QUESTION ABOUT ITHACA WWII 1911A1

[Watchdog]

I'm looking at an Ithaca 1911A1 made in 1943. It has the "M 1911 A1 U.S.ARMY" stamp on the right side of the frame and on the right side of the slide. I'm not used to seeing this on the slide. Is this correct and simply just another variation like we see in these pistols? It is definitely an Ithaca WWII slide.

The pistol appears to be period correct, and there are no arsenal rework stamps on it. The finish looks original to me, and all the proper markings are clear and visible, even the ordnance stamp. The pistol has one of the typical Ithaca proof marks on the left side of the trigger guard.

There is also a small star stamped inside the frame in the barrel channel. I've never seen (or maybe just never noticed) this before.

Except for the bore on the High Standard barrel, this pistol looks pretty good to me. It has handling marks, including the ubiquitous "idiot mark".

Anyone care to enlighten me? Thanks in advance.

 

[Lee Barner]

I've got # 1233752 and it does not have the M1911A1 markings on the slide, only the right side of the frame in front of the trigger guard. there is a very small stamp inside the dust cover but I can't tell what it is. it could be a star. there were a lot of changes at time went on with war time production weapons and everything else. if you get it post some pics. some of us love old war horses. lee

PS: I looked in my .45 book and there is a picture of one in the 860XXX range with the M1911A1 stamping on the right side of the slide but other numbers below and above that range don't have it. go figure. lee

 

[tndrfttom]

I'm looking at an Ithaca 1911A1 made in 1943. It has the "M 1911 A1 U.S.ARMY" stamp on the right side of the frame and on the right side of the slide. I'm not used to seeing this on the slide. Is this correct and simply just another variation like we see in these pistols? It is definitely an Ithaca WWII slide.

According to Clawson's "Collectors Guide to Colt .45 Service Pistols......" 3rd Ed., some Ithaca slides were marked on the right side of the slide as you have described. The SN range given is intermittent from approx. 906000 - 916404 and into the 1208674 range.

 

[Watchdog]

I've got # 1233752 and it does not have the M1911A1 markings on the slide, only the right side of the frame in front of the trigger guard. there is a very small stamp inside the dust cover but I can't tell what it is. it could be a star. there were a lot of changes at time went on with war time production weapons and everything else. if you get it post some pics. some of us love old war horses. lee

PS: I looked in my .45 book and there is a picture of one in the 860XXX range with the M1911A1 stamping on the right side of the slide but other numbers below and above that range don't have it. go figure. lee

Lee, thanks so much for the reply. This pistol is #1217036. This pistol and yours fall into the 1208674-1279673 range, with #123500 marking the start of '44 production. You probably have better reference materials than I do...all my info is from online sources. I'll attach a photo of part of the slide on this one.

I actually remember seeing one other Ithaca months and months ago with the "double stamping" that sold for some crazy-high price.

I love the old warhorses, too. As I said, this pistol looks original to me, but my knowledge is limited. The finish looks original to me simply because I figure if someone re-Parkerized it, they'd have polished out a lot of the original rough tool marks these old pistols are known for.

It's hard to tell with these old ones. Even if they haven't been reworked at an arsenal and stamped appropriately, it would have been a simple matter for a G.I. to have swapped out a barrel or a slide or a bushing while out in the field.

EDIT: I just got this information from a member of the Colt Forum:

"In 1938 Ordnance made it a requirement that the spare/replacement slides be marked on the right side with M 1911A1 U.S. ARMY. This requirement was dropped in late 1943.

Ithaca used a small "flaming bomb" as an inspection mark on the receiver and slide into early 1944."

The member stated if the flaming bomb is there, it should be behind the firing pin stop plate. Unfortunately, since I don't have access to the pistol, I can't look for it.

 

[Watchdog]

According to Clawson's "Collectors Guide to Colt .45 Service Pistols......" 3rd Ed., some Ithaca slides were marked on the right side of the slide as you have described. The SN range given is intermittent from approx. 906000 - 916404 and into the 1208674 range.

Thanks so much! I'm sure it's possible a slide from an earlier one was swapped onto this one. What's throwing me off is that the finish on the slide and frame are identical to my untrained eyes. It just doesn't look like a cannibalized pistol to me. Also, the "P" on the top of the slide and the "P" on the frame under the mag release look to be the same size, which is an indicator that the slide and frame were made and assembled together at roughly the same time.

 

[Colokeb]

We both have DOUBLE Stamps. At some time Colt made extra slides for Ithica to keep production moving if there was a shortage. Mine is in the earlier sequence. Extra $$ value.

 

[DWalt]

I have an Ithaca slide (only), no double stamping. It was new and unused in original wrapping when I bought it.

 

[Faulkner]

My 1943 Ithaca only has the US Property markings on the frame. Serial # 12429xx

 

[jessebogan]

Hard to say just what these old fellers have been through in the last 70 plus years. I have an Ithaca with a Colt manufactured replacement slide.(1230984) It has the M1911 A1 US ARMY marking on the right side, and Colt markings on the left. Some one long before me added a "Micro" rear sight and a front to match. Shoots great, but someday I hope to find an Ithaca slide for it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I have 1227546

The slide has the Ithaca markings on the left and nothing on the right.
But except for the fact that the slide and frame seem to match, no way for me to tell that this slide left the Ithaca factory in 1943 with this frame.