Make: Union Switch & Signal Co.
Model: M1911A1
Serial Number: 1059965
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5", High Standard
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 Coltwood synthetic panels with reinforcement ribs on the inside and large reinforcement rings around the screws. The grips have minor handling wear with some scattered little nicks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Du Lite
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There a little minor erosion and stubborn copper fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates about 8/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There are several scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is an "idiot mark" under the slide stop on the left of the frame. There is a little scattered minor surface oxidation, primarily around the rear sight. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good 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 single 7-round Risdon magazine and a Springfield Research Service letter. The letter indicates that this pistol was shipped from Union Switch and Signal to Benicia Arsenal on June 20, 1945.
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. While much of the small arms production was performed by arms manufacturers, there were also contracts that went out to other firms.
As the name suggests, Union Switch & Signal Co. produced switches and signaling equipment for railroads. They received a contract to produce 200,000 1911-A1 pistols, though the contract would be shortened with only 55,000 delivered to the government. This makes the US&S 1911-A1s the second rarest of all the manufacturers, behind only Singer who developed the educational material to allow non-firearms manufacturers to swiftly tool up to produce 1911 pistols. It is believed that when the drawings were originally delivered to US&S, the "P" proof mark on the slide was not included, leading to the early production US&S pistols not having the mark at all. When this was discovered, Ordnance requested that the marking be added to the pistol, but it appears that the location was not clear, with interim production guns, such as this one, having the marking notably left of center. The later production pistols had the marking in the same location as other makers.
This example is a neat find for collectors with its original DuLite finish and Springfield Research Service letter. The pistol retains about 85% of its original finish with strong mechanics. The grips are Coltwood, rather than the typical Keyes Fibre panels, but that isn't the only oddity with this piece. The SRS letter indicates that the pistol shipped to Benicia Arsenal from Union Switch & Signal in 1945. This is peculiar as all of US&S production took place in 1943. It is not clear why this one stuck around the factory for as much as two years, only shipping out between VE and VJ days. This pistol should garner a lot of interest from the collectors of WWII pistols, and 1911s in particular. Please see our photos and good luck!
