Ithaca started production in December of 1942 and was the only established firearms company to produce 1911A1s other than Colt. The total number of pistols produced by Ithaca was 335,466. In early 1942 & 1943 Ithaca did not have all the equipment necessary to manufacture the components so they received parts from other contractors that included 6,200 WWI receivers that Springfield had in storage. These early Colt receivers (frames) can be quickly identified by the cut-outs under the stocks. Colt also supplied many of the small parts. Harry Howland of Ithaca designed a stamped trigger assembly that was approved by the Ordnance Department. This stamped trigger was fabricated by the Yawman Metal Products Co. of Rochester N.Y. and became known as the Yawman Trigger. The new trigger was adopted by all other pistol manufacturers by early 1943, except Colts who changed in April of 1944. Changing to the stamped trigger alone reduced the cost of the 1911A1 by about 5%. Later in the war Ithaca also designed a serrated Grooved hammer as a cost reduction but none of the other manufacturers adopted it. Ithaca pistols were probably the coarsest finished pistols of any 1911A1. This seems puzzling since they were previously a manufacturer of sporting shotguns and as such they must have appreciated the importance of cosmetic appearance.

1943 Ithaca M1911A1 RIA FK

 

Do you have any more information on the pistol you linked? I just purchased an Ithaca 1911A1 and imagine my surprise when I saw you post and it has the same serial number! What are the odds? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Ithaca did not ship pistols in sequential order until May 1944. Despite the very low Ithaca serial number, Edward Scott Meadows book shows the subject pistol would have shipped in one of five shipments between March 1943 to November 1943.

 

Aside from the actual shipping record for the serials, that is perfect information. Many thanks!

 

Has anyone ever figured out how many I-prefix Ithaca 1911A1s were produced before they dropped the "I"?

 

?? what “I”.

 

Some very early production Ithacas had serial numbers preceded by the letter "I" ala Singers. That practice was dropped after a small number of pistols so it is a very rare variant. One is pictured in Meadows so I was wondering if anyone had ever figured out approximately how many were manufactured.

 

I have never seen an I prefix Ithaca. That pistol looks good from what can be seen, apparently DuLite and quite a bit of finish. It took me about 10 years to find a DuLite Ithaca in decent shape. I had found near a hundred US&S and had owned about half a dozen, still had 2 nice ones, before I found my first DuLite Ithaca. Production was about half the number of US&S.

Do not rely on the heart shaped cut outs to ID a Colt receiver being used. Some did not have them including one I sold or traded before I knew better. Look near the disconnector.for a Colt H or G, can't remember which or both right now and no book nearby.

 

What do you think about this US&S? Are these that hard to find? ON HOLD - Rare, Boxed Union Switch & Signal 1911A1

 

That’s it. Just purchased. Should show up this week.

 

Congrats! Please start a thread and post pics after you get it!