WWII Ithaca British Lend-Lease US M1911A1 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB#: LSB250525MC005
Make: Ithaca Gun Co.
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 1256169
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a serrated, ramped rear face fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered brown Keyes Fibre plastic without reinforcement rings around the screws (early-style) and reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few scattered minor marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. Overall, the grips are in Fine-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and stubborn fouling scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6-7/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the finish loss is on the dust cover which shows polishing, the United States Property marking has been removed from the left of the dust cover and this area was touched-up with cold blue. Therre are some light nicks and scuffs. The grip area shows light handling wear. There is infrequent minor oxidation, mostly in the grip area. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The remaining markings are generally clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. There is very minor play between the slide and frame. 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 7-round magazine.
Our Assessment: As was the case in the previous Great War, the outset of WWII found many nations starved for small arms, procuring just about anything they could get their hands on to arm their troops. Prior to the United State’s entry to WWII, there were various methods of supplying the Allies with defense products while maintaining neutrality, the final being the Lend-Lease Act which permitted the sale, lending and leasing of defense equipment to Allied nations by the U.S. government. This Ithaca 1911A1’s British proof markings indicate that it is one that was sold to the British government under the Lend-Lease Act in 1943, later to be sold out of service in 1952. This Lend-Lease example is in Very Good condition with 75% of its parkerized finish remaining, most of the finish loss being in the dust cover where the United States Property marking was removed. The bore is decent and its mechanics are strong. This should still make for a fun shooter, but with this pistol’s history it will also be of great interest to 1911 and WWII collectors. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
