Make: Ithaca

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number: 865828 (This serial number falls into a range which was used by both Colt and Ithaca. Based on the FJA inspection mark, the frame was produced by Ithaca).

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 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 light handling wear with a few nicks and light scuffing. There are some light tool marks around the screws. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely Arsenal Refurbished

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is sharp. There is some light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates about 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are scattered tool marks, small nicks and minor surface erosion under the finish. There are only a few scattered light marks through the finish. The grip areas show minor handling wear. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine condition as refurbished.

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: This pistol comes with a single 7-round magazine and a brown leather M1916 flap-holster marked SEARS 1942 with canvas hanger. The magazine is marked "L" on the floorplate (M.S. Little).

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 Fine condition, retaining 95% of its likely arsenal-applied parkerizing. It has a good bore in its High Standard barrel 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!