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LOT 373
Exceptional World War II U.S. Union Switch & Signal Co. Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1058607, 45 ACP cal.,
5 inch round bbl., Du-Lite finish, checkered plastic grips. Manufactured in 1943. According to the table on page 144 of “U.S. Military
Automatic Pistols: 1920-1945” by Meadows, this specific pistol falls within a shipment of 10,828 pistols (serial number range 1,057,959 to
1,068,786) sent in June 1943. In May 1942, U.S. Ordnance placed an order with the Union Switch & Signal Company for the production
of 200,000 Model 1911A1 pistols, an order which was later reduced to just 55,000. All of the completed pistols were delivered to U.S.
Ordnance throughout the course of 1943, while World War II was still at its height. Features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, a
correct blued barrel marked with “P” and “HS” (High Standard) on the recoil lug, along with checkered short stamped trigger, magazine
release, thumb safety, narrow spur hammer, slide catch, and arched mainspring housing with lanyard loop. The left side of the slide
bears the “USS” monogram and Swissvale, Pennsylvania, address, with circled “R.C.D.” (Robert C. Downie) inspection stamp on the left of
the frame, while the right side of the frame bears the U.S. property marking, serial number, and model designation. Fitted with a pair of
Keyes Fibre Co. brown checkered plastic grips marked “star/K” on the interiors and a full-blued magazine marked “R” on the toe.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retains 98% plus original Du-Lite finish with some specks of oxidation on the grip straps, only the slightest
handling marks, and crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. An excellent example of a World War II Union Switch & Signal Model
1911A1 pistol!
Estimate: 14,000 - 20,000 349