Was cleaning out the ammo storage facility and found seven boxes of .45 ACP. This brought me to the realization that it is highly unlikely that I will ever use this up in my single .45 firearm, an Ithaca M1911A1 that was packed on December 7, 1943 to be shipped to war.




It shoots fine, but 1911 collectors advise that it’s not worth taking the risk of cracking the slide on a nice example.

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

Sounds like a good time to pick up a new 1911!

__________________
Because of the metric system?

There are some bargain priced 1911's available now. Several years ago, I decided it was time to let my Series 70 GC rest a bit and I got a Ruger 1911. I still shoot the GC, but not as much as I use to.

Super nice example! Any history on the pistol?

Just a suggestion to replace that beauty after retirement; Auto Ordinance makes about the nicest "true-to-form" mil-spec. 1911 I've seen. I've ordered one to accompany my Norinco and Colt.

__________________
John

I am a fan of Ithaca shotguns, especially the single barrel Knick and the Model 37. For years, whenever I visited the local gun shop I would peek into the locked glass stand-up cabinet that always had about 10 vintage handguns. One of the guns that never sold was a WW2 Ithaca 1911. Around the time I was turning 60 years old I decided to do something nice for myself, and asked the clerk if I could see the Ithaca. The sticker said $1,150. On my cell phone I found out that many WWII vintage 1911’s were armory reworks, and when put back together the parts would likely be from different manufacturers. I told the clerk that if it was in good working order and the serial number of the receiver was in the Ithaca range I was interested. The clerk brought it to the manager in the back room. He came out out and answered yes to both questions and said that the manager would give it to me for $1,100 plus tax. I said yes, and after doing the New Jersey paperwork I picked up my first and still only 1911 about a month later.

Not knowing anything else about 1911’s I posted pictures on a 1911 Forum and got lots of good info, including a copy of the packing slip showing that it was packed exactly two years after Pearl Harbor for shipment to the Augusta Ordnance Depot.

It shoots great and shows no signs of Arsenal rework or refinishing. Ithaca’s were known for their rough finish and tooling marks are plainly visible under the original parkerized finish. Most important, it reminds me of my two WWII Vet uncles who have now passed. It also reminds me of all the men and women who have worn the uniform with honor so my family and I could be free.

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I'm not a gunsmith of any type, but I don't think occasional shooting of your WWII Ithaca will do it any harm. The warnings about old types of heat-treatment (or no heat treatment at all) to the slides are meant to discourage using the older guns for the massive amounts of shooting that modern shooting competitors do.
I have a WWI Colt that I've had (and shot) for more than 50 years without problems. I do replace the springs on a regular basis, and I use a recoil buffer on the recoil spring guide (currently using the Wilson buffers; and they are very inexpensive insurance). Bought my first 1911A1 from DCM in December, 1962 ($15.00 plus $2.50 shipping) and nothing ever broke on that either. I will say that I've heard from users more knowledgable that myself that the Ithaca 1911A1 was he "softest" metal of the WWII production.
Best of luck whatever you do.

I'm in the camp of preserving these historical pieces. During WW II, spot hardened slides were introduced and they are more durable and less likely to crack than the non-hardened slides, but given the relatively low number of all-original military issue M1911 and M1911-A1's, and the inexpensive M-1911-A1 copies available from Auto-Ordnance, it makes little sense to potentially destroy the value of an original piece.

Look for a GI holster and box of old hardball and display them with the Ithaca. Take a photo and mount it on the wall in your space. Put the Ithaca back in your safe and give it the retirement which it deserves.

__________________
Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I'll take it!!

Seriously, beautiful pistol. Shoot, clean, enjoy. Lots of history there.

Picture is framed well with the addition of the knife.

There are thousands of 1911s out there to choose from. Buy yourself a shooter and give that old warhorse a much deserved rest.

I spent 24 years in the Corps. Never saw a cracked slide. The only inspections I can remember were of the frames. I had friends that did NonDestructive Inspections (NDI Tech.'s). They inspected all the pistols at MCAS Cherry Point and MCB Camp Lejuene and only found a handful, back in the early 1980's.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I have a 1943 Ithaca as well. All original. Had it about 10 years now. Estimate value around $2,000+ now. I shoot a couple of mags through it about once a year. Paid about the same as you did back when I bought it.

Have a Colt 1911A1 reproduction that they made about 2500 units in 2000-2001 that I shoot a little more often.

I don't really buy into the argument about cracked slides and/or cracked frames. Most of these pistols are 75-years-old now. Some even older. Okay, I know it happens sometimes.

Why is it people worry about damaging an old G.I. .45, but don't think twice about shooting an old S&W or Colt revolver? A Victory revolver from the same time period, for instance? Or a Colt SAA from the 1800s or early 1900s?

Unless it's an almost pristine 1911A1, it's gonna get shot if it's mine. It might not get hundreds of rounds run through it, but it will be fired for function, and will get some trips to the range. You can see one example of that by clicking here.

It's okay to semi-retire these old pistols, but really, they were made to be used.

!.) I know for a fact that the Marines and the Navy inspected all of their M1911A1's frames for cracks. All of their M1911A1's were rebuilt a NWS Crane and placed in storage. I am sure the Army and the Air Force probably did the same.

2,) I have a couple of old Colts that do get shot, but not as much as my much newer S&W's. One is a Colt Model 1909 U.S.Army in .45 Colt made in 1909. The other is a Colt 1903 Hammer in .38 ACP made in 1914.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.