Make: Ithaca

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number: 858250 (This serial number is in a range which was overlapped by Colt. The markings, finish and manufacture of the frame all indicate that the frame was made by Ithaca Gun Co.)

Year of Manufacture: 1943

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by 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 checkered brown Keyes Fibre plastic with reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the inside. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few small marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5 or 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, mostly in the right slide-flat and the frontstrap. There are light tool marks under the finish on each side of the slide at the rear. There are rough spots on the frame at the rear of the trigger guard, likely forging imperfections. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are generally clear, the Ordnance wheel is incomplete, as is common. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: Included is a single MS Little 7-round 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. 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. It has been refinished, but the new finish bears a strong resemblance to the original Du-Lite finish (apart from the barrel which was refinished outside of service). Ithaca had a hard time getting production going and had a number of rejected pistols in early production. It is not impossible that the slide and frame were refinished at the factory, but there is no way to be certain. The pistol is in Very Good condition, retaining about 87% of its current metal finish and strong mechanics. This would be a neat addition to a collection, especially for 1911 collectors missing an early Ithaca. Please see our photos and good luck!