Ithica 1911 production 1943 questions...

[CG Bwell]

I just returned from a trip to Niger Africa. During my trip I was training their National Guard on basic Corrections techniques. One of the students in the class had this 1911 in his holster. How do I find out how to ended up in Africa after WWII? Based on the serial number is was produced in 1943. Any info would be great...I just want to find out the back story on this gun.
Thanks,
Chris

 

[AlexanderA]

Niger was a French colony up until 1958. Lots of U.S. arms aid was given to the Free French during the war. This gun was probably in the hands of the French colonial forces prior to independence, and was passed to the Niger army.

 

[CG Bwell]

Niger was a French colony up until 1958. Lots of U.S. arms aid was given to the Free French during the war. This gun was probably in the hands of the French colonial forces prior to independence, and was passed to the Niger army.

Is there any way to track any of that? Websites? It was very interesting to me and I would like to find out more info. There is a date stamp by the trigger which I assume is when it was removed from US service and sent overseas. Just a guess though. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

[bannockburn]

CG Bwell

I think AlexanderA's explanation is probably the most likely as the French were extremely dependent on U.S. small arms (Lend Lease Program), during and immediately following WWII; especially in their colonies around the globe. Foreign Legion troops in Indochina and North Africa used M1911A1s, M1/M1A1/M2 Carbines, M1A1 Submachine Guns, and M1919A4 and M1919A6 Machine Guns among other U.S. made weapons. According to one source I found (ibilio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/LL-Ship), we did send the French some 19,325 M1911 and M1911A1 pistols during WWII.

Other than that particular piece of information I'm thinking there's no definitive way to tell where that one lone Ithaca 1911A1 had been prior to your student acquiring it.

 

[mag1911]

The pistol looks like it has a couple rebuild stamps. SA for Springfield Arsenal and ANAD for Anniston Army Depot. The ANAD stamp has the month/year of rebuild, not necessarily release from service .

http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/arsenalrebuilds.htm