Ithaca M1911A1 - rescued from an attic

Douglas Jr. · 07-29-2017, 07:54 PM

Hi,
Inspired by Padredan's topic about his uncle US&S 1911A1, decided to show this old battle horse. It is not beautiful but the story about how I got it and somewhat save it may worths some lines.

Last year I managed to get a big batch of guns that stayed forgotten in an attic for more than 10 years. The previous owner of this collection was a former Military Officer who started hi career during WWII and retired in the 1970s. I guess tis gun was a truly WWII veteran that probably was issued to the Brazilian Expeditionary Force fighting in Italy during the last months of the war in 1945.

This Ithaca M1911A1 was found with the other guns covered in a thick and dried layer of grease. However, the degree of protection of each gun was different and this one didn't make quite well, suffering with some pitting. The action and magazine were completely frozen.

After I got it (for the right price tag), I removed the incorrect and now completely rotten wooden grips and left the gun in a can with querosene for a week or so. During this period I scrubbed and hit with a small piece of soft wood until the mecanism start to move again. Finally I could disassemble it.

Next step was find a correct mainspring housing and grip safety (both on e-bay) and some new brown plastic grips (not from WWII, yet). The final result is what you see here, and it seems that it is pretty decent. I bought a WWII holster and magazine pouches from the estate of a Brazilian WWII veteran to go with it and now it stands in my collection.

As first I had thought to restored, but I had changed my mind and I will leave it as it is. Oh, and I am still working on the dried grease that is still there.

Let me know how I made it.

Douglas

"BEFORE" PICTURES
These pictures were taken using a cell phone and under bad light.
But it can gives you an idea how messed it was.

Douglas Jr. · 07-29-2017, 08:06 PM

"AFTER" PICTURES
And this is how it is now.

wlyon · 07-29-2017, 08:17 PM

Nice!!! Bill

Neil Young · 07-29-2017, 10:32 PM

Good job! The transformation is amazing.

Edward Tinker · 07-29-2017, 11:10 PM

Lovely warhorse!

kurusu · 07-30-2017, 05:39 AM

You did good Douglas.

rhuff · 07-30-2017, 03:39 PM

Now that is a good looking old warhorse. You did a very nice job of cleaning it up.

Diver6106 · 07-30-2017, 04:03 PM

A FANTASTIC 'ol veteran and wonderful job on restoration. I shore wish I could find one like this.

My dad brought one back after 35 missions over occupied Europe flying B-17s with the 95th BG(H) and more with the 25th BG(SP) in Mossquitos. Even after he was warned that it was prohibited. But he was hurting for cash and trade it off for an Ivers Johnson 22 pistol, as the ammo was cheaper. So I have his 22 instead of his 45. But I can hardly complain - he certainly earned the right to do as he wished.

Pistol · 07-30-2017, 07:05 PM

Nice

laoshi75 · 07-31-2017, 12:38 AM

Douglas,
I restored myself several 1911A1 many years back..Not easy to find out original USGI parts, and they are so expensive.
You really did a great job, congratulations !
BTW: Are the grips Keyes ones ?

Douglas Jr. · 07-31-2017, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laoshi75

BTW: Are the grips Keyes ones ?

Thanks for your words, folks!
No, the grips are not Keyes but from a latter date.
I didn't have time to go after them.
Douglas.

Sergio Natali · 07-31-2017, 01:23 PM

Congratulations! A very nice ITHACA made in 1945, I think you did a very good job on it!
What's the barrel like?

Douglas Jr. · 08-02-2017, 01:09 PM

Thank you Sergio!
Well, the rifling shows some slight pitting but still shootable.

padredan · 08-04-2017, 11:19 PM

good find ,good job of cleaning it

Sergio Natali · 08-05-2017, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas Jr.

Thank you Sergio!
Well, the rifling shows some slight pitting but still shootable.

I mean has it got its original "HS" marked barrel by High Standard?

Sergio Natali · 08-05-2017, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laoshi75

Douglas,
I restored myself several 1911A1 many years back..Not easy to find out original USGI parts, and they are so expensive.
You really did a great job, congratulations !
BTW: Are the grips Keyes ones ?

