Need help with M1917

aterry33 · Jan 30, 2012

Found a 95% M1917 at my local store today. Original finish, original stocks. Marked U.S. property, etc.

Serial # (penguin) S344833

What's the approximate date on this one, and what's a good price? Remind me, can you shoot full moon clips with these or just 1/2 clips?

By the way--did 45ACP revolvers in this era have problems with oversized chamber throats or not? Not that it would affect my purchase of the gun, but I was curious.

Thanks.

s&wchad · Jan 30, 2012

Are you sure about that serial number?

aterry33 · Jan 30, 2012

s&wchad said:
Are you sure about that serial number?

Unless I wrote it down wrong... I thought I got it right.

Muley Gil · Jan 30, 2012

"Remind me, can you shoot full moon clips with these or just 1/2 clips?

By the way--did 45ACP revolvers in this era have problems with oversized chamber throats or not? Not that it would affect my purchase of the gun, but I was curious."

You can use half moons, third moons, full moons, or no moons. You can even use .45 AutoRim.

I've never heard of any problems with oversized throats in the 1917s.

murphydog · Jan 30, 2012

If it is the number off the bottom of the grip frame (with "U.S. Army Model 1917", etc.) it should be numbered between 1 and somewhere in the 170000 range.

Oyeboteb · Jan 30, 2012

aterry33 said:
>>>snip<<<

Serial # (penguin) S344833

Thanks.

Possibly you are reading an assembly number from inside the Crane knuckle.

Serial Number as such will be found on the bottom of the Butt, on if all is as it left the factory, on the flat portion of the underside of the Barrel, by the Frame, and, on the face of the Cylinder ( as well as under the Ejector Star ).

Without good images, important aspects can not be seen.

But if all is original and high condition, then the degree to which this is so, can have large effects on value.

JSR III · Jan 30, 2012

I am guessing that "penguin 3" is actually eagle 3 which is a Springfield inspectors stamp. Did you get this number off the yoke with the cylinder open or from the cylinder face.

I can't recall if the butt is inspector marked. The serial number will be on the butt, the cylinder face, under the barrel with the yoke open and on the back of the yoke but can only be seen by looking through one of the charge holes with a bright light.

As muley said, the only purpose of the moon clips is for extraction of the empties. You can use double clips, triple clips, full clips, no clips and .45 auto rim. Without clips, you have to remove the empties with a dowel or rod pushed through from the front of the cylinder. Somewhat a PITA, hence the clips.

If it truly is an eagle 3 and then 44833, then this is a fairly early gun. If it came from the yoke, then it is a factory assembly number and has no meaning today.

1917's are all over the board due to condition, but pristine guns can fetch over $1,500. Not sure if your 95% and mine are the same but that is a high condition for a gun that is almost 100 years old. Pictures would help.

Hope that helps.

Need help with M1917

aterry33

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s&wchad

aterry33

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Muley Gil

US Veteran

murphydog

Moderator

Oyeboteb

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JSR III

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