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LOT 330
Outstanding World War II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1075625, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl.,
Dulite finish, checkered plastic grips. This is an outstanding original example
of a WWII M1911A1 pistol that was manufactured by the Union Switch and
Signal Company in 1943. 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 4,278 pistols in July of 1943. The left
side of the slide is marked with the intertwined “USS” for the Union Switch and
Signal Co. and “U.S.& S. CO./SWISSVALLE, PA. U.S.A.”, and the right side is blank. A
single small “P” proof on top of the slide behind the ejection port. The left side
of the frame is marked with the circular proof of “RCD” for LTC Robert Downie,
the US Government inspector, along with a “P” proof next to the magazine catch
button. The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” over
the serial number and “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”. It has the late features like the
High Standard barrel marked “HS” and “P” on the right and left sides of the lug,
the checkered slide stop, checkered thumb safety, narrow checkered hammer
and long grip safety. It is fitted with a set of correct original WWII brown plastic
checkered grips with no screw reinforcement rings, reinforcing ribs inside as
manufactured by the Keyes-Fibre company that are correctly marked inside with
a small star with the letter “K” inside along with a single mold numbers on each
grip panel. It is complete with a single
blued magazine with the small letter “L” on
the front of the lip.
CONDITION: Excellent plus with 99% of the
original Dulite finish with slide retraction
marks visible on the forward slide and barrel.
The grips are also excellent showing just a few
minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. This
is one of the finest World War II Union Switch & Signal Co. Model 1911A1 pistols
ever offered by RIAC.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500