Found this little gem locally and it appears to be correct and in original condition, not an arsenal rebuild. S/N is in the 1945 production range and correct for Ithaca.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

WOW! That is a terrific find. Thanks for sharing.

Dan

Simply Beautiful !

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Randy

My first service pistol, back in ‘73 in the ROK was an Ithaca.

That is a twin to the pistol I carried during my first tour in Vietnam.

Lots of folks are not aware that military purchases of M1911A-1 pistols stopped at the end of WW2. Other than a few national match pistols or other specialty pieces every pistol still in general use through the late 1980's was made during or before World War II (ending in 1945). The same pistols we carried in Vietnam remained in service until the transition to the M9 pistols was completed (1985-1990 or so), and were the same pistols issued during Korea and WW2. Some original Model 1911's (1918 and earlier) remained in military inventories all along, so they were old enough to qualify for social security before they were retired by the US military.

In 1990 my son was serving in the US Coast Guard when his vessel received the new M9's and retired the M1911A-1's that had been in the ship's inventory since the ship was commissioned.

Finding one in good original condition these days is always a pleasure.

You scored big time. Nice, original 1911's and A1's have been getting harder to find as time passes.

If it's not stamped COLT or UNITED STATES PROPERTY then it's not a 1911, just a clone.

I like that one! It's a keeper for sure. Don't you love the way the finish is worn along the high edges, almost outlining the shape of the pistol?

Just curious...what kind of magazine came with it? Look for a letter stamped on the toe tab of the magazine...maybe an "R" or an "L"? Or an "S", maybe. Does it have a Flannery barrel?

I'm always surprised when I hear about someone finding one locally...like at an LGS. They simply don't show up around here...or if they do, someone's refinished them or done some other silly modification to it.

You are gonna shoot it, aren't you? Congratulations on your acquisition!

Check your parts here. One of the best for that sort of thing: http://www.coolgunsite.com/

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

That is one super find! It certainly appears totally correct from the great pictures you posted. I can see the Yawman trigger (stamped steel, invented by Harry Howland of Ithaca in 1943 and "forced" onto the other 1911A1 manufacturers by the Ordinance Dept' to speed up production). I can also see the 7 rib MSH, traces of FJA (Col Frank J. Atwood). Looks like the correct Keyes Fiber grips with reinforcing rings too.

Mine is a late 1943, and has the hollow cross Ithaca proof mark on left side of trigger guard, and my magazine is stamped R (Risdon Mfg) on the top of floor plate. I've been dickering on and off with a buddy for some 15 years over obtaining his one magazine marked GS (General Shaver) but just can't get off the $100 asking price.

Mine has a wear spot right on the serial number that the story I have heard for years is that the mark is indicative of holster carry in a GI, M7 flap holster where the flap closure button will touch the frame. At least in my case...it actually does touch in exactly that spot in any of the 3 genuine M7 flap holster I have.

Every time I take mine out for exercise, I invariably get decent offers on the spot. I have turned down $2,500 and will most likely continue to keep this keeper.

I don't know whether mine was in some GI or Marines holster assaulting Iwo Jima, or spent countless years in some Lt's holster during guard mounts around the world...either way...history in your hands! Ya gotta love it!.

Thanks for posting your incredible find in this day and age.

Does this mean you will be withdrawing your CMP lottery number?

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I have used this website for many years for researching 1911's that I have purchased. But thanks for posting the link.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Last gun show I went to (well over a year ago), a guy had one General Shaver magazine. Wanted $130 for it.

I still don't have a General Shaver magazine. If I found one for $100, I might be tempted. Risdons go for around $50 here. Ditto for Littles. I lucked out a while back...found two Risdons in an LGS's "surplus magazine bin"...walked out with both of 'em for $25.

Yes, it has the correct FLANNERY barrel and the magazine toe is marked with the letter "L"

It's nice to find one that is not an arsenal rebuild and yes, the edge wear really adds to the story!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I will have to check my U.S. .45 ACP magazine's and see if what I have for the letter stamps.....

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

WW2 production magazines came from Colt, Little, Risdon, General Shaver, and American Pin Company. Colt-produced magazines were generally unmarked; Colt also delivered pistols with Little and Risdon magazines made on contract, marked C-L or C-R. Little produced magazines for Remington-Rand, Ithaca, and Union Switch & Signal. I think just about all the General Shaver mags were "spare parts", shipped out as replacements to be issued as needed. American Pin produced relatively few during WW2, but were one of the more common makers for WW1 pistols.

After WW2, as replacement magazines became needed, several companies produced them. Those are generally marked on the floorplate with the part/stock number and a manufacturer's code (there are some on-line resources for deciphering those markings to identify maker and contract time period). Generally not considered very collectible, for now anyway.

As recently as 2005 I was still finding new, unissued WW2 magazines still in the original VPI paper wrappers. Picked up an unopened box of 24 General Shaver mags at a gun show, made several collectors very happy while also lining my pockets nicely.

There are literally millions of the older magazines still out there, frequently in the hands of folks who have no idea what they are holding. I still keep my eyes open for deals, both to build my own collection and to provide extra funds for other "needs".

An interesting sideline field of collector interest.

Very nice find. I have a 1943 Ithaca that I'm fond of, they're fun to shoot.

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- Change it back -

Excellent piece. I also have a 1943 Ithaca that I came across 10 years ago. All original with High Standard barrel. Can't believe how much the value of the war contract pistols and magazines has increased over that time. Shoot and enjoy it. I did change the recoil and firing pin springs as well as WWII magazine springs. Of course kept the originals. shoots flawlessly after 75 years!

