WWII - ITHACA 1911A1

[THREEDFLYER]

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.

 

[Frank46]

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

 

[ShivasIrons]

Nice Find! Thanks for sharing.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I'll take it!!

Great find. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Watchdog]

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

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.

 

[Watchdog]

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".

 

[ContinentalOp]

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.

 

[Watchdog]

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.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

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!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

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.

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

 

[jessebogan]

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.

 

[bushmaster1313]

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:

 

[Major 2]

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.

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.

 

[.357magger]

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.

Agreed. On both points.

(1943 Colt 1911a1 below)

GREAT find OP, thanks for sharing it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

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.

How did you find thread from 2018?

 

[Major 2]

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.

 

[JH1951]

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.

 

[Golddollar]

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.

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.