S&W .455 Eley...anybody worked on one?

[aryfrosty]

I found a nice old S&W in the store today. Looks like, and I suppose it is, an old S&W M-1917, but chambered for .455 Eley. The gentleman I got it from told me it had been reworked to take .45LC rounds. Of course it's a 5-screw, and the screw at the top of the side plate, (Closest to the rear sight), is missing. Does anyone know a supplier for those old Smith side plate screws.
I have another, an old M-10 , 5 screw, and when I put it in the shop for a tune up a few years ago I aske the Gunsmith to replace the screws. He repaired them instead...made 'em look just like new. He also told me he didn't know where to find the old screws. I am hoping someone knows of a place to buy them. I've emailed Brownells and Numrich but I don't know if they'll have them.
Thanks
Alan Yates

 

[TooTech]

Not certain why you e-mailed Numrich, looks like they have them in stock.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=1980z1917

I'm having a S&W 1917 (.45ACP in moonclips) worked on at Ahlman's in Morristown, MN as I write this. I wanted some of the excess play in the cylinder taken out. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Nice pick up. A lot of the 1917's and Colt New Service pistols went to Canada and England in WWI and were in .455. A large # came back and had their cylinders reamed out for .45Colt.

The .455 was a bit wider then some of the current .45Colt bullets you'll find so accuracy may suffer.

Still a neat old pickup. I have a 1916 Canadian New Service rechambered to .45Colt. Neat old warhorse.

Good luck with the parts hunt.

 

[aryfrosty]

.455 Eley

Thanks for the answers...TooTech, the reason I emailed Numrich is that I don't have a current catalogue and am too dumb to navigate the computer. In times like these it is expeditious to just ask. I could have wasted a day, or more, trying to find something they are possibly out of stock on anyway.
Gunsnrovers, I agree. I am unsure as to how much I'll shoot this Brit S&W. I will after I have it looked over, but mainly wanted it for the "if this gun could talk" days. Somebody in the past put a large Micro front ramp and Partridge blade on the front and relieved the rear of the frame and put on a Micro adjustable rear sight. It won't ever qualify as a collector, but I enjoy the feel of it and also thinking of the history it could have.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The .455 Eley is one of a series of almost identical cartridges. They mainly differ from the .45 Colt in being shorter (and less powerful) and having thinner rims. The standard method of "conversion" was to mill some metal off the back of the cylinder to allow for the thicker .45 Colt rims. This has to be done carefully, or the ejector star will be ruined.

If it is originally in .455 Eley, it isn't a Model 1917 -- that was the US Army's designation for Colts and S&Ws in .45 ACP.

 

[Old Fuff]

As I understand it, Numrich had someone make up a new batch of large-head sideplate screws, so these at least should still be in stock.

 

[unspellable]

45 Colt in 455

I never had to shave the rims or the cylinder to use 45 Colt brass in any 455. Just trim the 45 Colt brass to length and you're in business.

The shaving the cylinder trick was to get them to take 45 ACP or 45 Auto Rim, a sorry practice in my book.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I never had to shave the rims or the cylinder to use 45 Colt brass in any 455. Just trim the 45 Colt brass to length and you're in business.

The shaving the cylinder trick was to get them to take 45 ACP or 45 Auto Rim, a sorry practice in my book.

I know where you can buy a Colt New Service that had the cylinder face milled for .45 Colt.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

My Colt New Service had the cylinders reamed out to take the long .45Colt cartridge.