3631

World War II U.S. Army Contract Model 1911A1 Pistol Manufactured by Ithaca Gun Company Attributed to

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 4,000.00 USD
World War II U.S. Army Contract Model 1911A1 Pistol Manufactured by Ithaca Gun Company Attributed to
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World War II U.S. Army Contract Model 1911A1 Pistol Manufactured by Ithaca Gun Company Attributed to Lt. Col. Runyan USMC with His Personal Momentos

This is a very fine example of a U.S. Army contract M1911A1 pistol that was manufactured by the Ithaca Gun Company in the last serial number block of 1944. This specific pistol was the personal property of Lt Colonel Clair Runyan, USMC (ret). LTC. Runyan served during WWII on the USS WASP CV-7 (aircraft carrier) and was on board her when she was torpedoed in 1942 on her way to Guadalcanal and was one of a handful of luck survivors. He returned to shore duty after the sinking and eventually attended officers candidate school in 1946, served in Korea and Vietnam and retired in 1966 after 26 years in the USMC. After retirement he became a tenure Professor of History at Grossmont College San Diego CA., eventually rising to the head of the "American and Military History" dept". He retired from teaching in 1980 and became a fiction writer, authoring the fiction adventure novel "The Flight." The left side of the frame is marked "FJA" for Frank J. Atwood and a single "P" proof below the magazine catch. The right side of the frame has the small cross-cannon Ordnance proof behind the grip, with "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" over the serial number with "M1911A1 U.S. ARMY" towards the front end. The left side of the slide, although marked as a Remington-Rand contract slide, has been on the pistol for a long time as the finish matches the frame correctly. The slide is marked "REMINGTON RAND INC./SYRACUSE N.Y. U.S.A." and the top of the slide does have the correct single "P" proof in front of the rear sight. It is fitted with a late WWII Colt contract parkerized barrel marked with the small boxed "C" proof on the left sides of lugs. The right front trigger guard bow is marked with a number "3." It has the serrated slide stop, thumb safety and arched mainspring housing, with the wide spur hammer. The grips are Korean War era replacements as they are only marked with a single mold number, "4 and 5" on the inside on top of the reinforcing web. It is fitted with a blue wartime magazine marked "L" on the front lip. Included with this lot are mementoes of Lt.Col. Runyan to include his engraved officers sword, with leather hanger and leather cover with his initials (C.F.R./U.S.M.C.) highlighted in gold, his wrist watch that was issued to him as a Tech Segregant during the Guadalcanal Campaign, his U.S.M.C. personnel file (1946-1966) and a copy of his book noted above. The consignor states that he purchased this gun and the mementos in this lot from Lt. Col. Runyan's widow.

Manufucture: Ithaca Gun Co
Model: 1911A1
BBL: 5 inch round
Stock:
Guage: 45 ACP
Finish: parkerized
Grips: brown plastic
Serial Number: 1870396

Very fine, with 97% of the parkerized finish overall. The barrel is a Colt marked replacement. The grips are excellent with minor handling marks. All the various accoutrements; Officers Sword, case and documents are all fine, and are certainly worthy of being retained and displayed according, certainly would be the center piece of any U.S. military collection.