S&W 1917, opinions please.

[twosteam]

Hello, We have just acquired the 1917 S&W from Wolverine, number 151 in the list. It appears to be a "field find" and is in fairly rough shape. Now I am not in favor of putting a new barrel on this gun as it shows a lot of wear and I do not wish to change it's character- Yet I want it to be a shooter not a wall hanger. We have been kicking around the idea of putting .38 special sleeves in her , making it a shooter- not modding her appearance but using a lighter load than the .45 A.C.P. caliber that is her original load. Thinking as well that this would be easier on the old corroded frame.( truly Grody.) ( as in Ehhhuuu Grody to the max dude , as the young would say.) Can I get some opinions as to the advisability of this course of action. Should it become a display only gun?
Jan.

---------- Post added at 08:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

I would have put this on "gun nuts" but I know that the conversion freaks would be all over me.

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[jmoore]

Ummm. Possibly. W/o permanent mods to the revolver. Hopefully you've got a good lathe handy.

[emmagee1917]

The ACP is a low pressure round anyway and the gun was made in much more powerful calibers , so , if it's safe to shoot at all , it should be OK in 45ACP. Is there any way to just bore out the original barrel and resleeve it to .45 ? It would not alter the looks except for a ring at the muzzle.
Chris

[Johnny Peppers]

Not worth the effort to convert to .38 Special unless you just like a challenge. Finding an extractor for the New Service in .38 Special would not be easy.

[twosteam]

Thanks guys. I actually hadn't thought of the extractor at all. (duuuu) I was afraid the barrel would be too thin for an original caliber sleeve but I shall have to have a look at her when we pick it up- (end of the month{ payday}) I will look her over then, again thanks all.

[emmagee1917]

I don't believe it is absolutely nessesary to have it run to the very end . They could just open it up to clear the bullet and install the liner with a back bore effect. S/W .38 S/W revolvers were backbored when first given to the Brits in lend / lease because they feared the muzzle was not thick enough for thier .360 .38/200 as it was rifled for the US .357 bullets . Shot fine , but was determined they didnt need to do it.
Chris

[jmoore]

I was thinking of a .38 cal. barrel liner that could be removed with some degree of effort and removable .38 chamber inserts with rims, but that would be fairly dangerous if some nitwit inserts .45 Auto Rim or ACP ammo without taking out the liner...

A friend did a Webley that way to .22 rf, but he un-did it before selling the revolver.

[A square 10]

i have a single action colt 38/40 that was sleeved as you discuss to 22cal , the only thing i will say about this is it adds weight , noteable weight , but it makes a nice revolver shootable ,

[Johnny Peppers]

The barrel of the S&W Model 1917 Revolver is only 0.02 thicker at the ejector lug than at the muzzle. I don't believe it is a candidate for back boring.

[jonnyc]

Just shoot it with some light, lead bullet .45 ACPs and see what results you get. Give it a good cleaning, might just surprise you. Keep in mind, the S&W 1917s have very shallow rifling.