Okay,
A while back I was in a pawn shop and saw this hand gun that was Chrome and it had one of those loops on the bottom of the grip for like a lanyard that MP's used to have. I asked the guy to see it. It was priced at $40 buck. The barrel was worn down a little but in great condition. I took it. I brought it home and started to clean it.
When I took of the pistol grips I saw on the bottom U.S. Army model 1917 No. 44_7_ ( I can't tell what the two missing digits are. On the Barrel it says Colt D.A. 45. When I lower the revolver part to load it on the inside it says 197245p. The rounds for this weapon are hard to find. It alsi requires something called a "moon clip" for the inside of the chamber area to eject the 6 rounds correctly.
Can anyone tell me about this weapon? I have google it but the only ones I can find were black and not chrome like this. I spoke to my cousin and showed it to him. He was an MP and CID during the 80's and he said it was before his time and wasn't to sure about it. Any info would be great.
Thanx
Question for you gun nuts
Question for you gun nuts
It's all good.
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FireFinder
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Does it look like the one here or here?
HISTORY - The "United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917" was produced to fill a gap in the availability of the M1911 .45 automatic pistol, then the standard U.S. Army pistol. Colt and Remington were producing the M1911 at capacity, along with many other military arms, when the need for more pistols for World War I became urgent. Production of the M1911 could not meet all requirements, so orders were placed with both Colt and Smith & Wesson for a heavy frame revolver that would be compatible with the .45 ACP cartridge used by the M1911 automatic. The revolvers chosen by the U.S. Army were the Colt New Service and the S&W Hand Ejector pistols, both being produced at the time for the British .455 Webley cartridge, to be modified for the .45 ACP. Designated the "United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917" for both weapons, Colt and S&W each delivered over 150,000 pistols to the U.S. Government. The M1917 pistols were standard issue for all U.S. forces during World War I and up until World War II. The vastly greater number of troops and increased production of the M1911A1 automatic relegated the revolver to use by Military Police and security personnel during the war. They were phased out afterward, replaced by the M1911A1 in most roles.
The Smith & Wesson Model 1917 was adapted from the Second Model .44 Hand Ejector, chambered and re-barreled for .45 ACP and with the cylinder slightly shortened to allow for the half-moon clips. A shoulder was machined into the cylinder to allow cartridges to be easily removed without the half-moon clips, a distinguishing feature vs. the Colt New Service based M1917. The butt end has a lanyard ring in the center and the pistols were marked there with "US Army Model 1917- No. xxxx". "United States Property" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel or top of receiver. The revolvers were originally blued, with plain walnut grips. Many M1917 revolvers were rebuilt during and after World War II. These may have a parkerized finish that was applied during arsenal rebuild or under a refurbish contract with the manufacturer.
The Field Manual is FM 23-35, Pistols and Revolvers.
HISTORY - The "United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917" was produced to fill a gap in the availability of the M1911 .45 automatic pistol, then the standard U.S. Army pistol. Colt and Remington were producing the M1911 at capacity, along with many other military arms, when the need for more pistols for World War I became urgent. Production of the M1911 could not meet all requirements, so orders were placed with both Colt and Smith & Wesson for a heavy frame revolver that would be compatible with the .45 ACP cartridge used by the M1911 automatic. The revolvers chosen by the U.S. Army were the Colt New Service and the S&W Hand Ejector pistols, both being produced at the time for the British .455 Webley cartridge, to be modified for the .45 ACP. Designated the "United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917" for both weapons, Colt and S&W each delivered over 150,000 pistols to the U.S. Government. The M1917 pistols were standard issue for all U.S. forces during World War I and up until World War II. The vastly greater number of troops and increased production of the M1911A1 automatic relegated the revolver to use by Military Police and security personnel during the war. They were phased out afterward, replaced by the M1911A1 in most roles.
The Smith & Wesson Model 1917 was adapted from the Second Model .44 Hand Ejector, chambered and re-barreled for .45 ACP and with the cylinder slightly shortened to allow for the half-moon clips. A shoulder was machined into the cylinder to allow cartridges to be easily removed without the half-moon clips, a distinguishing feature vs. the Colt New Service based M1917. The butt end has a lanyard ring in the center and the pistols were marked there with "US Army Model 1917- No. xxxx". "United States Property" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel or top of receiver. The revolvers were originally blued, with plain walnut grips. Many M1917 revolvers were rebuilt during and after World War II. These may have a parkerized finish that was applied during arsenal rebuild or under a refurbish contract with the manufacturer.
The Field Manual is FM 23-35, Pistols and Revolvers.
13R2P B BTRY (TAB), 26th FA (ABN), 18th FA BDE (1984-1988)
11C (4.2" Mortar) CSC 2/124INF, FLARNG (1988-1989)
11C (4.2" Mortar) CSC 2/124INF, FLARNG (1988-1989)
the Civilian Marksmanship program would sell a ton of surplused guns very cheap, a common thing that people would do is to have the guns chromed or to add a nickle finish and a lot of people would also replace the grips with rubber to make it a easier shooter.SkyShark wrote:YEs it looks like them however It is nickel not black AND it appears the pistol grips have been replaced. The ones that are on it now are rubber.
I am guessing thats is what happened, hurts its value but sounds like you got a great deal!