WWII Ithaca U.S. Model 1911-A1 M1911A1 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1806
LSB#: 210419MB29
Make: Ithaca Gun Co.
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 1221411
Year of Manufacture: 1943 (Pg. 394 of Clawson’s “Colt .45 Service Pistols”)
Caliber: .45 A.C.P.
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “ITHACA GUN CO., INC. / ITHACA, N.Y.”. The right of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 1221411 / RIA”, “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY” and behind the grip with a faint Ordnance wheel. The top of the slide is marked “P” in front of the rear sight. There is another “P” behind the magazine release. The left of the frame has “FJA” behind and above the trigger. There are incomplete flaming bomb ordnance marks on the rear of the slide under the firing pin plate and the inside of the dust cover. The right of the trigger guard is marked “5”, the left has an Ithaca inspection mark. The barrel’s left link-lug is marked “M” and “P”, the right “C” in box. The top of the chamber is marked “COLT 45 AUTO”, the right is marked “C / 021 / 023”.
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 checkered brown plastic with reinforcement rings around the screws and with reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips have a few scattered light nicks and scuffs with some light tool marking around the grip screws. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling, mostly just in front of the chamber.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 93% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is minor handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered light scuffs and scratches, including some under the finish. There is infrequent minor discoloration from oxidation, mostly in the grip areas. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are generally clear, the Ordnance wheel is very faint and the flaming bomb Ordnance marks are incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition as refurbished.
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 blued 7-round magazine marked “L” on the top of the floorplate. The magazine has some operational wear and minor surface oxidation, the feed lips are intact and the spring is strong, in about Very Good condition. Also included is a Robert’s Arms Specialties Protecta-Gun two-piece cardboard box with a hand-written label which has this pistol’s information. The box shows little in the way of storage wear, in Fine-Excellent condition.
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. As in the Great War, production demands of WWII required many manufacturers to produce military equipment for the war effort. Interestingly, Ithaca Gun Co. was the only maker of the 1911A1 pistol, apart from Colt, which made firearms before the war. This example of an Ithaca 1911A1 was refurbished by Rock Island Arsenal after the war, but still has both an Ithaca slide and frame. The pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition with 93% of its new Parkerized finish remaining. The bore on its new barrel is still quite strong. This pistol should garner a lot of interest from the collectors of WWI and WWII pistols, 1911s in particular, and should still make for a great shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!