Need help with 1911 ID

[offshorebear]

Hello all, my roommate just acquired a 1911. Its made by Ithaca (on the slide) and the serial number is "XX8862" (on the frame). I'm having a hard time finding Ithaca serial numbers that match that. Does anyone know anything about these?

It also has a stamp right above the mag rease "GHS" which the internet says is a "Gilbert H. Stewart. Found on Colt M1911s SN 101,500 to 230,000" mark. So its an Ithaca slide and maybe a colt frame? So its some cobbled together 1911?

 

[Walter]

Pictures might help in identification of the pistol.

Walter

 

[bannockburn]

offshorebear

Interesting, because Col. Gilbert H. Stewart was the government inspector at Colt, from 1915 to 1919, and then again from 1938 to 1940. Not sure about the XX serial number, though I do believe that a single X prefix meant that it was a replacement serial number for a gun that had it's original number defaced. May have been arsenal refinished. It's probably as you say a parts gun with an Ithaca slide mated to a Colt frame.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

"Frankensteinteenelevens" (mixing and matching parts of old worn out guns to make functional ones) was a common practice. Sounds like you got one.

 

[Onmilo]

'X' numbers were renumbers stamped on Arsenal rebuilt guns whose serial numbers were too defaced by wear or intentional obliteration.
Single X numbers were used from the earliest days of the rebuild program all the way through World War Two.
Here is an example of an X number refinished 1911


It is generally accepted that 'XX' serial number blocks were used on postwar defaced rebuilds though this is open to debate.

What your friend has is an example of a probable postwar rebuild.