Whigh one's better? Ithaca or United Switch and Signal?

bdft

bdft

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Or Colt? I have an opportunity to buy 3 1911's. An Ithaca, a United Switch and Signal, both built in 1943 or a Colt built in 1918. All are very reasonably priced so that isn't an issue. The Ithaca is the cheapest and the Colt's the most expensive. Unfortunately, I can only afford one. :mad: All things being equal (I know, I know, they never are) what's the difference? Or is there any?
 
If they are all original and in very good or better condition they would all have collector value--1911 collectors will chime in I'm sure--and if they have condition they should be left original and not used as the basis for a custom rig or for extensive shooting. I think the Ithica is more commonly encountered than the US & S. Military arms that haven't been messed with are getting harder and harder to find.

FWIW, 44Bore
 
If it hasn't been irrepairably molested, I say get the Colt. Wartime 1911A1's are still easy enough to find if you look hard enough, but a pre-A1 1911 is another story.
 
The Ithaca's were very rough I used to have a couple... And some of them are colt pre-war unfinished frames and ithca slides. Itahaca finsihed the frames and "fitted" the slides..Nothing wrong with them... the US&S were rarer.. Are you buying this to shoot or to collect?
 
Thank you, gentlemen. Unfortunately, the banker/wife/kids/girlfriend/motorcycle/all my other guns have to be kept happy/kept happy/fed/kept happy/ridden/shot so one is all I can handle.:D The Colt is probably the most desirable, I suppose. Not a civilian model. S/N 399***
Ithaca S/N 177**** UNION Switch and Signal S/N 107****
 
bdft:
Do a little research before you decide. If you can only afford to buy one now, then you will find it much easier to locate a Colt later than it will be to find a US&S gun. I've been looking for a good ORIGINAL US&S for years. I see nice Colts all the time. The US&S will appraise for more and rise more quickly in value than the Colt due to its rarity. They were also generally regarded by U.S. government inspectors as being the highest quality 1911A1's built, and had fewer manufacturing issues than any of the other makers. Think long and hard before you buy...
-Zimms
 
If I could only afford one of the 3 , I would buy the US&S .Chances of finding a good one again are likely less than the chances of finding either of the others.
Scott
 
#1 check the "P" proof on the frame & slide, see if they match. If they don't match the slide & frame aren't originally mated.

#2 check the serial range assigned to each manufacturer, make sure that the markings on the slide match the serial on the frame.

#3 pick the matching gun. Miss matched guns are worth considerably less. After that go on condition.

D
 
All things being equal, the US&S is definately the most desirable. That said, condition and originality are probably more important.
 
Zimms said:
bdft:
Do a little research before you decide. If you can only afford to buy one now, then you will find it much easier to locate a Colt later than it will be to find a US&S gun. I've been looking for a good ORIGINAL US&S for years. I see nice Colts all the time. The US&S will appraise for more and rise more quickly in value than the Colt due to its rarity. They were also generally regarded by U.S. government inspectors as being the highest quality 1911A1's built, and had fewer manufacturing issues than any of the other makers. Think long and hard before you buy...
-Zimms
Click to expand...

You might be thinking of Singer(they go for about 35,000.00)but the US&\S would be a great buy!

Bob
 
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