Colt model of 1917

[jdmcomp]

I have been collecting firearms for more than 50 years, mostly WWI and WWII military weapons. Many I have not look at for years so today I got down a Colt model of 1917 to clean and check over. I also wanted to update the description of this pistol in my data base.

Imagine my surprise when I checked the butt for the serial number and found it to be 01. Yes, the first. The gun has been refinished (in part or whole) and has Coltwood grip panels. Inspector mark is S20 under the eagle which is correct for the period. The barrel has the patent date on top and is marked Property of on the botton as is correct. The number on the frame has been struck through. The metal shows the correct brushed finish under the bluing.

All of this points to a commercial model that was renumbered to the Army during the first of production. It shows little indication of use with no flame cutting and great bore. So the question is: Is this really the first Colt Model of 1917?

[browningautorifle]

So the question is: Is this really the first Colt Model of 1917?

I would doubt it but...how about some pics?

[jdmcomp]

Sorry but the pics are not online so I cannot link to them. Would like to know what places doubt as to this being the lowest number Colt in this series. Would help me to verify the status. Thanks, John McP Have posted pics in FAL board under C&R sectlion Colt model of 1917 | The FAL Files

[Lee Enfield]

Colt model of 1917
I have been collecting firearms for more than 50 years, mostly WWI and WWII military weapons. Many I have not look at for years so today I got down a Colt model of 1917 to clean and check over. I also wanted to update the description of this pistol in my data base.

Imagine my surprise when I checked the butt for the serial number and found it to be 01. Yes, the first. The gun has been refinished (in part or whole) and has Coltwood grip panels. Inspector mark is S20 under the eagle which is correct for the period. The barrel has the patent date on top and is marked Property of on the botton as is correct. The number on the frame has been struck through. The metal shows the correct brushed finish under the bluing.

All of this points to a commercial model that was renumbered to the Army during the first of production. It shows little indication of use with no flame cutting and great bore. So the question is: Is this really the first Colt Model of 1917?[/url]

Sorry but the pics are not online so I cannot link to them. Would like to know what places doubt as to this being the lowest number Colt in this series. Would help me to verify the status. Thanks, John McP Have posted pics in FAL board under C&R sectlion Colt model of 1917 | The FAL Files

From the 2 pics on falfiles, your revolver has been heavily polished and re-blued - I would not be surprised if part of the issue number has been polished off.



Colt 1917 Serial-Service Numbers | Colt Forum
I would ask your question here in the Colt Forum thread on Service Numbers

Taking a quick glance at the Colt Thread, M1917 Colt Serial Number 150742, US Army No. 7 was shipped to Winchester Repeating Arms on Oct. 24 1917 as one of two shipped for 45ACP testing

[MAC702]

Are there any numbers inside the crane or under the grips? Even if it was serial number 1, I would expect there to be more than one zero in front of it, and in a location and orientation that could fit at least six digits.

[jdmcomp]

Serial number is 238288, and the number 325 is also found there as well as HX. Grip frame stamped with GGJ. and has colt serial no. The 01 is centered and of the correct font.

[MAC702]

Imagine my surprise when I checked the butt for the serial number and found it to be 01. Yes, the first.

I guess this is the part that confused me. So the "01" is not THE serial number, but possibly the number that started a series of some subset? Presumably with less than 100 made/issued?

[82Trooper]

Pretty similar response on the Colt Forum as well....
https://www.coltforum.com/threads/co...9#post-3716929

Hope it's helpful!

[MAC702]

I used this as an excuse to make the Colt M1917 revolver as the C&Rsenal video I watched today. Looks like there are guns where the number on the bottom of the grip matches the serial number (and they used two 3-digit lines to do it) and the Army ones appear to have the number on the bottom of the grip as an inventory number, and it differs from the serial number. Again, when six digits are needed, it was in two 3-digit lines.

While your gun appears polished, the "01" inventory number appears intact. Now, were there many inventories that each started with a "01?"

[martin08]

Just as I replied on the Colt Forum, the Gov't Number on the butt of the grip has been scrubbed, and the 01 was restamped for unknown reasons.

The two pictures posted above tell a story. The first 30,000 or so Colt Model of 1917 revolvers were inspected by GHS (Gilbert H. Stewart), from 30K to around 64K they were inspected by JMG (John M. Gilbert), and from 64K to the finish of the government contract, they had the Springfield Eagle/Number inspection mark.

This gun was built after Government Army Number 64,000. The 01 on the butt was added after the original number was scrubbed.


Now, since the serial number inside the crane recess is 238288, then subtract the ~150,000 New Service serial numbers that were built before the M1917 contract, and you would get an original Gov't number of ~88,000.

Your gun once had a Gov't Number much, much, much greater than 01.

All the best.