Make: Ithaca

Model: 1911-A1

Serial Number: 1263929

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 Coltwood plastic panels with large reinforcement rings around the screw heads and reinforcement ribs on the interior. The grips have minor handling wear. There are a few light nicks and scuffs. There are light tool marks around the screws. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates about 7/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The most notable finish wear is handling wear in the grip areas. There are a few minor nicks, scuffs and small scratches. There is a light "idiot mark" under the slide stop on the left of the frame. . The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the Ordnance wheel is shallow and incomplete, as is common. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.

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 7-round Risdon 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 government 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 and Signal, and one firearms manufacturer, Ithaca Gun Co.

This example was made by Ithaca in 1943. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition, retaining the great majority of its original parkerized finish, a decent bore in its correct High Standard barrel, and strong mechanics. The pistol's wear is light given its age and service, and speaks of a pistol that saw responsible use. This is a neat old Ithaca M1911A1 and would make a good addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!