1911a1's in Canada

[OLD RSM]

Hi Guy's
My M1911A1 Ithaca Set up


<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/OLDRSM/?action=view&current=KIF_0290.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/OLDRSM/KIF_0290.jpg" border="0" alt="Colt 1911A1"></a>

Cheers

 

[NAA]

Hi Guy's
My M1911A1 Ithaca Set up


<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/OLDRSM/?action=view&current=KIF_0290.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/OLDRSM/KIF_0290.jpg" border="0" alt="Colt 1911A1"></a>

Cheers

This what you mean?

NAA.

 

[hfp75]

(I am sure the new owner would not mind)

I dont mind.....

I am happy to now have an original ww2 1911a1... Ive been looking for a while...

H

 

[NAA]

I dont mind.....

I am happy to now have an original ww2 1911a1... Ive been looking for a while...

H

You outta be happy...... Really happy..... The price on it was excellent considering the current number of WWII vintage 1911A1's that are available that haven't been dicked with [i.e bubba'd with aftermarket sites, etc].... The number hovers around nil

By the serial number 2,026,710 yours is a late 1944 mfg Remington Rand frame. With a Colt mfg slide. [Commonly refered to as a "mix-master" - i.e. frame & slide don't match] Will be interesting to hear if the barrel is Colt mfg/marked or "HS" [High Standard] mfg [which is correct for a Rem Rand]. Hammer is definitely Colt mfg, though. Grips [likely Keyes mfg] look correct for the period. Hard to tell if the magazine is a WWII mag or not [look for an "R", "S" or "L" on the top lip of the mag bottom - that would indicate a WWII contract mag]. Other small parts look correct.

NAA.

 

[NAA]

Here's a pic of an original finish, all matching, correct 1944 mfg Remington Rand 1911A1 for comparision:

NAA.

 

[drm3m]

1942 manufactured Colt 1911A1 rig.

1911A1 Colt manufactured, W.B inspected, delivered to Springfield Armoury on July 25th 1942.

I bought the rig from the vet’s family and was fortunate to get substantial background on his service with many photos.

David

 

[Mike Webb]

Ww 2 magazines

WW 2 contract magazines also included General Shaver mags.
Remington Rand guns usually left the factory with these mags.
They are identified by a welded spine on the back of the mag and an upper case G on the lip of the magazine.
I believe Colt pistols with contractor mags(R-RISDON,L-LITTLE or S-SCOVILL)
were marked C-R, C-L or C-S on the lip of the magazine.

 

[NAA]

1911A1 Colt manufactured, W.B inspected, delivered to Springfield Armoury on July 25th 1942.

I bought the rig from the vet’s family and was fortunate to get substantial background on his service with many photos.

David

Now that's the nicest 'real deal' Colt so far.... and with providence, too. Going to be difficult for anyone to beat that one....

Nice rig too BTW, including first aid pouch. What maker is the holster? And the mag pouch.... as I can only see it from the back in the one pic.... is it one of the "1918" mfg marked ones that you commonly see with the early WWII Colts?

NAA.

 

[NAA]

WW 2 contract magazines also included General Shaver mags.
Remington Rand guns usually left the factory with these mags.
They are identified by a welded spine on the back of the mag and an upper case G on the lip of the magazine.
I believe Colt pistols with contractor mags(R-RISDON,L-LITTLE or S-SCOVILL)
were marked C-R, C-L or C-S on the lip of the magazine.

Yes, correct I failed to mention the "G" marked General Shaver mags. You don't often see them in Canada. And the "C" dash contractor mags mfg for Colt, either.

The "R", "L" and "S" mags or COLT 45 AUTO. marked mags you do tend to see a lot of up here, though.

BTW, when will we see pics of your 1911A1?

NAA.

 

[drm3m]

1942 Colt 1911A1----rig components and the vet.

NAA

The vet was an American that enlisted in RAF Ferry Command flying out of Montreal before the U.S. entered the war.
Their initial job was to deliver bombers manufactured in the U.S. and Canada to Scotland/England while the U.S. was still neutral.

In this vets Pilot's Log it indicates that he flew practically anything that had wings.
One group photo I have was taken prior to departure for an ammunition delivery to Cairo in advance of the Battle of El-Alamein in Egypt. (Shown below.)
The flight routes to Africa were over some pretty rough terrain.

The rig consists of;
-Mod 1916 holster marked "Clinton 1918, F.W.T."
-Magazine pouch marked "R.H. Long 5-18"
-Field dressing pouch marked "Miami Awning CO 1941"

All of these pieces have the vet's name on them.

The vet's Pilots Log.

It was interesting doing the research on this vet as his family was very helpful and I learned a lot about Ferry Command ...a part of the service that I knew nothing about before.

I have many photos that came from the vet's photo albums...this became quite a project.

David

 

[NAA]

That stuff is absolutely outstanding! Just the kind of stuff any serious vintage 1911/1911A1 collector dreams about having in his collection.

NAA.

 

[drm3m]

Thanks NAA,

It was a number of years after I acquired the rig that I decided to research
the vet’s service....I almost blew the opportunity to get his story.
I was very lucky with three of his adult children who provided me access to a lot of the vets stuff.
If anyone has a similar opportunity to tie a collectable piece to a particular vet....go and do the research ASAP while the info is still available.
This vet died in 1979....so there was no way of asking him.
His stuff was scattered between two daughters and one son in the U.S. and Canada.

The Ferry Command story is fascinating...I have read a lot about it as I was putting this stuff together. There were many American pilots that enlisted in the RAFFC (Royal Air Force Ferry Command) in the early days.

The vet is front row seated second from the right.

One of the trips to Cairo...he is seated rear on the double mounted camel.

A very interesting book about the No.45 Group that was based out of Dorval Airport in Montreal

The routes they flew.

Thanks for looking.

David

 

[Mike Webb]

History

The history and WW2 memorabilia really add to the guns, Nice Stuff.
Sorry about the pics, really busy lately.
My old a1 isn't in pristine condition like some I've seen here but it's got
a "Been there, done that" look, which I like personally.
Pics this week.