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us army model 1917 revolver?

ddhotbot
friend has a revolver ,45 long colt.on the butt its marked us army model 1917 no 76 815.inside the cylinder its marked r 233892 6
14629.on the bottom of the barrel its marked united states boston.what does he have and what is the value of this revolver.thanks don
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Comments

18 comments

Date Votes
  • Pearyw
    It sounds like you have a 1917 Colt military frame that someone has changed the barrel and cylinder. A 1917 origonal would be chambered in 45 acp. It would be a shooter.
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  • nmyers
    With the quality (& safety) of the alterations unknown, I doubt that anyone would pay > $100-150 for it.

    Neal
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  • ddhotbot
    you have me stumped here guys as my book shows this gun in 45 long colt and 45acp.is it possible it can shoot both shells?do you need moon clips for shooting the 45 acp?this gun doesnt seem too bealtered .this is a friends gun who got it from his dad,and he doesnt think it has ever been altered.help,don
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  • TRAP55
    It's my understanding that there were cilvilian models chambered in .45LC. There was also a conversion offered to .45LC with Colt factory parts. Mine was chambered in .455 Eley and the cyl. was cut to accept half moon clips for .45acp. Does the gun have a lanyard ring on the butt?

    7_2_120.gif
    "Aim small, Miss small"
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  • ddhotbot
    yes it does have the lanyard ring on the butt.but he says they have always shot 45 long colt out of it.my book clearly states it shoots 45 long colt and 45 acp.what i dont understand is if it was made in both calibers or if it is capable of shooting both.i havnt seen the gun personally so i dont know if the cylinders are recessed for moon clips.i will have him look it over.any other opinions are welcome thanks don
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  • MFI
    The 1917's were chambered in .45 Colt to my knowledge. You can use half moon clips to fire the .45ACP round also. Here's ours:
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?item=33460363
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  • Pearyw
    I have had a couple of 1917 Colts. I have never seen one in 45 Colt. I do own a Colt New Service in 45 Colt. The 1917 was made to shoot 45 ACP with half moon clips or 45 Auto Rim. Some had the cylinder bored straight thru and some have the stepped cylinder that will let you shoot 45 ACP without the half moon clip. I have had both versions. The Auto Rim catridge has a thicker rim than the 45 Colt. Look at the rifling in the barrel. The 1917 has shallow rifling for the full metal jacked .452" bullet. My Colt New Service 45 Colt has deeper rifling and shoots best with the .454" lead bullets.
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  • forthhorseman
    According to every reference I've been able to find, the 1917s were chambered for .45ACP. The 1909s were available in .45Colt as were the New Service models.
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  • ddhotbot
    ok guys i now have the gun in person.on the bottom of the barrel it is marked united states property.on side of the barrel its marked colt da.on the butt of the gun its marked us army model 1917 no 76 815.the cylinder is not recessed for moon clips.what do you think? thanks don
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  • forthhorseman
    Is it true that the first 1917s were not designed for use with moon clips and that later ones were? It's my understanding that the chambers are stepped to stop the short ACP cartridges from sliding too far forward. If the chambers aren't stepped then it seems like it could chamber .45Colt. I'd be interested in knowing for sure. My books all only mention .45ACP for the 1917s.
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  • forthhorseman
    BTW, see what you've done Don? Now I want one... [;)]
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  • forthhorseman
    How much should one in servicable condition cost me? A price range is fine, I'd just want one that was fully capable of being fired on a regular basis, if there are any left.
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  • ddhotbot
    heres somthing else thats wierd,i went too numerich gunsite and looked up colt 1917.it shows cylinders in all kind of calibers.45 acp 455 webley, 45 long colt ,38 ,357,38-40 etc.whats this all about?has my gun had a different cylinder installed too shoot the 45 long colt?or was it made this way from the factory?thanks don
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  • ddhotbot
    quote:Originally posted by ddhotbot
    heres somthing else thats wierd,i went too numrich gunsite and looked up colt 1917.it shows cylinders in all kind of calibers.45 acp 455 webley, 45 long colt ,38 ,357,38-40 etc.whats this all about?has my gun had a different cylinder installed too shoot the 45 long colt?or was it made this way from the factory?thanks don
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  • forthhorseman
    I was looking on Numrich just now too and it looks like the parts page is the same page for both the 1917 and the New Service, so that might be why the mention of all the different cylinders.

    So my furhter question is; is the New Service essentially the same revolver (except for caliber of course) as the 1917? They sure look nearly identical. My books on Colts do not say in no uncertain terms whether they are or not. They're kind of vague on the subject.
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  • TRAP55
    Same gun, the 1917 was a model variation of the New Service Model.There was a 1917 commercial/civilian Piece Parts model that was chambered in .45LC, approx. 1000 made ser.# range from 336,450-337,500. During WWI and WWII there was a shortage of handguns available so many guns had the cyl.'s cut to take the .45acp.

    7_2_120.gif
    "Aim small, Miss small"
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  • forthhorseman
    Thanks Trap!
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  • TRAP55
    Horseman, the New Service is a "Large" frame revolver. Not made for small hands. Ther's a guy that's always at the Cal Expo gunshows that has a couple for sale. His prices range for a "shooter" $450 up to $1200 for a pristine collector.

    7_2_120.gif
    "Aim small, Miss small"
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