Colt .45 Receiver, Ithaca Slide

BeeVee9

BeeVee9

New member
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Looking for some feedback. My friend has a M1911A1 for sale. It is in good condition. This .45 has a Colt receiver, that is stamped US Goverment. The slide is an Ithaca. I've checked it out and Ithaca was contracted to complete these Colt pistols, back in 1943.

I realize that it is sight unseen, but I was wondering what kind of price range I should be looking at.
 
Condition is everything. Is it 'original/correct' finish or has it been refinished? If it is 'original' how much of the original finish is left?

Plus originality. Is it an Ithaca serial number range frame with correct Ithaca slide? Or is it a Colt serial number range frame [or other contract maker] with a mismatch Ithaca slide? What inspector stamp appears on the frame above the mag release button? "FJA" [Ithaca or Remington Rand frames] or "RS", "WB" or "GHD" [Colt frames]? Does the frame have an aresenal rework [ie. "SA" for Springfield Arsenal] proof stamp?

Etc, etc, etc.

Kinda hard to afix a value without detailed pics to confirm some of the details mentioned above.

-------------
NAA.
 
Lee Enfield said:
I might trade you a Remington Rand slide for that Ithaca....
Click to expand...

Geez, that's a generous offer....:p They made almost 3 times as many Remington Rands as Ithacas. So, the Remington Rand slides are fairly common, whereas Ithaca slides are relatively scarce. Especially in Canada from what I've seen in ~ 30 years of 1911A1 interest.

--------------------
NAA.
 
Sorry guys I tried to add some photos to this link but can't figure it out, or don't have the privilege.

Any advice? It keeps asking me about URL?
 
IMG_4352.jpg

IMG_4356.jpg

IMG_4367.jpg

IMG_4353.jpg

IMG_4360.jpg

IMG_4357.jpg
 
Last edited:
By the serial number it could either be a 1943 Colt or 1943 Ithaca mfg frame. [The serial number ranges in that period overlap]. On the other side of your pistol, if the inspector initials just above the mag release button on the frame is "GHD" it is Colt, if it is "FJA" it is Ithaca mfg.

It would actually be cool to have a matching [frame & slide] 1943 mfg Ithaca 1911A1 USGI pistol. From the side of the pistol in the pic above the finish looks to match & be original. The small parts look correct for an Ithaca mfg pistol.

Can you give a similar pic but of the other side of this pistol?

--------
NAA.
 
I agree, the hammer and trigger look consistent with what should be on an Ithaca in that range (although its not unheard of to swap them). But I'm just going by what I've read. As NAA said, the mystery can easily be solved with the inspector's mark.
 
Thanks everyone for your help in adding the photos, and all the input into this gun. I added 6 of the photos to post #7.

Love hearing all the history on it! Any idea as to the value?
 
BeeVee9 said:
Thanks everyone for your help in adding the photos, and all the input into this gun. I added 6 of the photos to post #7.

Love hearing all the history on it! Any idea as to the value?
Click to expand...

Given the "FJA" inspector's initials on the slide, it looks like you have a matching, original 1943 Ithaca mfg USGI 1911A1 there. And in very nice shape, to boot. If the barrel is marked "HS" [for High Standard mfg] on the side of the lug underneath, then you have the correct barrel for this pistol as well. The grips look to be correct "Keyes" mfg.

Original, correct, nice shape, early mfg [ie. 1943] Ithacas are quite scarce up here in Canada. I'd say you could likely get or pay [depending on the situation ;)] in the ball park of $1,250 for this pistol.

Nice score!

------------
NAA.
 
Thanks for the help, I appreciate everyone's input. I recently bought this gun, and got it for a good price - but was unsure on exactly how much it was really worth, nor if it was Colt/all original and a bunch of other things.

Thanks again.
 
You did very well with this one.

Of the five contractors that produced USGI 1911A1's for the military in WWII for production numbers they rank as follows:

1. Reminton Rand [most produced] ~ 900,000 produced
2. Colt
3. Ithaca [ ~ 375,000 produced]
4. Union Switch & Signal [55,000 produced]
5. Singer Sewing Machine [500 produced]

Enjoy your new toy!

-----------
NAA.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom