Question?

[Garandrew]

Offered a 1945 made 99% Ithaca M191A1, or a 1944 made Colt, in 98%, with more wear on the high edges,,,wouldnt the Ithaca be more desirable?
Ithaca is around 2K, Colt 2K plus..
Since I have nice M1 rifles, M1 carbines, and 03-A3, 03-A4, I felt a WW2 collection needed a 1911A1, I had sold my others...
Andy
Thanks..Andy

Information

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[Scott Gahimer]

It depends on what you want for your collection as a representative piece.

Value and desirability is all subjective with most collectibles. Many collect from different perspectives...condition, manufacturer, specific years, specific finishes, specific markings, by serial number range, by branch of service issued to, specific shipping destinations within a branch of service, those with genuine provenance, etc.

Most novice and casual collectors, however, still value most Colts higher than most Ithacas simply because of name recognition.

There are plenty of 98% Colts worth more than 99% Ithacas...but, you need to verify everything is original on anything you buy.

More specific information is necessary to offer more help. A lot of value gets overlooked without all the information. How about some photos and specifics?
Otherwise, it's just a stab in the dark.

[cplstevennorton]

I think it's somewhat in the eye of the beholder. If I can remember production numbers, Ithaca made about 335,000 A1's and Colt made somewhere around double that. But at most gun shows, Colt's are always more expensive than Ithacas. I think it's just because of the Colt lore though, as anything with the pony on it fetches a lot more than a copy.

I have several of both, and to me for some reason, I like the Colt better. But I have an Ithaca that was shipped to the Navy, and that is a very close second.

Personally, if it was me. I love the A1 to shoot, but the early 1911's are what I LOVE to collect. More 1911's were used in WWII than the A1 anyways. And there is just something about getting an early 1912 or 1913 Colt. The early blued finish, the double diamond grips, and the laynard loop mag, excite me about as much as my wife! lol

But to answer your question, for the money I would buy the Ithaca. To me, Colt's right now are over priced. And really you might want to look around some more as you can find some really good deals right now with the economy. Many people are hurting for money and selling stuff really really cheap.

I've been buying as many as I can right now and I'm finding some really good deals. Just for example in the past month, I have bought a 1942 WB inspected Colt that was 95% for $1400, a 1944 Ithaca that was 90% for $1000, and a 1914 Colt that was 90% for $1400. All of these, even six months ago I would have paid a lot more for. But all were laid off and needed money fast.

So if it was me, I would look around some more as there are many good deals right now. Plus for what they are asking for the colt and ithaca, that is top dollar prices, so for the money they better be John Holbrook quality pistols! lol Just my opinion.

[Garandrew]

SN of Ithaca is 2124561
Will take pics when it arrives..is that a Benicia Arsenal delivered pistol?
US Army, sent to Pac?
Thanks, Andy

[cplstevennorton]

Looks like it shipped Jan 16, 1945 to Benicia Ordance Depot, Benicia, California.

[NyteOwl]

I don't suppose you'd have the shipping info on a Colt Sn 736326 ?

[cplstevennorton]

I don't suppose you'd have the shipping info on a Colt Sn 736326 ?

July 18th, 1941 in a shipment of 1000 to Commanding General Springfield Armory.

[NyteOwl]

Thanks very much! I had the year narrowed down but that was it.

Are there any sites where one can look these things up? Such as who it was originally issued to and when and where?

I realize that Colt have an archive service but I'm not really a collector to be able to pay those prices - just trying to get some background on a single 1911.

[cplstevennorton]

Thanks very much! I had the year narrowed down but that was it.

Are there any sites where one can look these things up? Such as who it was originally issued to and when and where?

I realize that Colt have an archive service but I'm not really a collector to be able to pay those prices - just trying to get some background on a single 1911.

No sites that I know of. Unless like coolgunsite, which tells you the year of manufacture but not the date. As far as I know unless you get Clawson's big book, or Tim Meadows book, you cannot find the dates. Which both I believe now are running over $500 a piece.

If you do buy a colt letter, it will just tell you what I told you. They only can tell you the date, and the place it was shipped to. And then charge you a $100 fee.

[NyteOwl]

Hmmm. I wonder if I dropped a not to the SPringfield Armory museum if they might have any old issuance records.

I can apaprently eb done because I've seen people post the info on the web for particular pisols before. Ah well - the joys of research

Again, thanks very much!