Description
11/12/24 - This is a terrific example of a very rare and desirable Ithaca M3A1 Grease Gun. The gun shows minimal finish loss, just very minor thinning on the round face of the receiver. Terrific, shiny bore. Manufactured by Ithaca and imported by Inter American of Sacramento, California. The left side of the receiver bears an Inter American import stamp, with "SUB-MACH. GUN/ CAL.45-M3A1" above and DoD eagle stamp, "ITHACA GUN CO., INC." stamp, as well as the serial number. Rear of barrel assembly, guide rod locating plate, and rear of bolt assembly are stamped "ITG" indicating manufacture by Ithaca. Features include a stamped steel construction, green parkerized finish, 8" barrel, blade front sight, peep rear sight, as well as a collapsible wire stock. Comes from the collection of esteemed NFA firearms enthusiast and collector J. R. Moody. NOTE: This is transferrable only on an ATF Form 3 to active FFl/SOT dealers only. We also took this gun to the range and it ran smoothly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQYku8Zk6XE&feature=youtu.be
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The M3 was commonly referred to as the "Grease Gun" or simply "the Greaser," owing to its visual similarity to the mechanic's tool. The M3 was intended as a replacement for the Thompson, and began to enter frontline service in mid-1944. By late-1944, the M3A1 variant was introduced, which also saw use in the Korean War and later conflicts. M3A1 submachine guns were retired from U.S. frontline service after 1959, but continued to be issued, for example as backup weapons for armored vehicle crews as late as the Gulf War. Many overseas US military bases continued to issue these for certain crews into the mid to late 1990s, perhaps accounting for the import mark on this one.
