Custom Ithaca/Colt 1911-A1 1911A1 .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Target Pistol
SOLD FOR: $1391
LSB#: 210709KG25
Make: Ithaca Frame, Colt Slide
Model: Custom 1911A1 with commercial Government Model Slide
Serial Number: 1252589
Year of Manufacture: 1943, ATF Modern
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The right of the frame is marked with an Ordnance wheel, “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 1252589″ and on the dust cover with “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”, the left is marked “FJA” below the slide stop and “P” at the magazine release. The left of the trigger guard has an Ithaca inspection mark, the right is marked “4”. The right of the slide is marked “COLT’S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”, the left is marked “GOVERNMENT / MODEL”, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER 45” and with a faint rampant colt. The right of the frame has a “NOT ENGLISH MAKE” British marking. The link lugs are marked “P” and “HS”, the bottom of the barrel has “589” hand-scribed in front of the lugs.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade with a serrated rear face fixed to the front of the slide. The original rear sight dovetail has been filled with a blank and blended. The top-rear of the slide has been slotted with a S&W-style square-notch sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation. There is a ding on the top-right corner of the rear sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are custom two-piece checkered walnut, contoured with a palm-shelf on the right panel and a thumb-shelf on the left for a right-handed shooter. The grips have light handling wear. There are a few nicks at the edges, most notable on the palm-shelf and a more notable ding at the top of the right panel. There are light tool marks around the screw heads. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition as not original to the gun. Note: the top-right grip screw is seized in its bushing, the top-left grip screw bushing is at least partially stripped, we were not able to remove it from the frame to inspect the threads.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 80% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, some are worn and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has both a manual and grip safety and the trigger pull is crisp. The slide has no play to the frame, but slides smoothly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a wood shooting box and a series of accessories including a Pistol Match timer, a stop-watch, a set of glasses with clip-on yellow-tint lenses (the left lense has a cover on it), a RIG Eze-Scorer .45 Caliber plug, a nameplate marked “L.T. ZILISCH / MILWAUKEE”, and a series of paperwork which was found clipped into the lid of the box. Where certificates were found matching other pistols from this collection, they were included with the other pistols. The remaining paperwork includes serial-matching Camp Perry National Match certificates from 1961, 1963 and 1964 as well as two non-matching certificates. The exterior of the box is marked “MJR. ZILISCH” and a Fifth U.S. Army Pistol Team plate has been glued to the back. A second Fifth U.S. Army Pistol Team plate, dated 1959 is included, hand-written on the back of this plate is “Capt Zilisch / (Milwaukee-Kid!) / (Peck’s Bad boy!)”. Please note, this pistol does not come with a magazine.
Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. They have also served as some of the best target pistols of the 20th century, and this is one example of a custom target 1911. The pistol was made with a commercial Government Model slide, an Ithaca 1911A1 frame which appears to have been a Lend-Lease gun, and has been heavily customized. Custom features include target sights, target grips, stippled frontstrap, trigger-shoe with over-travel stop, fine-checkered mainspring housing and the tight fit of the slide and bushing indicate that some work was done to accurize the pistol. The pistol came from a collection which included a number of accessories and documents of a Captain, later Major L.T. Zilisch, who appears to have been a regular shooter with the 5th and possibly 6th U.S. Army Pistol Team and Army Markskmanship Training Unit. Documents included with Major Zilisch’s shooting box indicate that this pistol was used in not one, not two, but three Camp Perry National Matches! This should still make for a great shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!