They used to be a white non-bind item. Some planned ahead and brought them through the neutral AH and put them in guildbanks or wrapping papers for future use.
Most you see on alliance feet are probably faction transfers though ^^
What items would that be? Not making a hunter, just qurious, thought it was the other way around. Uldaman boots, Nordic longshack (although if you faction change you can use dubble vanquisher's sword)