Chromed 1943 Ithaca....

[lvanbrunt2]

All right, here is a chromed Ithaca 1911A1. I know what 99.9% of the experts will say, and I agree with them, but my father wants to take a stab at getting opinions about his gun. First let’s say the gun is a complete 1943 Ithaca. A “P” is stamped on the left frame and top of the slide. FJA is stamped on left frame along with a faint stamp on the trigger guard bow. The Ordnance Escutcheon is stamped on the right frame behind the grip. It’s marked with US PROPERTY. The barrel is an HS with a ‘P” stamped. The serial number indicates that it could be one of 1,621 shipped on 4/17/1944 to the Ordnance Property Officer, Hamilton Field, California.
Ok here’s the story. My father sent it to Mark Smith, Precision Bluing, Greene NY, to be refinished. Mark did contract work for Ithaca when they were located in Ithaca NY. He told my father he was 95% sure that the gun was a presentation model because the finish is copper, nickel, with flash chrome . He advised my father not to change the finish and sent it back. So Mark, who has 30+ years of experience and knowledge, turned down the work because of what he believed the gun was. Any thoughts or opinions are welcomed. Thanks.

 

[lamarw]

How did your Father obtain the pistol and what does he know about its background?

I would post it to the following web-site for comment: http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?81-US-Military-Issue-M1911-and-M1911A1-Pistols

 

[lvanbrunt2]

He bought it but won't say how much. Thanks, I'll try that site.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I'm 98% sure the finish is aftermarket "bumper shop" chrome. Slide stop hole is dished, and the grips are Franzite aftermarket. And that's just from the cameo picture. Show us more and I can tell you about the other 2 %.

 

[James K]

Sorry, but Bill is correct. It might have been a presentation pistol (it might have been presented by someone to someone, but it was not a factory presentation. It not only has no increased value, it is actually worth less than half what it wold have been had it not been plated.)

Just for info, contractors who made guns for the government, made guns for the government and were paid for guns they delivered. So the idea that people just casually took guns that were already serial numbered and marked as government property off the line and kept them, or presented them to someone, doesn't hold water. Companies that did do presentations (to executives, etc.), used pre-production guns with special serial numbers and no USP marking.

In any case, anyone claiming that a gun was some kind of special presentation must be able to prove it by solid documentation outside or and independent of the gun itself or its markings. (Anyone can engrave "From Hitler to Churchill With Love" on a Luger. Proving its validity would be another story.)

Jim

 

[lvanbrunt2]

thanks

Thanks for the feedback, I've passed it along.