Anyone else spooked from buying military marked firearms

[bushmaster1313]

I have one military marked firearm, a 1943 Ithaca M1911A1.

Because the serial number blocks are known, with these guns it’s relatively easy to be sure that that are what they purport to be.

But with other firearms it seems much more iffy, and the fair market price is hard to estimate.

 

[moosedog]

Nice 1911. I'm not so much spooked by it, but I move slowly and cautiously when doing so. I have purchased a lot of books to study the WWII firearms so I can make an educated purchase.
It's like anything of high value, someone is always trying to make a fast buck and just one or two bogus stamps or a renumbering can up the value on a weapon. It's a shame that it is like that.

 

[BigBill]

Spooked like noises inside the the safe at night?

Or not sure what to buy that would be confused right.

Other than 1911’s,

I got into surplus military guns three decades ago. The game changed when I seen German Nazi stamps for sale at numrich e-gun parts. This told me there a fakes out there. I don’t have a crystal ball to tell me what’s real of fake. One must know the limitations. I stayed away from the high dollar stuff. Shop smart. Example I wanted a German 98k 8 mm Mauser. I purchased Robert balls book on mousers of the world. The Yugoslavs had captured German 98k Mauser removed the German markings, put on the Yugoslav markings. I purchased a real German 98 k Mauser but at the yugo price. Another thing is all matching numbers on the gun. I learned to be patient. Make a list of what your looking for. Sooner or later a all matching numbered gun will show up. I was happy to find guns were just the bolt number matched the receiver number. But I found Mauser we’re all the numbers matched on the steel and also the wood too. While finding these are rare the older collectors are selling off their collections. Carry a bore light or two with extra batteries. Check the throat and bore for corrosion. Check along the line where the wood stock meets the receiver, the trigger guard too.

You must educate yourself. Know the price ranges and conditions. There’s a great group of guys on gunboards.com total online service for the gun owner and collector too. Lots of info.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Explain what makes that Ithaca "military marked" . . . ?

 

[bushmaster1313]

Explain what makes that Ithaca "military marked" . . . ?

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It also has a serial number corresponding to a packing slip showing it was packed on December 7, 1943 and shipped to the Commanding Officer of the Augusta Ordnance Depot in Augusta, Georgia on December 11, 1943

 

[Alk8944]

What he said^^^^^^^ Not to mention that all Ithaca 1911A1s were Gov't issue. None were sold on the open market except as surplus after the war!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

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It also has a serial number corresponding to a packing slip showing it was packed on December 7, 1943 and shipped to the Commanding Officer of the Augusta Ordnance Depot in Augusta, Georgia on December 11, 1943

Why would one want a 1911 with an Idiot Mark on it???
BTW NICE pictures!

 

[WR Moore]

Where's the US Property stamping? Should be on the right side of the frame.

I'd challenge the claim the ALL Ithaca production went to the Government. I'd expect there were a fair number of lunch box specials that exist and never entered government service.

 

[Triathloncoach]

I pondered buying a Garand or a M1 Carbine. It appears that about a billion variations exist and I know zero of them or their value. If I were to buy one I would ask one of the milsurp experts on my local board before I bought anything. Just as I did with S&W Revolvers before I learned just enough to get myself in big trouble. Thanks Leatherhead.

 

[Triathloncoach]

Would you want it if you called it a takedown scratch or a reassembly scratch?

Would not a rose by any other name still smell as sweet?

 

[Triathloncoach]

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It also has a serial number corresponding to a packing slip showing it was packed on December 7, 1943 and shipped to the Commanding Officer of the Augusta Ordnance Depot in Augusta, Georgia on December 11, 1943

I’ll give you three fiddy

 

[jlrhiner]

Three fiddy one.

 

[Weimar]

Where's the US Property stamping? Should be on the right side of the frame.

I'd challenge the claim the ALL Ithaca production went to the Government. I'd expect there were a fair number of lunch box specials that exist and never entered government service.

that may be true, but then they are stolen and not true examples....

they are not commercial and they are not military - the fact is still that Ithaca only made 1911a1's for the gov't.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I'll just respond to the military firearm part. What gets me is when your holding a military arm you are holding history in your hands. If only they could talk!

 

[Watchdog]

Why would one want a 1911 with an Idiot Mark on it???

Well, I'll tell you...idiots like me will buy one in a heartbeat.

 

[Watchdog]

Where's the US Property stamping? Should be on the right side of the frame.

Gosh, I reckon the guy just maybe forgot to include a photo or something. Jeez.

 

[jsfricks]

Why would one want a 1911 with an Idiot Mark on it???
BTW NICE pictures!

When it comes to the 1911A1 made for the military it’s hard to find one without the re-assembly scratch unless it hasn’t been used. I learned something new yesterday from one of the top guys (Joe Holden) on the 1911 forum. He stated that at that time they were taught to press the slide stop against the lower part of the frame and slide it up into the slot to re-assemble, thus causing the scratch. If a military WWII era 1911 or 1911a1 doesn’t have a scratch I’d be looking real close to see if it’s a refinish or unissued.

 

[mauser9]

Have read one has to be careful when buying milsurps especially german ones like 98k due to fakery these days. Milsurps have gained in popularity and best to check with someone in the know these days.

 

[jsfricks]

Have read one has to be careful when buying milsurps especially german ones like 98k due to fakery these days. Milsurps have gained in popularity and best to check with someone in the know these days.

Exactly, If you don’t have knowledge on something your interested in you can bet there’s a website or forum out there that can help you. I recently purchased an all matching 98k, and knowing nothing about them, before buying I posted detailed pictures on the 98k forum and got some great help and links to even more places to confirm what I needed to know.

 

[jtcarm]

that may be true, but then they are stolen and not true examples....



they are not commercial and they are not military - the fact is still that Ithaca only made 1911a1's for the gov't.

And at 335,000 total production, Ithaca built the least of any gun company contracted. And I don’t think they had any other big contracts.

For comparison, Remington Rand cranked out 878,000, more than Colt & Ithaca combined

The pen may not be mightier than the sword, but the typewriter won that battle[emoji50]