Tom, that is a wonderful find you have there. Thanks for sharing it with us. I guess all of us would love to find a similar treasure one day.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

General Shaver mags were issued only with RR pistols as GS was a company owned by RR. lee

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VFW, NRA, VVA, S&WCA 1758

Some years ago I found a brand-new in-the-wrapper Ithaca slide, bushing, and barrel at a gun show for $100. I had (and still have) a fairly nice original WWI Colt British M1911 (that is with the ".455 Calibre" marked slide). I put that Ithaca slide on the Colt frame and it fit perfectly, no fitting required. And I still shoot that combination. I have the .455 slide somewhere, but haven't seen it in a long time.

That's a fine old warrior, with great character.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Did some digging through my magazine stash and came across several 1911 U.S. mags.

Turns out I have a total of 5 that are marked with an "S" and all but one are in excellent condition.

Also have one marked with an "G" as well as one marked with an "R" and several that are un-marked which I would guess to be Colt.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

My 1943 Ithaca 1911A1 was aquired from a WWII vet who just happened to be my general Foreman. He got my Saur 38H in 32 auto. Shot steel plate matches with it as it was the only 45 I had at the time. High Standard barrel. Still shoot it ocassionally but only with standard 45 ammo. It likes my load of 5 grains WST, Win LPP, any case and a hard cast 230 rn bullet. Frank

Nice Find! Thanks for sharing.

I'll take it!!

Great find. Thanks for sharing.

I didn't know that. Also, I don't know why I didn't know that. I reckon I need to do more studying up on 1911A1s than I already have.

I've always thought it kinda funny about those Keyes grips on the WWII era 1911A1s.

They're plastic, okay? Or composition material, whatever. They're usually referred to as Keyes fiber grips. Now if we saw those grips on a modern day 1911, the first thing most of us would be thinking would be to swap them out for some pretty grips...maybe some stags or ivories. Or some gussied up things.

But looking at them on these old war horses, they look absolutely appropriate and useful. They look to be made for pistols that were inexpensively finished and utilitarian in nature. And in fact, they were. The grips and the pistol simply go together...they're made for each other.

One interesting thing about the Keyes grips. "Keyes" should actually be pronounced to rhyme with "eyes".

That's a great looking 1911.

Now all you need to do is lower that ejection port, put on a beavertail grip safety with round hammer, put some high-visibility sights on there, an ambi thumb safety, a mag funnel, a match grade barrel and bushing, and get it refinished in a nice black DLC finish with some fancy VZ grips.

JUST KIDDING!!!

I think it looks great as it is.

Y'all are making me want a 1911 now.

Everyone should have at least one vintage 1911A1 from WWII. Or even WWI. And unless it's some mint example, they should be shot once in a while.

The WWI doughboys are gone. The WWII Greatest Generation service members are disappearing every day. But the pistols they carried are still around. My personal feelings are that by owning one of these pistols, you are honoring them and their memory. When I look at these old pistols, their condition becomes almost immaterial to me. Where they have been and what they may have done (even if only in my imagination) is what's really meaningful to me.

We make you want a 1911? Then get one. Take my word for it...these old pistols are not going to get any cheaper.

I am a HUGE fan of U.S. Military firearms and gear from as far back as the Civil War. I have posted these before, but here are photos of my U.S. 1st Model Schofield and my WWI Colt 1911 and my S&W Model 1917.....enjoy!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

"S" marking is for Scoville, another WW2 contractor. Somehow I neglected to mention Scoville in my earlier post.

I also have an Ithaca, 43 issue. Not near as nice as yours. It has a WW2 Colt slide, and someone fitted circa 63 "Micro" sights to it in the past. Same as NM sights of that era, but in no way is it a NM gun. Some day I will get off the cash to find a correct slide, but it shoots fine as it is.
I agree, it is holding history in your hands.

With permission from the OP:

1943 Ithaca M1911A1
Packed December 7, 1943 (two years after Pearl Harbor)
Shipped December 11, 1943 to Commanding Officer, Augusta Ord. Depot, Augusta, Georgia











I shoot it sparingly at my trips to the range
5 rounds at 5-6 yards with a 6 o'clock hold:

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I was drawn to this thread like moth to a flame.

I too have vintage 1945 Ithaca, the S# places it a bit later than yours. I acquired it and the US Enger-Kress from William Roberts, a few years ago. Actually from his daughter in Law, though I did get to visit briefly with Mr. Roberts.
Sadly he passed a month or so later...

William Franklin Roberts, 97, died on August 11, 2019 in Gainesville, Georgia.
Born February 16, 1922 in Jacksonville Florida, William served as a B-26 Marauder pilot with the 386th Bomb Group, 555th Bomb Squadron during World War II. He flew 50 combat missions and was in Paris on VE-Day.

I am the current steward of the gun he carried in the war and retained from VE day.
Magazine is marked with an S, Barrel lug has an F.

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Agreed. On both points.

(1943 Colt 1911a1 below)

GREAT find OP, thanks for sharing it.

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How did you find thread from 2018?

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I was viewing another thread, at the bottom there is a list of similar topic threads ...this one said Ithaca 1911 , so I opened and read it and decided to respond.

Some threads deserve a breath of new life.... For me, this one falls in that category (along with those that have old Chiefs Special, and 1917 content). I was drawn to this one like a moth to a flame as well....
USGI 1911 and 1911A1's are a weakness of mine. I picked up a factory fresh 1943 Remington Rand last Saturday at a public auction at a quite reasonable price simply because it was dirty and wearing gaudy Mexican silver and gold gringo grips.... original grips came with it, so I'm happier than a pig in mud. I sure didn't need another Remington Rand, but couldn't resist it.

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NRA Endowment Member

You and I probably don't live too far apart. If I was at that auction I might have tried to buy that gun for myself.