Auction find. Colt Army Model 1917

[JC111]

So I went to an estate auction today. The gentleman who passed was a serious gun collector. All of the pieces were in fantastic condition. There were three revolvers that I was interested in. A New York State police S&W Model 520. A Colt Army Model 1917 and a S&W Model 65 with a 3" barrel. First up was the Model 520. My pain threshold was $600.00. It sold for $875.00. Next up was the Model 1917. I expected it to also go soaring pass my cut-off. But ,as I listened to the bidding, I was surprised at how sluggish it was. The auctioneer eventually dropped it down to $200.00 before anyone started to bid. Well I jumped in and won with a bid of $550.00. Now figure in the Buyer's Premium (10%) and the Idaho Sales Tax (6%) and the final figure was $641.30, but I'm satisfied with that price. Very clean and mechanically it's in excellent condition. Serial number is 304*** . Seems appropriate with it being the 100th anniversary of World War I.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Now that's a fine piece sir!

Kudos!

 

[JC111]

Thank you. I'm very pleased to have won the bidding. I've wanted a Colt New Service for many years, but whenever I find one it's either chewed up, horrifically expensive or both. this was sheer luck. And to think I almost skipped this auction today. I was certain I wouldn't be able to compete with anyone there. I guess it goes to show that old adage "Nothing ventured, nothing gained", is true sometimes.

 

[357 Terms]

Excellent find!

I would have jumped all over that for $650!

 

[horsemen61]

Great deal

 

[BobWright]

I went through three Colt M1917s in my time. Each was usually in pretty good condition. One came with those old Jay Scott wood backed fake pearl grips, one with brown plastic checkered grips (correct for WW II issue) and one had walnut grips, replacement but correct.

I enjoyed one but traded them off for something more exotic. As I recall I gave anywhere from $14.95 to $29.95 for them. Sold one outright for a whopping $75.00! Tells you how long back that was.

And one of my company commanders in the Army carried a Colt M1917.

Bob Wright

 

[bannockburn]

JC111

Very nice find and in great condition too! I also would have been all over that Colt M1917 at that price!

 

[joem1945]

I have 1 Colt and 2 S&W's. Learn to reload and shoot them often. My loads chrono at 650 to 675 FPS. No sense beating up a older gun.

 

[Clark]

Cough cough snort snort choke... you got that for $550?

Drag it behind your car for a week and it is still worth that much.

 

[JC111]

Yes. I was surprised by how sluggish the bidding was as well on this great old warhorse which is why I decided to join in. Auctions can be very unpredictable.

Couple of years ago I saw a beautiful British proofed Mauser Broomhandle with rifle stock and all the tools go for $1,200 (easily a $2,000 piece) at auction and another time I saw a well used (though not neglected) plain-Jane Winchester 94 in 30-30 sale for close to a $1,000.

My wife loves auctions and she was the one who insisted that I go to this one. She kept saying "you never know".

Yes I write down the winning bids. It's educational.

 

[Armybrat]

Very nice Colt!

What did the S&W Model 65 go for?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The M1917 is one hell of a fine revolver. I had one years ago, but let it get away from me.

Currently I have a Colt New Service in .45 Colt, which had been reblued, etc., and I had no qualms about trimming the barrel to 5 1/2" and mounting adjustable sights and a set of Herrett Shooting Master grips. That is one fine revolver.

 

[Monac]

I used to have a Colt 1917. It looked real good to me until I learned enough to realize it was refinished, unlike this one, which looks terrific AND original.

Fortunately, mine was a good shooter. Whoever had it refinished also seemed to have had the SA trigger pull tuned. The DA pull was long and heavy, but that appears to be true of all Colt New Services. It only shot 230 grain FMJ well, but it shot that VERY well. I sold it because I just couldn't see the sights any more. They're tiny for such a big gun.

Thanks for showing this one to us, and congratulations on a bargain!

 

[Leanwolf]

JC 111, Great find and congratulations on that beauty.

Where was the auction??

L.W.

 

[Gottahaveone]

Outstanding. I would love to come across one in that shape for anywhere near that price. You done good

 

[JC111]

Leanwolf the auction was in Nampa.

The Model 65 went for $725.00.

 

[Leanwolf]

JC 111, thanks for that info. Nampa, huh? If I'd known about the auction I'd have been there.

That 1917 is going to be a great shooter I imagine. Nice carry gun up in the mountains, too. A .45 Colt with 250 grains cast semi-wadcutters will handle just about anything you'd run into.

L.W.

 

[JC111]

Downs auction auctions many many guns throughout the year. I picked up a Webley Mk VI at one of their auctions back in 2008 and my wife got me a Colt Model 1908 Hammerless at another of their auctions back in 2010. Here is a link to their website. check it often. Especially the estate auctions.

http://www.downsauction.com/

 

[Leanwolf]

Thanks, JC 111, I'll take a look.

L.W.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Hot Diggity! Wow, what a steal... I paid double for mine (which is just a smidgen less perfect than yours) ...2yrs ago. FWIW, you should list it as $1300 on your insurance as that's about what replacement cost is now. You can get .45ACP moon clips from Brownells. Congrats on the fine WWI pistola!!!

 

[Bama Drifter]

JC 111, thanks for that info. Nampa, huh? If I'd known about the auction I'd have been there.

That 1917 is going to be a great shooter I imagine. Nice carry gun up in the mountains, too. A .45 Colt with 250 grains cast semi-wadcutters will handle just about anything you'd run into.

L.W.

Just remember this should be shot using moon clips for .45ACP. Please for me and every other Colt collector out there, DON'T ream it out to .45 Colt or chop it down, checker the grips or anything else abominable. Thank you.

 

[JC111]

Bama Drifter

Just remember this should be shot using moon clips for .45ACP. Please for me and every other Colt collector out there, DON'T ream it out to .45 Colt or chop it down, checker the grips or anything else abominable. Thank you.

Don't worry I won't be doing that. I wanted it for it's historical value as well as the fact that I've wanted a genuine WWI era 45 ACP revolver (Colt and Smith & Wesson) for several years.

 

[Old Fuff]

Generally speaking you can shoot .45 ACP cartridges in a model 1917 without using clips, but not eject fired cases unless you have something (like a short rod) to push them out. The purpose of the clips is to give the extractor something to push on.

Some early '17's had straight bored chambers and those did require clips. But Colt soon changed to chambers with a shoulder in the chamber to headspace the round - same as the 1911 pistol. Later those that had the no-shoulder chambers were fitted with new cylinders. The relatively rare ones that have original cylinders are those that were "liberated" by servicemen before those still in service were modified.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

When I had my Colt M1917, half moon clips were non-existent. I found the Colt would shoot .45 ACP without the clips, and if I pointed the gun up with the cylinder open and gave it a shake, the cases would fall out.

 

[Old Fuff]

... if I pointed the gun up with the cylinder open and gave it a shake, the cases would fall out.

Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. If you are going to shoot without clips it's a good practice to take a rod along - unless you have strong fingernails.