Ithaca 1911a1 question

[gfguns]

Hello
I have two questions regarding an Ithaca 1911A1.
What is the latest (correct) Ithaca anyone has seen with a checkered MSH?
Are colt and Ithaca MSH's somtimes hard to differenciate?

Thanks
Greg

Information

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[cplstevennorton]

I have an Ithaca 1911a1 serial 187873X with a checkered mainspring housing. It's all correct, and all parts are consistant with wear. It appears to have had it since new. I also have wondered if this mainspring housing is correct, as I would have guess by this date, it would have had the serrated one.

But for what it's worth, it sure seems original.

[Johnny Peppers]

Serrated small parts were authorized for Ithaca in April of 1943. My 1.21 and 1.25 (late 1943 and early 1944) both have serrated MSH. Serial number 187873X would put it in September of 1944.

[Scott Wilson]

My 914000 Ithaca has the serrated MSH. I doubt that you will see many examples with the checkered MSH past the 900K range. That being said, it would be perfectly feasable for a checkered MSH to show up here and there during later production. I just cannot see a change notice ( government approval to switch to the less expensive and labor intensive serrated parts) coming down and the supervision at Ithaca saying "Out with all of the checkered parts!" It has been well documented how many problems Ithaca experienced with production and, since the checkered parts were within spec., they probably used them until they ran out.

[gfguns]

Thanks all for your replies. The pistol in question is 1.4 serial range (Topeka Air Base) and my first reaction was that the checkered MSH was wrong but I met with some stong opposing opinions so I wanted to run it by others. I did just yesterday get a chance to see the piece in person and the MSH is not the same color as the rest of the small parts or the frame. I also think it is Colt. Thanks again for your help.

Greg