In May of 1942 the U.S. government initially placed an order with Union Switch & Signal Co. for 200,000 Model 1911A1 pistols, an order which was later revised to 55,000 pistols. This pistol was likely manufactured early to mid-1943. The slide is marked with the "USS" monogram and "U.S. & S. Co./SWISSVALE, PA. U.S.A." on the left side, with a Robert Downie "R.C.D." on the left of the frame, and standard U.S. government nomenclature on the right. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, thin checkered hammer, short stamped trigger, long grip safety, arched checkered mainspring housing with lanyard loop, reinforced checkered grips, full blue "L" marked magazine and a full blue High Standard contract barrel marked "HS" and "P" on the barrel lug. Includes a "Sears 1942" marked U.S. holster. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection