up to two weeks after full payment is received. In the case of crating or any exceptional packaging, the buyer will be charged our cost from outside agents. Buyer pays shipping, packing materials, and insurance charges.
The shipping of any purchased items outside of the United States is hereby classified as “foreign export”. All foreign export is the sole responsibility of the purchasing buyer.
DISPUTES UNDER THIS CONTRACT
Buyer and RIAC agree to mediate any dispute or claim arising between them resulting from the buyer participating in the auction or any resulting transaction. Furthermore the buyer and RIAC agree should Mediation be necessary that Mediation fees if any will borne equally by the parties. Buyer and RIAC are required under the terms and condition of sale to enter into Mediation before arbitration or any court action. Should a party commence legal action other than Mediation without giving written notice to the other party that party will not be entitled to recover attorney’s fees even if they would otherwise be allowed to that party in the action[ you should require mediation or arbitration prior to filing any law suit ] All. All mediation, arbitration and court proceedings, whether in state or federal court, shall be filed and conducted solely within Rock Island County, State of Illinois, and not in any other jurisdiction.
Should Mediation not settle the dispute between the parties the buyer and RIAC agree that any dispute, claim in law or equity resulting from the participation in the auction or any resulting transaction shall be settled utilizing neutral binding arbitration utilizing the standards of American Arbitration Association and must be initiated and carried out in Rock Island County state of Illinois. Any bidder or actual buyer agree the election of restricting any and all claims to Arbitration is a voluntary decision and evidenced by participation in the auction. The buyer states “I have read the terms and conditions of sale and by my participation in this sale I agree all disputes arising out of my participation will be first submitted to Mediation, and if Mediation is not successful in resolving the dispute I then submit to neutral binding Arbitration with RIAC and any other entity under this contract. No lawsuit shall be filed until a person has in good faith completed all Mediation and Arbitration proceedings as required hereunder.
Limitation of Liability. Except as expressly provided above, all property is sold “as is”. Rock Island Auction Company nor the consignor makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the title, merchantability, fitness or condition of the property or as to the correctness of description, genuineness, attribution, provenance or period of the property or as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights or other intellectual property rights in lots sold or as to whether a work of art is subject to the artist’s moral rights or other residual rights of the artist. All firearms and ammunition are sold as collector lots only. fitness to fire or otherwise discharge the arm or ammunition is expressly denied by rock island auction company. a competent gunsmith should be consulted before attempting to use or fire any firearm or ammunition. the purchaser expressly acknowledges and agrees that in no event shall Rock island auction company be liable for any damages including without limitation any compensatory, incidental or consequential damages.
4/13/2011 11:21:35 AM