I got a call....

[sqlbullet]

After a 15 month wait, my number finally came up for a CMP 1911.  I was offered service grade and rack grade, and chose service.  From contact to arrival at my FFL was two days.

The frame is an Ithaca made in 1944 and the slide is a replacement DSE slide.  The cage code on the slide indicates this was done as a part of a rebuild in the 1980's.  The grips have a faint green number 126 painted on both grips, probably by a local armorer to identify it's rack location in his armory.

I did a detail strip on the gun.  The internal parts show minimal use marks consistent with a rebuild just before the change to Beretta during the 1980's. 

The frame shows obvious evidence of the kind of machine work that occurs during wartime production.  The milling of the transition curve from front strap to trigger guard has a notable hump.  There is tool chatter marks in the radius around the mag release and above the trigger opening. 

There is also damage to the parkerizing on the front bottom of the slide and on the front bottom of the dust cover.  I have to assume this is from whatever rack the gun was in or perhaps from the way it was stored/transported after removed from service.  I have seen a similar pattern on other CMP 1911's.

I am thrilled with the gun.  The price was $1050 delivered including the case and one magazine.  There are some who have complained about the overall finish of the service grade guns.  If I was to give it a fair comparison to a modern production 1911, this is indeed seriously lacking.  My Tisas 1911A1 base model cost me less than $400 and has far better fit and finish. 

But I don't know how to put a price on historical provenance.  The fact that my frame has worn out at least one slide suggests that it has passed through many hands and has trained generations of people whom entered the service of defending my country and my freedom.  I am glad to have this piece of history in my home and to pass on to my children.

The gun still shoots!  I just did some informal shooting on Saturday while at the cabin.  The included magazine, cage code "1M291" aligns with Checkmate, and the magazine did not like the 230 and 200 grain cast bullets I had on hand.  It jammed four times in 14 shots.  However, the magazine for my Tisas 1911 ran 28 rounds without a single complaint.  Accuracy was acceptable.  It hit every rock I aimed at.  I fired one magazine on paper, 10 yards standing two handed rapid at the head of a "Q" target resulted in a group that my palm could cover about 3.5" probably.  At some point I may actually fire from a bench at 25 yards, but I doubt it.  It shoots fine for training and plinking occasionally. 

This gun will be neither a safe queen nor a regular shooter.  It will probably come out occasionally for teaching grandkids, but I won't wear out another slide.

[Kenk]

Great find, a good friend of mine found a Tisas  .45 auto on GB a few week ago for under 400, grips were his only chance, and has run flawlessly the two times he?s had it out, what a bargain for the Tisas

[Aegis]

I had been on a list for 6-8 months and bought s service grade 1911. Colt match slide and barrel frame was made in 1943.

[John A.]

I like old ithaca guns.

Congratulations on being able to get that one.

[The_Shadow]

Nice!

[sqlbullet]

Since my number came up, so did my wife's, all my kids over 21, my mom and my son-in-law.  We all had our CMP 1911's at my house yesterday for Sunday dinner, so I grabbed a "family photo":

Top is my mom's field grade.  Below is my service grade, with my wife's rack grade nestled in upside down.  The bottom row (L-R) is oldest child's rack grade, next child's rack grade, and then next child and spouse's field grades.  Note that the third child got an actual 1911, not an -A1. Serial number tells us it was made in 1918.  That gun is also marked that it had an Ogden Depot rebuild, which is a nice tie in for us Utah folks.  The rest are Remington Rand or Ithaca frame and/or slides, except my service grade which as a DSE replacement slide.

After we ate we gathered around the island in the kitchen and detail stripped them, no tools needed.  It was a fun day.

I have three more kids that are under 21.  Hopefully they will all be able to buy their own when they turn 21, but if the CMP runs out before then, my mom's, mine and my wife's will go to them.

The journey is a lot of fun, and if you haven't checked out the CMP but want a 1911, head on over.  I would guess round 4 of applications will start early next year.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/77xiYKgxEtRxhBzD9

[Kenk]

Absolutely a fun time I?ll bet 😀

[Ramjet]

Since my number came up, so did my wife's, all my kids over 21, my mom and my son-in-law.  We all had our CMP 1911's at my house yesterday for Sunday dinner, so I grabbed a "family photo":

Top is my mom's field grade.  Below is my service grade, with my wife's rack grade nestled in upside down.  The bottom row (L-R) is oldest child's rack grade, next child's rack grade, and then next child and spouse's field grades.  Note that the third child got an actual 1911, not an -A1. Serial number tells us it was made in 1918.  That gun is also marked that it had an Ogden Depot rebuild, which is a nice tie in for us Utah folks.  The rest are Remington Rand or Ithaca frame and/or slides, except my service grade which as a DSE replacement slide.

After we ate we gathered around the island in the kitchen and detail stripped them, no tools needed.  It was a fun day.

I have three more kids that are under 21.  Hopefully they will all be able to buy their own when they turn 21, but if the CMP runs out before then, my mom's, mine and my wife's will go to them.

The journey is a lot of fun, and if you haven't checked out the CMP but want a 1911, head on over.  I would guess round 4 of applications will start early next year.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/77xiYKgxEtRxhBzD9

That is very cool photo.