1943 US&S 1911A1 - The Firearms Forum

berto64 · 10-07-2006, 03:44 PM

Won this on auction arms and picked it up yesterday.

It's in poor condition (which I knew) but functional. Not bad for a smoothbore. That's OK, I've got a barrel for it but the pitted surface will be a challenge.

I'll try & post pics when I can.

polishshooter · 10-07-2006, 04:42 PM

How much? Switch and Signal 1911A1s are worth a TON! They only made like 50,000 of them!

The slide on my .45 is actually an Ithaca, so it was made sometime during WWII...on the ONE hand every time I reblue it I cringe, but then again it wasn't ME that seperated it from it's matching Ithaca frame! I bought it when it was on a "shooter" alloy Essex frame at a show...and MAINLY because it had high rise BoMars on it, and a HIGH undercut front sight....

But the FUNNY thing is I bought a "parts" kit from a guy in the early 80s who said his father "stole" it while he was in the Navy in WWII intending to build a 1911 but never found a frame, it was a BRAND NEW still in the wax paper Remington-Rand slide and barrel, with ALL the parts to build one EXCEPT the frame...I gave $50 for it, and put all THAT on the alloy frame and sold IT, and used the money to buy my AMT frame and everything else I needed to build my .45....

But I STILL get a kick out of guys who look at my "homebuilt" .45 and say, 'WOW, when did Ithaca start making new Combat .45s???

"

You KNOW Berto, if it is "past" restoring to stock, and you got it cheap enough, it would be cool to CUSTOMIZE since you will have to polish it down and refinish it ANYWAY....just to get the "collectors" clutching their chests when you pull it out ansd show them what you DID to a "stock" US and S!

berto64 · 11-14-2006, 05:19 PM

I Paid $600 for it, and just took it out & shot it this PM.
Functioned perfectly with a nice trigger pull.

The AMT SS performed well but with a really stiff trigger.

The brand new High Standard worked well with ball, I forgot to take extra Hydra Shoks for it.

The rest of them were just loads of fun to shoot.

SouthernMoss · 11-14-2006, 08:59 PM

Sounds like a great day!

Looking forward to pics!

southernshooter · 11-14-2006, 11:07 PM

Congrats on the purchase

45Smashemflat · 11-15-2006, 04:17 PM

Been trying to talk a local guy out of either a Singer or US&S 1911 for years. He knows what he has, but doesn't know what he has, if you know what I mean. I've offered him fair prices, but he really doesn't want to sell - its a family gun.

inplanotx · 11-15-2006, 04:44 PM

That Singer alone is in the $40,000 range!

45Smashemflat · 11-16-2006, 07:40 AM

Yeah, I've never seen it, and he quibbles on whether it is a Switch or a Singer - its a family gun so he'll never sell it, don't know that he has ever taken out of the cigar box that he received it in. But, being the gun nut that I am I bug him about it a good bit.

inplanotx · 11-16-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45Smashemflat

Yeah, I've never seen it, and he quibbles on whether it is a Switch or a Singer - its a family gun so he'll never sell it, don't know that he has ever taken out of the cigar box that he received it in. But, being the gun nut that I am I bug him about it a good bit.

Keep bugging him 45, maybe some day he'll give in. Would bet a dollar to a donut he does not know what he has if it is a Singer! Stay well.

IPT

berto64 · 11-17-2006, 02:12 PM

45,

Right after returning from my last tour in Vtm, I had an opportunity to buy a beautifully blued Singer 1911 for $300.

I bought a 38 Sp. for $40 instead. Still kicking myself over that one 30+ yrs later.

45Smashemflat · 11-18-2006, 01:30 PM

I hear ya, I think us gun folks have as many "the one that got away" stories as fishermen....

10-07-2006, 03:44 PM	#1
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,388	1943 US&S 1911A1 Won this on auction arms and picked it up yesterday. It's in poor condition (which I knew) but functional. Not bad for a smoothbore. That's OK, I've got a barrel for it but the pitted surface will be a challenge. I'll try & post pics when I can. __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God. -->

10-07-2006, 04:42 PM	#2
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,863	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 How much? Switch and Signal 1911A1s are worth a TON! They only made like 50,000 of them! The slide on my .45 is actually an Ithaca, so it was made sometime during WWII...on the ONE hand every time I reblue it I cringe, but then again it wasn't ME that seperated it from it's matching Ithaca frame! I bought it when it was on a "shooter" alloy Essex frame at a show...and MAINLY because it had high rise BoMars on it, and a HIGH undercut front sight.... But the FUNNY thing is I bought a "parts" kit from a guy in the early 80s who said his father "stole" it while he was in the Navy in WWII intending to build a 1911 but never found a frame, it was a BRAND NEW still in the wax paper Remington-Rand slide and barrel, with ALL the parts to build one EXCEPT the frame...I gave $50 for it, and put all THAT on the alloy frame and sold IT, and used the money to buy my AMT frame and everything else I needed to build my .45.... But I STILL get a kick out of guys who look at my "homebuilt" .45 and say, 'WOW, when did Ithaca start making new Combat .45s??? " You KNOW Berto, if it is "past" restoring to stock, and you got it cheap enough, it would be cool to CUSTOMIZE since you will have to polish it down and refinish it ANYWAY....just to get the "collectors" clutching their chests when you pull it out ansd show them what you DID to a "stock" US and S! __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. Last edited by polishshooter; 10-07-2006 at 04:48 PM..

11-14-2006, 05:19 PM	#3
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,388	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 I Paid $600 for it, and just took it out & shot it this PM. Functioned perfectly with a nice trigger pull. The AMT SS performed well but with a really stiff trigger. The brand new High Standard worked well with ball, I forgot to take extra Hydra Shoks for it. The rest of them were just loads of fun to shoot. __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

11-14-2006, 08:59 PM	#4
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 Sounds like a great day! Looking forward to pics! __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

11-14-2006, 11:07 PM	#5
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 Congrats on the purchase __________________ Only you can see this

11-15-2006, 04:17 PM	#6
45Smashemflat Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,494	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 Been trying to talk a local guy out of either a Singer or US&S 1911 for years. He knows what he has, but doesn't know what he has, if you know what I mean. I've offered him fair prices, but he really doesn't want to sell - its a family gun.

11-15-2006, 04:44 PM	#7
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 That Singer alone is in the $40,000 range! __________________

11-16-2006, 07:40 AM	#8
45Smashemflat Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,494	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 Yeah, I've never seen it, and he quibbles on whether it is a Switch or a Singer - its a family gun so he'll never sell it, don't know that he has ever taken out of the cigar box that he received it in. But, being the gun nut that I am I bug him about it a good bit.

11-17-2006, 02:12 PM	#10
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,388	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 45, Right after returning from my last tour in Vtm, I had an opportunity to buy a beautifully blued Singer 1911 for $300. I bought a 38 Sp. for $40 instead. Still kicking myself over that one 30+ yrs later. __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

11-18-2006, 01:30 PM	#11
45Smashemflat Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,494	Re: 1943 US&S 1911A1 I hear ya, I think us gun folks have as many "the one that got away" stories as fishermen....