Colt M1917 revolver

[Vincent]

It’s not real pretty, but it’s a good shooter.

If you’re not familiar, it will shoot .45 auto rim (pictured) or .45 ACP with half-moon clips.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Nice gun Vince, I never managed to get one of those either...

[Salt Flat]

Vincent, Very appropriate condition for its age and possible batle usage. It looks to be very complete and the marlkings are clear. Nice original grips! I would be real happy with it. Many I've seen have the "U.S." ground off and the lanyard ring removed. Kudos--Salt Flat

[Cheese Noodles]

It’s not real pretty, but it’s a good shooter

I think this is a real pretty large Colt revolver. I like the war time finish and this one is really nice. I did get to shoot one once and it was really nice, accurate too. Once saw an interview with a WWII Pacific theater veteran, he talked about laying in the fox hole in the dead of night knowing the Japanese would be infiltrating, he had one of these and said it offered a great sense of security. If I remember, he described it as heavy and dependable and a man stopper.

[fjruple]

The Colt New Services were a very robust revolver. I own several including a M1917, .45 Colt and .455 Eley. I found them to have a long rough double action pull. I like to double action pull on the large frame S&W revolvers better. Both are very accurate at 25 yards given the fixed sights.

--fjruple

Edit: Just a side note the serial number on the butt is an US Army #. The serial number on the yoke part of the frame is the Colt serial number.

[jonnyc]

Great pistols. I have a Colt 1917, a Colt NS in .45 Colt, and a S&W 1917.
For shooting, I would use light .45 ACP target loads and plastic Rim-Z full-moon clips. The load and moon clips are also perfect for my shaved Webley MkVI.

[browningautorifle]

Always like these, the S&W better than the Colt. For carry, a 1917 cut to a 3" BBL, round butt and using full moon clips. Perhaps have the muzzle ported if anyone still does that reasonably. I'd use a full house load...DA only... Yes, I'm an old guy...

[jonnyc]

You mean like this?



It was a mess when I got this NS in .45 Colt. Did the mods and then Park'd it. Since the pic I have fixed up the grip fit.

[browningautorifle]

That's about right...I take it you finished the round butt conversion then? The .45 colt would be good but using full moons would be easier to handle. Comp2's will do the job though. I'd still prefer the S&W though. I just like the triggers better. A Hogue gripper would be nicer too, that's what's on my 625, all my wheelguns actually.

[Lee Enfield]

The Colt New Services were a very robust revolver. I own several including a M1917, .45 Colt and .455 Eley. I found them to have a long rough double action pull. I like to double action pull on the large frame S&W revolvers better. Both are very accurate at 25 yards given the fixed sights.
--fjruple
...snip....

I fell in love with New Services when I bought my first for $109...quite a few years ago now...

I find that the New Service quite often merely need the lockwork cleaned as they've generally been sitting for years and the oil in them has turned to varnish.

New Service revolvers are a true outdoorsman's/cavalry gun, the grip frame is generally too large for most to use without grip adaptors...or gloves.

The NS were clearly designed meant for mounted cavalry use, (if you don't believe me find a pair of fine gauntlet gloves and try it out).

S&W N frames are much more "bare hand" size friendly, but you have to remember that the N-Frame S&W debuted 10 years after the NS, and after the US Army had trialed what became the M.1909 revolver (quickly replaced by the M.1911 - which they had been evolving & trialing since @1904/1905).