WTS: US Gov 1911 (1911AI)

$1500, includes 2 extra original CMP magazines (3 total)

https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/1911-information/

https://truegunvalue.com/pistol/1911-cmp/price-historical-value

Bella Vista/Bentonville

This is a SERVICE GRADE 1911 purchased from CMP.  Includes everything you see: pistol, a great case, letter of authenticity, etc.  According to their website, you can purchase these from them for $1300, but websites show they’re going for about $1500 private party.  (See link above.)  Assuming that’s true, I can only guess the market value is higher than retail because A) you don’t have to wait and be drawn in their lottery system (I waited over a year), B) there’s no sales tax (that’s ~$150 right there), and C) it’s private party; no paper trail. 

I am including 2 EXTRA MAGAZINES for free (3 total).  These are from CMP that I purchased before they were shipping the 1911s.  I believe they’ve not sold these since 2021.

Personally, I think these things are amazing.  They’re a piece of history.

I did some research on this pistol when I bought it.  As a courtesy, I included my notes.  Please understand that I’m not a historian and I’m no guaranteeing the accuracy of my research.

Ithaca started production of USG 1911s in Dec ’42, ultimately producing around 335K units. 

It’s a Remington Rand, Type 3 slide added to the original Ithaca frame.  Like the vast majority of government issued 1911s, the slide no longer matches the original frame.  They didn’t care.  They were fighting wars.  And even if the slide matched by name, it doesn’t mean it was the original pair.  This one was swapped out by an armory sometime between when it was put into service and when retired.  Collectors generally don’t care.

Allegedly, Ithaca records are incomplete for this period of S/Ns.  An expert told me that according to his records, it likely shipped in Nov ’43 and went to Augusta.  It’s very likely it served in WW2 – especially given that they stopped producing them after the war.  It was the sidearm of unknown soldiers from the war through Vietnam.

The barrel was made in 60’s by Smith & Wesson.  The government contracted for replacement parts.  7791193 is the engineering drawing number.

The mark of ANAD = Anniston Army Depot (Alabama).  The frame was sent to ANAD in Apr ’73 to be rebuilt or inspected.  It’s likely it was put into storage (inventory) at that time and left untouched until 2018 when the CMP received it.