1917 Colt .45 USGI issued

[USMC2531]

Hello,

Since I received some great information on a previous pistol I thought I'de try and get some opinions on this 1917 Colt .45 caliber revolver. The pistol looks to be in great original condition, but I certainly welcome any opinions good or bad. The picture did not come out good where the Colt is located,but the other mark is the Eagle's head inspection mark.

Many thanks,
Steve

 

[Old Fuff]

You will find a number on the butt, which is the Army's serial number. A second number, stamped on the frame behind the crane cut-out, is Colt's serial number. You have to swing out the cylinder to see it. Post those numbers and we'll see what might be found. Again you can use (xx) for the last two numbers, but if you will send me a personal mesage with the full numbers(I won't tell) I might be able to find more specific information.

The revolvers were originally wire-brushed and blued. Later during World War Two they were referbished and Parkerized. The stocks appear to be original.

Looks like a nice piece...

 

[USMC2531]

Thanks for the feedback. I believe the number on the butt stock is 9045X, but unfortunately I failed to photograph any other numbers.

best,
Steve

 

[Hoppy590]

if its a colt, it requires the moon clips.

the smith and wesson M1917's are machined for head space and can work with or with out the clips

that said. slick looking gun, if your thinking of buying it, id consider it.

 

[bannockburn]

USMC2531

That's one fine looking Colt Model 1917; do you know of any history behind that particular gun? From what I recall from an old article on U.S. martial revolvers, the first 50,000 or so of the Colts had straight cylinder chambers and couldn't be used without the half-moon clips. Later production models had stepped chambers so the half-moon clips weren't needed, but the rounds had to be manually extracted. Some 151,000 Colts were made before production ended in 1919; when WWII began, over 96,500 Colt model 1917 were still in reserve and brought back into service.

 

[USMC2531]

Unfortunately, no history with this pistol. If everything looks legit on this pistol what would be a good price for this? I really like it & hope to buy it.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Ash]

Not all Colt 1917's require moon clips. I have one that had the steps machined in and you can shoot it without clips like the Smith & Wesson 1917.

Ash

 

[cdrt]

If everything looks legit on this pistol what would be a good price for this? I really like it & hope to buy it.

Check out the February issue of the American Rifleman. On the last page they have their collector's corner and this month is on the 1917 revolver. Their example is about a 20% gun and it would go for $750. A 100% revolver would go for around $2000, according to the guy who wrote the article.

 

[Old Fuff]

Their example is about a 20% gun and it would go for $750. A 100% revolver would go for around $2000, according to the guy who wrote the article.

Quite possibly, but 100% would include the World War One wire-brush blue finish. World War Two reworks command a more modest price.

 

[Ash]

I have a very nice WWII re-work that locks up perfectly with an excellent bore I'm getting rid of for way less than $2,000.

Ash

 

[cdrt]

The revolver he's talking about for $750 was re-worked at the Augusta Arsenal. The author is Jim Supica, a contributing editor for the magazine; guess I should at least get his name in here, since I'm using his article.

I've seen one 100% revolver with the blued finish. Pretty rare and a very, very nice example of the 1917. This one was a Colt.

 

[Jim Watson]

Has anybody here ever seen or shot one of those 50,000 Colt 1917s with "bored through" cylinder that must have clips? I sort of suspect they were quietly brought up to the later spec, because they seem awfully scarce outside of magazine articles and internet posts citing same.

 

[Ash]

Like I said, mine has the notches machined in it and will hold the rounds just fine without moon clips.

Ash

 

[Old Fuff]

Has anybody here ever seen or shot one of those 50,000 Colt 1917s with "bored through" cylinder that must have clips? I sort of suspect they were quietly brought up to the later spec, because they seem awfully scarce outside of magazine articles and internet posts citing same.

Indeed right. Those that remained in the government's inventory had the cylinders changed following the war. Any that got missed were changed when those still remaining were referbished during World War Two. Only those that were "liberated" from the Army early on were left with their original cylinder.

 

[USMC2531]

Good information guys I really appreciate it. Can anyone tell from the pictures if this has a WWI blued finish or if it is a WWII re-work.

Thanks

 

[Ala Dan]

Att: USMC2531-

Back 'bout 1970 I owned one of the Colt U.S. Army 1917 Colt .45 caliber
revolvers myself; that I bought from a very old gentleman for a mere
$200. It did require the use of auto-rim .45 caliber cartridges; or you
could use .45 ACP cartridges, provided that you used the half-moon
clips. Later on, a ole' bud [and co-worker of mine] wanted it, so I
sold it for just what I had in it; to finance another weapon~!

