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Hi guys.

New to the board.

I recently picked up a Swenson Bobcat conversion of a 1945 Ithaca GI 1911A1. I've been speaking to Wayne Novak about it and he has provided some great info on it, but there are some markings that elude even him. Any help would be appreciated. Pics below.

I've gotten to the bottom of just about everything else, but there are two markings that are a mystery: One is an "HS" stamped into the right side of bottom barrel lug near the link pin. There's some weld built up down there from fitting the barrel and it looks like the HS was stamped after that. The others are what appear to be initials, maybe from the original customer, nicely stamped in the slide just where is tucks into the frame's dust cover:

P.
M.
G.

Also, any idea as to when this might have been done would be wonderful. Other ID points are the two barrel positioning weld spots opposite the ejection port and obviously "Armand Swenson" nicely stamped into the disconnector track. I'd take photos, but my camera won't get that close.

HS=High Standard. They made barrels for 1911's and 03's during WW2. Great barrels.

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"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

Here is another question - why is it called a Bobcat?

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http://www.landsharkleather.com/
Building Hand Crafted Leather for the 1911 Platform

They were made before the Combat Commanders came from Colt. The LW Commanders had been available since the 1950's, but no steel frame Commanders until the 1970's.

Hence, the Bobcat.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

To add, it's a actually a Gov't slide that has been cut down to Commander length.

That's what I thought, but it looked at first glance that the stamping was done after the welding, which threw me. But looking at it again, I think you're right. Thanks a lot.

Any way tell the relative age of the conversion?

Keep in mind that through the 50's and 60's it was way cheaper to buy a GI 1911 and chop it to size than buy a Colt Commander. Colts then, like now, were pricey relative to all the surplus stuff floating around. Its hard to date custom guns like this.

_________________
"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

Still waiting for Jason to weigh in on this one.

I think they were called Bobcat's because thats what Armand named them. As posted by old lawman the only abbreviated 1911s were Commanders which had alloy receiver's. I read somewhere that Armand didnt like the alloy receivers. An abundance of GI surplus 1911's resulted in their use as base guns. Probably why Colt came out with the Combat Commander.

The features can narrow the time frame down abit. Yours has one of his commercially offered safeties and not an earlier fabbed one.

Very nice and desireable piece.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com