Value of a WWII 45 1911A1

gissimo

December 29, 2002 17:21

I bought an old 45 from a vet of WWII. He had it since he was in the service. I am having some trouble identifying the make and value of this firearm. It is marked United States Property No 18335XX on the frame. This would tend to indicate an Ithica made frame except it does not have the triangular proof marks in front of the left trigger guard as was placed on Ithica made frames. It has the letters FJA stamped under the slide release lever path. The slide is marked remington rand INC, Syracuse, NY USA and obviously made during war time. It is hardly finished and circular saw marks where the slide was cut out are plainly visable on both sides of the slide on the entire side. The bluing is thin but about 80%. The grips are non original. It shoots very well and 2 years ago I placed 6th in a city wide corporate challenge. Our company size had to compete against the local police in a city of over 1 million people. If anyone could shed some light on its make or value, or what the marking FJA means Id apreciate it. Thanks!

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  Wolftrap

  December 29, 2002 19:39

  This is out of abook I have.
  "FJA" This is the inspectors mark of F.J. Atwood LT. Col. USARMY. He Inspected M1911A1 .45 Auto Pistols Made by ITHACA, UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL and REMINGTON RAND, Also he Inspected REMINGTON M1903A3 Rifles, 1942 -1944

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  Python

  December 29, 2002 21:35

  gissimo;
  With a great number of war time 1911's, yours may have been assembled at the armory from stock parts. In this case it may have many makers, and non-matching numbers and proof marks. The FJA is the inspectors mark of Lt. Col. F.J. Atwood. Arsenal assembled guns are, in most cases, well within specs. VAlue depends entiely on condition, scarcity and maker. If yours is an "arsenal" gun, it's value would be about the same as any war time production 1911. But less than the very rare ones like the singer sewing machine, or American switch gear.

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  nmyers

  December 30, 2002 02:14

  Parts on USGI guns could have become mixed when cleaning, or they may have been replaced at any level of maintenance.
  
  Mixed parts M1911/M1911A1's usually sell in the $400-500 range as "shooters". They have no collector value.
  
  Neal

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  JudgeColt

  December 30, 2002 06:54

  Python:
  
  Never heard of an American Switch Gear M1911A1. What is that?
  
  I have heard of a Union Switch & Signal. Is that what you mean?

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  Xracer

  December 31, 2002 11:28

  Judge...it's the illegitimate offspring of a North American Arms and a Union Switch & Signal.....very, very rare, indeed. [:)]

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  JudgeColt

  December 31, 2002 12:05

  Xracer:
  
  Thank you for that valuable information. Had it not been for your valuable inside information, I would not have known what PYTHON meant. Perhaps in the future, PYTHON can expalin these rare variations to us less-informed beginners.

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