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LOT 1307
Outstanding World War II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1067483,
45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., Dulite finish, plastic grips. In May
of 1942 the U.S. government initially
placed an order with Union Switch & Signal Co. for 200,000 Model
1911A1 pistols, an order which was later revised to 55,000 pistols. All
55,000 of the Union Switch & Signal Co. made Model 1911A1 pistols
were delivered throughout the course of 1943, while World War II was still
at its height. According to the table on p. 144 of “U.S. Military Automatic
Pistols: 1920-1945” by Meadows, the serial number for this specific pistol is
listed in a shipment of 10,828 pistols in June of 1943, the same month that
allied forces were landing on the beaches of Normandy, taking the first step
of the long campaign to liberate occupied Europe. These Union Switch pistols
often quickly found their way to the front lines and generally saw hard use
through the remainder of the war, making benchmark examples like this one incredibly scarce. The slide is marked with the “USS” monogram and “U.S. & S. CO./SWISSVALE, PA. U.S.A.” on the left side, with Robert Downie “R.C.D.” inspection initials on the left of the frame, and standard U.S. government nomenclature on
the right, in the distinctive Union Switch & Signal style. The correct full blue barrel
is marked “HS” on the right of the lug and “P” on the left. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, thin checkered hammer, short stamped trigger, long grip safety, arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, correct Keyes Fibre
checkered grips, and an “R” marked full-blue magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, as issued, retains 99% of the original Dulite finish
with some scattered light handling marks. The grips are also excellent plus
with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically
excellent. If you are in search of a benchmark World War II Union Switch &
Signal Co. Model 1911A1 pistol for your collection; search no further!
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
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