SOLD - Scarce Union Switch & Signal 1911A1

2/18/22 - This is an excellent Union Switch & Signal 1911A1 from 1943. It's a mostly correct example, including the original slide, frame barrel and bushing (concentric circles are faint but are present). The finish is excellent on the slide and frame, with most of the wear at the front edges of the slide and frame. Proper HS barrel with shiny bore but minor freckling in the grooves. We do believe some small parts were replaced, including the grip safety, safety and slide stop. Excellent grips with minor handling wear. Risdon magazine.

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The Union Switch & Signal company of Swissvale Pennsylvania, primarily made railroad signaling equipment but received a contract on May 5, 1942 for the manufacture of M1911A1 pistols. The first pistols were accepted by Ordnance inspectors in January 1943, but the company received word that their contract would be canceled. Within a month U.S.&S. had signed a contract to supply carbine parts. On March 8, 1943 the company was officially notified that their contract had been cut back from 200,000 pistols to 30,000 pistols. However on June 26th, when the contract was nearly complete, and many of the workers had been transferred to Carbine operations, the company received a letter of intent to purchase an additional 25,000 pistols. The last of the pistols was shipped on November 27, 1943. 55,000 Union Switch and Signal pistols were delivered serial numbered from 1041405 to 1096404. U.S.&S. pistols are the second rarest of the M1911A1s (55,000 produced), only the Singer is rarer (500 produced). None of the Union Switch & Signal 1911A1s have the crossed cannons ordnance stamp. We are told these were issued to the Army Air Corps during the war.