Repair of Ithaca Slide

[JoyfulJoker]

I recently got a Field Grade 1911A1 from the CMP with an Ithaca frame and a Numax USGI slide. I originally was not happy with it , but I've come to love it. I still had the bug to get a matching slide seeing so many people before and after with matching Colts etc.

I got an Ithaca slide, and found it had damaged rails. The guy who sold it to me made it right by offering me a full refund to return it or a partial refund to pay for repair.

My local gunsmith who is a 1911a1 collector said he could fix my damaged rails no problem, I'll lose the parkerized coating . Great.

From what I've read, Ithaca's and some Remington Rands were known for sloppy finishing as they were rushing to get into the war. The inside of the slide where the barrel sits is pretty rough. The gunsmith said it was like a " fat girl wearing corduroys.." and he had a tool to get rid of that so that it would shoot better and be less wearing on the barrel.

I know that an Ithaca slide which isn't original to the gun doesn't really add any value to it. The USGI slide as issued by the CMP represents the way it was issued to to be used and has a value that way.

My question is : Does the smith smoothing out the corduroy on the inside of the slide "ruin" the slide? The rails have to be fixed or it's unshootable.

My thinking was that if I ever needed to sell the pistol, it would be a nice package: as issued by the CMP and a matching Ithaca slide.

Would "repairing" the rough tooling on the inside of the slide be a terrible thing even if it made it a better shooter?

Here is a picture of the Ithaca slide on the frame: https://imgur.com/VFlHGig

Here is a picture of the 2 slides together : https://imgur.com/AWKxv1S



Here is the rough finishing on the interior of the Ithaca slide: https://imgur.com/c6qv1ip

Here is the interior of the USGI Numax slide: https://imgur.com/KjYRLl2

[JoyfulJoker]

Ithaca rough interior[IMG][/IMG]

USGI Numax Interior : [IMG][/IMG]

I'm not sure why these images aren't posting ...

[AR22]

My input may or may not be helpful..LOL

I would do as little a possible to make it functional..From my experience with most of the USGI 1911s is they were not made to be a national match weapon..They were a Soldiers tool and served the Military well as the battle weapon they were.designed to be...If you want a good shooter you may be happier with a newer 1911..Most newer ones will likely outperform most worn out USGI ones..

But in the end it is yours now, so regardless of what anyone says..You are the one that has to be happy with it...So do whatever you think will make you content.

Have you fired it? Does it function good?

Maybe just shoot the Numax slide and keep the Ithaca one set aside?

I think if you confident in the fella doing the work on the slide..It probably will not hurt value much or not all if done correctly.

[Ignatius]

Get the slide repaired and reparkerized, try to get the finish to match with the frame.

Make sure you got to a gunsmith who is reputable and knows what he is doing, preferably a master gunsmith with proven work experience. If you take it to a chop shop gunsmith, they’ll f*** up your slide and frame and you’ll regret it bringing it to them.

[Ignatius]

When in doubt, do nothing.

[sbo80]

IMO, a slide that won't function is worth nothing except its melt value. Nobody will care or want a "original Ithaca USGI slide" if it's not usable. They aren't that collectible. Not like say, a Revolutionary War musket that you obviously won't try to shoot. Either fix it, or give it to your grandkids so they can pass it down and in 100 years it will be valuable even if non-functional. The other option is to shoot the rebuild slide (since it came that way), and keep the matching one just for looking at. Even thought that defeats the purpose you started down this path to begin with.

[JoyfulJoker]

I know the smith very well and have seen the work he has done on his 1911's. He already repaired the escutcheons on the frame which were stripped out and staked in place badly by the CMP.

I am a gun shooter, not a gun hoarder... if I can't enjoy shooting it, I don't see the point in having it. I shoot the crap out of all my guns. I have very accurate competition and carry pistols that are better than I am , this is a purely fun gun.
I did fire it, only at 10 yards and it was surprisingly accurate and really fun to shoot.

My specific question was ONLY about refinishing the rough interior. I think I'll just stick to fixing the rails and leave the rough interior alone.
I have not shot the Ithaca slide, it's got ridges on the face of the rails where it was hit which is why it needs repairs.

[IMG][/IMG]

My frame is worn and a newly parked slide would not match at all. I will not repark the frame as I would lose the OB 79 mark on it. I like the rebuild marks and wanted a Field Grade that had seen battle versus a mint condition that sat in a box. I was hoping for a Colt.

And while to a serious collector only satisfied with perfection, this gun has no value, I've gotten 9 offers on it at nearly twice the price I paid and I've never put it up for sale.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Ignatius]

Now I see your pistol and its overall condition, I think it might be best to leave it as it is.

Returning the slide and getting a refund if possible would be good.

[JoyfulJoker]

It's very subjective... I like the way they look together. I did not win the CMP lottery, but the Ithaca frame is in the same condition as the Ithaca slide. If I had gotten it that way from the CMP, I would have been happy.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Ignatius]

It looks good together cosmetically. Like AB22 and sbo80 said, you could keep the slide as is for looks and use the Numax slide for shooting.

I would consider the costs of everything if you go through the repair.

[JoyfulJoker]

Thank you all for the honest answers. I know this is not high on the grade of collectables. The seller of the slide is refunding me the cost of smoothing the Ithaca slide rails from my initial purchase price. So it's not costing anything.

You are right, my plan was to shoot the Numax and keep the Ithaca, just for me. I would rather buy some primers and powder than spend the money on having the slide reparkerized.

[beetle]

i'd leave the rough areas inside the slide alone. i don't think it will affect function.

just a minor correction -- your smith said that remington rand were known for sloppy finishes. that is not right. remington rand made the highest quality 1911a1 of all the manufacturers. they were the only ones to make the guns in an assembly line, and by the end of the war had both the highest quality and lowest cost of all the manufacturers.

on the other hand, the government was never really happy with ithaca. for an establish gun manufacturer they needed the most help and had the the most defects out of manufacturers. it doesn't surprise me to see the rough finish on that ithaca slide.

[MasterChief]

Less is more.

I am guessing that your decision will be influenced by the considerable expense of the original purchase. Return the defective slide. Keep the pistol as received. You will learn to love it as it is.

[870classic]

You're too much of a purist. Make the gun run and enjoy the rough finish.

I have a similar 1911 (from 1945) in similar condition with character marks, and I enjoy shooting it more than my Colt Series 70's that are in pristine condition.

(Besides the Military arsenals specialized in were mix-master firearms. The only way you'll find a matching frame and slide is from the factory.)

Enjoy the 1911 and the history.
Best regards,
870classic.

[JoyfulJoker]

The smith is just getting the raised edges off the Ithaca slide, I asked him to leave the interior alone. Found a barely visible flaming bomb behind the firing pin stop plate. I love both slides... the USGI slide is solid and the replacement barrel is chrome lined with good rifling and in great shape. I'm keeping both.
I shot a gong at 25 yards with it, it's a really fun gun to shoot. Takes a little getting used too but I absolutely love it now.