Ithaca 1943 Lend Lease photo

[Promo]

Most of the LuxDefTec Thompsons were sold to Germany. The M1911A1s that fly around in Austria were ex Lend-Lease pistols from the U.S. and carry BH (BundesHeer) markings. The interesting thing is that there are all kinds of manufacturers among them, even several US&S. Somehow on nearly all pistols the frame does not "match" the slide (different manufacturers), I've even heard that there are some that do not carry any S/N at all.

Some years ago additional M1911A1s were found hidden by US agents during the "cold war" time, there must also have been piles of M3 shoulder holsters. Most of the found weapons were M3 grease guns covered in a strange wax-like paper for preservation.