 

[USMC2531]

Thanks for all the information I really appreciate it.

I hope these pictures are a little better and I was wondering if anyone can tell me if this looks like an original WWI blued finish or if it is a parkarized WWII re-work?
I'm just a little unsure on the finish and want to make sure I pay/offer accordingly. Any help is appreciated.

Also I am clueless when it comes to wheel guns could some explain "moon-clips" to me & what type of ammunition one should shoot from this?

Many thanks !

 

[rcmodel]

Has anybody here ever seen or shot one of those 50,000 Colt 1917s with "bored through" cylinder that must have clips?

Yes, I have owned one.

My understanding was that very early on they didn't have chamber steps. S&W's all did, and Colt later changed to it.

I have no way of knowing if the Colt I had was liberated from WWI or sold later as surplus.
But it's chambers were smooth as a baby's bottom, and you used 1/2 moon clips or .45 Auto Rim, or you didn't shoot it.

.45 ACP would fall out if you tipped it down!

rcmodel

 

[tkendrick]

if its a colt, it requires the moon clips.

Wrong.

I have had two of them and neither required the moon clips to shoot them. But without the moon clips, ejection required a pencil.

One was damn-near worn out, and the other almost like new. Both were incredibly accurate, unlike the S&W I had. It was kind of like the prom queen, it looked really good but it wouldn't put out.

 

[Moonclip]

I've yet to see one in person of the bored thru variety.

 

[Old Fuff]

During 1917 Colt made 30,450 revolvers with tapered (no shoulder) chambers. Therefore going by the Army's service number (stamped on the butt) revolvers numbered from 1 to 30,450 originally had these cylinders.

However as soon as possible they were changed to use the regular Smith & Wesson chamber that did have a headspacing shoulder. Colt 1917 models with the updated chambers begain being shipped to Springfield Armory on Feb. 5, 1918 at service number 30,451 and all subsequent production had shouldered chambers.

Because of the recall & revise programs most the older guns were retro-fitted with new cylinders. However some of the older style remain for various reasons. But among surviving 1917 revolvers they are not common.

 

[earplug]

Does anyone know if S&W 1917 moon clips work with the Colt 1917?
I assume yes, but have not read anything.
The Colt revolver is a bit larger then the S&W.

 

[tipoc]

The Colt New Service (M1917)chambered in .45 acp does work with moon clips. It and the S&W M1917 both use them.

Also I am clueless when it comes to wheel guns could some explain "moon-clips" to me & what type of ammunition one should shoot from this?

Below is a pic of three S&Ws in .45 acp. Alongside them are some moon and half moon clips.



Because the .45 acp is a cartridge designed to feed in a semi auto pistol, the 1911, it has a rather small rim, a semi rim. The rim will not allow the star ejector to expel the spent cartridge. So S&W came up with the half moon clip which allowed GIs to quickly load and eject the .45 rounds.

The .45 acp will still fire without the moon clips but you have to manually remove each case.

There is also the .45 AR. This is a .45 caliber round with a larger rim so that it can be ejected without the use of the clips. The AR stands for Auto Rim.

tipoc

 

[Harley Quinn]

I have one, the barrel was bulged at about 4.5 " some one cut it to 3.5 with a hack saw. I bought it had a gunsmith clean it up around 3" barrel, put a sight on it and bored the cylinders out to accomidate the 30-06 or 308 family of cartridges and made it into one great gun for snake shot.

I made the round out of the above named cartridges, they did the job. I carried one half moon clip full of snake shot and the other one with 45 acp in it, 185 hp or the 230, depended on what I wanted. Having the half moon was like speedy loaders and I could load it fast in the field if I needed to. Killed a few rattlers with it good shooter for what it was designed for. Big and bulky though, handles the 45 and snake shot really well.

Would set up fairly large size russet potatoes at 15' shot them with the 45 or the snake shot. Fun, the snake shot would be set to go off first and then the 45. I kept it around the house and barn for various unwanted critters The snake shot was made with#8 shot. Shredded those potatoes and the snakes as well.

 

[cortez kid]

I have a .45 service that has the bored thru cylinder. It has a blued finish. I figured it was redone sometime early in it's history. It was done flawlessly. Very fine finish. All the roll marks crisp. US prop. under barrel. Army mark and serial on butt. Swivel smooth and tight. Had to buy a Smith in beater shape so I could shoot. I know guns were made to shoot, but I haven't got the nerve to shoot the Colt. Way to pretty.
kid
PS It's serial number starts with 35. The inpection/serial number on the frame and crane are the same. I looked for one on the cylinder, but couldn't find one. The condition of the cylinder lends me to believe that it's original to the piece.