WWII US Ithaca Gun Co. 1911A1 .45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3275
LSB#: 230308JH013
Make: Ithaca
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 910298 (This serial number falls into a range which was used by both Colt and Ithaca. Based on the lack of a Verified Proof on the trigger guard as well as lacking the usual inspection mark at the disconnector found on Colt pistols, we believe the frame was produced by Ithaca).
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: .45 A.C.P.
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “ITHACA GUN CO., INC. / ITHACA, N.Y.”. The left of the frame behind the magazine release and the top of the slide in front of the rear sight are marked with a “P” acceptance proof. The left side of the frame above the magazine release is marked “FJA” (Frank J. Atwood Lt. Col., Sub-Inspector for Ithaca, Remington Rand and Union Switch). The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 910298”, “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”, and at the rear there is a faint, incomplete Ordnance mark. The interior of the dust cover has a flaming bomb Ordnance mark. The left link-lug of the barrel is marked “P”, the right “HS”. The right front bow of the trigger guard is marked “3”. There is a flaming bomb under the firing pin plate.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered brown Keyes Fibre panels with reinforcement rings around the screw heads and reinforcement ribs on the interior. The grips have only a few minor marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion and some stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The grip areas show handling wear. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the top of the slide. There is an “idiot mark” under the slide stop on the left of the frame. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the Ordnance wheel is incomplete, as is common. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is light play between the slide and frame. The trigger is crisp. This pistol has manual and grip safeties. We have not fired 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 single post-war 7-round magazine and a 1950 Boyt black leather M1916 flap-holster.
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. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of “the slide”, which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns.
During the inter-war years, the design was further refined with an arched mainspring housing, relief-cuts behind the shortened trigger and some minor changes to other small parts, resulting in the 1911A1. This new model would be the US sidearm during WWII, and saw production by a few different companies. As in the previous World War, Colt and American Arsenals were not able to produce everything that would be required for this war, and production would be contracted to a typewriter company, Remington Rand, a company which made switches and signals for railroads, Union Switch & Signal, and one firearms manufacturer, Ithaca Gun Co.
This example was made by Ithaca in 1943, and is one of the earlier guns produced by the Ithaca, New York based company. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition, retaining much of its original parkerizing. It has a nice bore and strong mechanics as well as proper features and markings for 1943 Ithaca production. This is a nice Ithaca M1911A1 and would make a neat addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
