#Ithaca model 49 history serial numbers#

When refinished these areas show up darker than the rest of the gun. During the war only portions of the slide where heat treated in order to save time and cost. If you notice there are darker areas on this slide near the slide stop notch and in the barrel bushing area. If you are not looking for an investment grade gun and are looking for a shooter like mine do your homework on going prices be sure you are paying a fair price. These are serious investment guns and can not afford excess wear on the finish from being repeatedly dissembled. Any dealer that you will want to do business with will allow a serious buyer to inspect a gun and carefully field strip if needed before plunking down top dollar money for an advertised all original gun. There are a number of well written books on military 45's you can consult before plunking down your hard earned money. Bottom line is do your home work and do not over pay for a gun. Many collectors will consider this more valued than an arsenal rebuild with an unmatched slide and frame but no where near what an all original gun is valued at. This is why the gun could be considered 'restored'. A proper Ithaca slide was located and the gun was then re-finished. This gun was bought with a frame with mostly Ithaca parts on it however had a slide on it from another company. Most Ithaca 45's will bear FJA at an angle on the frame near the trigger and are known to have more tooling marks left behind than other manufactures.

#Ithaca model 49 history serial numbers#

You have to look for inspector marks and check serial numbers on the frame. In a nut shell just because the slide says Ithaca does not mean the gun is made up of all Ithaca parts. Because of this only a precious few guns of any vintage are still intact in the same condition as when they left the factory and command a premium price. They will bear an additional stamp of the arsenal that did the work, mine shows Springfield Armory. These guns are often referred to as an arsenal rebuild. The guns are then re-assembled often with little or no regard as to who produced the parts going back onto the gun. After service most firearms are sent to one of several arsenals for inspection, repair, and re-finishing. To give you an idea Ithaca used a number of Colt made frames that where left in storage after WWI barrels produced by High Standard and that is just for starters. Manufactures are also known to sub contract parts from other companies. Part of fulfilling any government fire arms contract is that all parts must be interchangeable with any other gun of the same model no mater who produced it. The 1911A1 for example was produced by Colt, Remington Rand (a type writer company), Ithaca, and Singer the sewing machine company during WWII. Most modern US military firearms models have been made by multiple manufactures some not even being previously in the firearms business. For those of you who are considering buying an original piece but do not know what to look for here are a few basic pointers. This example is what is often referred to in military arms collecting circles as a 'restored' piece. These are pictures of my personal WWII era Ithaca 45.