At least in the States you've got Bill Ricca (http://www.billricca.com/45_auto.htm) where you can often find original parts.

07-29-2017, 07:54 PM	#1
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Ithaca M1911A1 - rescued from an attic Hi, Inspired by Padredan's topic about his uncle US&S 1911A1, decided to show this old battle horse. It is not beautiful but the story about how I got it and somewhat save it may worths some lines. Last year I managed to get a big batch of guns that stayed forgotten in an attic for more than 10 years. The previous owner of this collection was a former Military Officer who started hi career during WWII and retired in the 1970s. I guess tis gun was a truly WWII veteran that probably was issued to the Brazilian Expeditionary Force fighting in Italy during the last months of the war in 1945. This Ithaca M1911A1 was found with the other guns covered in a thick and dried layer of grease. However, the degree of protection of each gun was different and this one didn't make quite well, suffering with some pitting. The action and magazine were completely frozen. After I got it (for the right price tag), I removed the incorrect and now completely rotten wooden grips and left the gun in a can with querosene for a week or so. During this period I scrubbed and hit with a small piece of soft wood until the mecanism start to move again. Finally I could disassemble it. Next step was find a correct mainspring housing and grip safety (both on e-bay) and some new brown plastic grips (not from WWII, yet). The final result is what you see here, and it seems that it is pretty decent. I bought a WWII holster and magazine pouches from the estate of a Brazilian WWII veteran to go with it and now it stands in my collection. As first I had thought to restored, but I had changed my mind and I will leave it as it is. Oh, and I am still working on the dried grease that is still there. Let me know how I made it. Douglas "BEFORE" PICTURES These pictures were taken using a cell phone and under bad light. But it can gives you an idea how messed it was. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Douglas Jr.; 08-24-2017 at 01:50 PM.

07-29-2017, 08:06 PM	#2
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	"AFTER" PICTURES And this is how it is now. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Douglas Jr.; 08-24-2017 at 02:03 PM.

07-29-2017, 08:17 PM	#3
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 3,210 Thanked 2,613 Times in 969 Posts	Nice!!! Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

07-29-2017, 10:32 PM	#4
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 547 Thanks: 566 Thanked 443 Times in 168 Posts	Good job! The transformation is amazing. __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

07-31-2017, 12:38 AM	#10
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 490 Thanks: 288 Thanked 96 Times in 41 Posts	Douglas, I restored myself several 1911A1 many years back..Not easy to find out original USGI parts, and they are so expensive. You really did a great job, congratulations ! BTW: Are the grips Keyes ones ? Last edited by laoshi75; 07-31-2017 at 05:57 AM.

07-29-2017, 11:10 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Lovely warhorse!

07-30-2017, 05:39 AM	#6
kurusu User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 2,679 Thanked 930 Times in 509 Posts	You did good Douglas.

07-30-2017, 03:39 PM	#7
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,305 Thanks: 2,735 Thanked 991 Times in 727 Posts	Now that is a good looking old warhorse. You did a very nice job of cleaning it up.

07-30-2017, 04:03 PM	#8
Diver6106 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Mt. Vernon VA Posts: 245 Thanks: 1,430 Thanked 117 Times in 75 Posts	A FANTASTIC 'ol veteran and wonderful job on restoration. I shore wish I could find one like this. My dad brought one back after 35 missions over occupied Europe flying B-17s with the 95th BG(H) and more with the 25th BG(SP) in Mossquitos. Even after he was warned that it was prohibited. But he was hurting for cash and trade it off for an Ivers Johnson 22 pistol, as the ammo was cheaper. So I have his 22 instead of his 45. But I can hardly complain - he certainly earned the right to do as he wished.

07-30-2017, 07:05 PM	#9
Pistol User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN Posts: 430 Thanks: 451 Thanked 221 Times in 100 Posts	Nice

07-31-2017, 01:23 PM	#12
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Congratulations! A very nice ITHACA made in 1945, I think you did a very good job on it! What's the barrel like? __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

08-02-2017, 01:09 PM	#13
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Thank you Sergio! Well, the rifling shows some slight pitting but still shootable.

08-04-2017, 11:19 PM	#14
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	good find ,good job of cleaning it __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God