Make: Union Switch & Signal
Model: 1911-A1
Serial Number: 1067747
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked with a “USS” monogram logo and “U.S. & S. CO. / SWISSVALE, PA. U.S.A.”. The left of the frame below the magazine release is marked with a “P” acceptance proof, there is another “P” on the top of the slide above the left slide serrations. The left side of the frame above the magazine release is marked with a circled “R.C.D.” (Colonel Robert C. Downie, Inspector). The right side of the frame is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY / No 1067747”, and “M 1911 A1 U.S. ARMY”. The left link-lug of the barrel is marked “P”, the right is marked “HS”. The top toe of the magazine floorplate is marked “S”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a serrated, ramped rear face fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece Keyes Fibre checkered brown plastic with reinforcement rings around the screws and reinforcement ribs on the inside. Each panel has a mold number marking in the relieved area with a star. The right panel has a nick above the bottom mounting screw. Otherwise, the grips have only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: DuLite
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some stubborn fouling in the bore, but no erosion. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is lightly thinning at most edges. There is a light “idiot mark” below the slide stop on the left of the frame. The grip areas show minor handling wear and surface oxidation. There are some other scattered spots of faint oxidation. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. There is light play between the slide and frame. This pistol has manual and grip safeties. We have not fired this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one original US WW2 blued 7-round magazine marked “S” on the top toe of the floorplate, denoting manufacture by Scovill of Waterbury, CT. The mag has light operational wear, but exhibits intact feed lips and a strong spring.
Our Assessment:The Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol was developed for the US Army in 1911 after the .38 revolver failed to stop charging Moro warriors in the Philippines. The US Army issued the powerful .45 to officers, NCOs, and machine gunners in both World War 1 and World War 2. As was the case at the outset of the Great War, the demand for Colt M-1911A1 pistols by the US Army at the beginning of WW2 would exceed the production capacity of Colt. This time, the US government had already planned to contract-out pistol production to other manufacturers. As the name suggests, Union Switch & Signal of Swissvale, Pennsylvania produced switches and signaling equipment for railroads. The company was founded by noted American entrepreneur and electrical engineer George Westinghouse in 1881. In 1942, US&S entered the realm of firearms manufacture when it received a government contract to produce M1911A1 pistols for the US Army. The US&S variant was a distinctive iteration of the M1911A1, with a few unique characteristics. First, US&S .45 pistols featured a unique, high-quality DuLite blued finish, which set them apart from other manufacturers' versions. Second, none of the Union Switch & Signal 1911A1s had the Ordnance “crossed cannons” cartouche, even though the practice was standardized in late 1942. Third, it’s believed that when the drawings were originally delivered to US&S, the “P” proof mark on the slide was not included, leading to early US&S pistols up through about serial number 1060100 not having the mark at all. When this was discovered, Ordnance requested the marking be added to the pistol, but due to a poorly rendered Ordnance drawing showing the placement of the proof, guns from about serial number 1060100 to about 1082000, such as this one, have the marking notably left of center where the curved part meets the flat. The later US&S pistols from about serial number 1082000 to the end of production had the proof marking in the same location as other makers (center in front of rear sight). Union Switch & Signal only produced 55,000 M1911A1 pistols from January to November 1943, making them the second scarcest maker of US WW2 .45s. Today, they remain highly sought after by collectors.
This US Army WW2 US&S M-1911A1 Pistol was made in 1943 and is in Fine condition. It retains 90% of its crisp, original DuLite finish, a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling, and strong mechanics. This would be a phenomenal addition to a US military or WW2 small arms collection.
Pistol