Lot 1243

WWII U.S. Ithaca 1911A1 Pistol with Major James Barbee Uniform

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WWII U.S. Ithaca 1911A1 Pistol with Major James Barbee Uniform

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Starting Bid: $2,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Historic World War II U.S. Ithaca Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Holster Rig, Knife, and Uniform of U.S. Army Signal Corps Major James Edward Barbee The Ithaca frame serial number dates to 1945, and it is fitted with an unnumbered replacement World War II era Colt slide. This Model 1911A1 pistol is accompanied with the uniform of U.S. Army Signal Corps Major James Edward Barbee with his name "J.E. BARBEE" on a tag inside, along with a "US" embossed "1944" dated Warren Leather Goods Co. branded M1916 leather holster rig with a Nasco "1942" dated canvas web belt, and a PAL RH-36 fighting knife with leather scabbard. Includes typewritten documents headlined "Illustrated Biography of Major James Edward Barbee U.S. Army Signal Corps" showing scanned records and portraits of him. The biography states, "Major James Edward Barbee (1906-1980) served as a United States Army Signal Corps officer whose career spanned the critical pre-war expansion of American military communications, the tense years leading into the Second World War, and the full wartime mobilization of the U.S. Army's technical and communications infrastructure... He formally registered for Selective Service on October 16, 1940 in Houston, Texas - but his card was immediately marked 'Should not have registered,' indicating he was likely already serving as a commissioned officer or otherwise exempt from the civilian draft... By 1941, Barbee held the rank of Lieutenant, serving in administrative and communications support roles... Throughout 1943, Barbee was assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas - an important wartime hub for training and technical operations... During 1943-44, Barbee had risen to the rank of Major, serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps... Major Barbee's career reflects the crucial but often overlooked technical backbone of the U.S. Army during WWII. His surviving photographs, draft records, and uniform details together preserve the story of a Signal Corps officer whose work supported the flow of information that helped win the war." The left of the frame has "FJA" (Frank J. Atwood) inspection initials. The blued barrel is marked "COLT 45 AUTO" on the lower left, a "P" is on the left of the recoil lug, and a "D" is on bottom. It has period Keyes Fibre (left) and Colt (right) plastic grips, and an "S" is marked on the toe of the blued magazine.

Manufacturer: Ithaca Gun Co

Model: 1911A1

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: parkerized

Grips: plastic

Serial Number2107487

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Condition: Very fine overall, retains 80% original parkerized finish, with smooth brown patina on the balance, a few small patches of light pitting at the front of the slide, and a few wear spots in the grips with otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The accessories and uniform are all fine to very fine.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000