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.

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.