During World War II, the U.S. military experienced a significant increase in demand for firearms, particularly the M1911 .45 caliber pistol, which was the standard-issue sidearm for U.S. armed forces. To meet this demand, the production of the M1911 was expanded beyond Colt, the original manufacturer. Ithaca Gun Company, known primarily for its shotguns, was one of the companies contracted to produce the M1911 pistols during the war. In 1941, as the U.S. prepared for war, the government sought additional manufacturers for the M1911. Ithaca Gun Company was one of the companies awarded a contract to produce the pistol. Production began in 1943 after initial tooling and setup. Ithaca faced numerous challenges in setting up the production lines for the M1911. They had to adapt their facilities and train their workforce to produce the pistols. Despite these challenges, they successfully ramped up production. Ithaca manufactured approximately 400,000 M1911 pistols from 1943 to 1945, making a significant contribution to the war effort. These pistols were marked with “ITHACA GUN CO., INC. ITHACA, N.Y.” on the slide. The M1911s produced by Ithaca were noted for their solid construction and reliability, though like all wartime production, some variances in finish and minor details occurred due to the urgency and high production rates.
Ithaca’s M1911 pistols are now considered collectibles, especially among military historians and firearms enthusiasts. They are valued for their historical significance and the role they played during World War II.