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10-15-2017, 06:20 PM
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Chopped 1917 with British proof
Hi all,
This is my second chopped 1917 and I'm particularly exited about this one. The grips is custom and super comfortable. Each cylinder has a British proof mark and the barrel has a nitro proof mark. All serials match, eagles head in the crane and flaming bomb near hammer.
Thanks
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10-15-2017, 06:26 PM
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Very nice. I have a 1916 vintage chopped .455 HE with a 45 ACP cylinder and barrel. These old belly guns are a real hoot.
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Last edited by Iggy; 10-16-2017 at 12:28 PM.
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10-15-2017, 06:43 PM
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Pretty handy!
Is it marked US Army on the butt under the stocks?
Does the serial # on the rear face of the cylinder match the butt #?
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10-15-2017, 06:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44
Pretty handy!
Is it marked US Army on the butt under the stocks?
Does the serial # on the rear face of the cylinder match the butt #?
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Yes, SN under barrel, butt and cylinder all match. And US army on butt.
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10-15-2017, 06:53 PM
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I love chopped HEs & 17s. Thx for sharing
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10-15-2017, 07:02 PM
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Very nice!! I'm sort of working on something along those lines.
Best Regards, Les
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10-15-2017, 07:06 PM
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Not too many of them traveled across the big pond to be used by the British. But they took whatever they could get even though 45 ACP wasn't real plentiful over there. Probably issued to the home guard.
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10-15-2017, 08:27 PM
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After Dunkirk, they were screaming for anything that would shoot!
This ad appeared in the American Rifleman:
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10-15-2017, 08:42 PM
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How is the front sight attached? cool gun
Charlie
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10-15-2017, 08:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crsides
How is the front sight attached? cool gun
Charlie
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I believe it is braised on. There is no dove tail or pin that I can see.
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10-15-2017, 10:15 PM
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Two belly Smiths
Here are two different executions of the chopped 1917.
Enjoy
Last edited by Tmnguuyen; 10-16-2017 at 12:47 PM.
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10-16-2017, 10:25 AM
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Chopped 1917s are great. I love mine.
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10-16-2017, 10:30 AM
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Yeah, me too!
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10-16-2017, 11:37 AM
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A Cut Down
I don't have a cut down 1917 but I do have a few cut down 44s. Here is one that I got from a Forum member a few years back, a 44 spl Triple Lock with Micro sights from the 1960s.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...1&d=1508168571
Last edited by delta-419; 10-16-2017 at 11:44 AM.
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10-16-2017, 12:30 PM
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Well sir, if we're doin' show and tell, I'll play too.
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10-16-2017, 12:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy
Well sir, if we're doin' show and tell, I'll play too.
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The grips look great on it. Looking for a set like that for mine.
Last edited by Tmnguuyen; 10-16-2017 at 01:06 PM.
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10-17-2017, 11:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy
Well sir, if we're doin' show and tell, I'll play too.
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Okay, here's mine. A shortened and round-butted .45 Model 1950 Military, later known as the M-22, that I bought in 2010. The serial number on this one indicates production around 1952. Somewhere along the way the barrel got cut back to 3 1/2" and a new front sight put on, and the frame was shaped to round-butt configuration. It also has a replacement target hammer and trigger. There's no logo on the sideplate anymore, but the edges are still pretty clean with just a touch of rounding. The cylinder has turned a bit plum in color.
It had no grips on it - the seller said he'd had a pair of Lasemax grips on it but that there was a sizable gap at the top. It looks like the concave area just under the hump at the top of the grip has been ground back a bit. I put on some Pachmayer Compac Pro grips - that's what I have on my .44 Mag Mountain Gun and I really like the way they feel.
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10-17-2017, 02:42 PM
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Hi Tom, that's a beauty. It's been modernized similar to the current production with shorter barrel and round butt grip frame, not avaiable in 1952.
It sounds like the Lasemax grips were not a proper fit. Factory stocks should work fine. But I understand if you prefer the Pacs.
I see a target/combat trigger but not a target hammer; just the standard width.
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11-19-2017, 12:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tmnguuyen
Hi all,
This is my second chopped 1917 and I'm particularly exited about this one. The grips is custom and super comfortable. Each cylinder has a British proof mark and the barrel has a nitro proof mark. All serials match, eagles head in the crane and flaming bomb near hammer.
Thanks
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It may be one of the 20,000 purchased from the U.S. Steel Corp in July 1940 as part of the 37 million pound order of 'surplus' U.S. government stock. This included 500,000 Model 1917 riles and nearly 900 75mm artillery pieces.
About half of these 20,000 Model 1917 revolvers ended up seeing British service in the Middle East, the other half ended up with the Air Ministry, some of these are marked with the letters AM under a crown. I have seen VERY few of these.
In the case of a pistol that has only British commercial proofs, all that can be said with certainty is that it passed through the UK at some point.
If only they could talk...
Regards
AlanD
Sydney
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11-19-2017, 03:23 AM
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I've read that Colt and S&W M-1917 .45's were issued to the Indian AF in WWII. Maybe that's where some sent to the Air Ministry wound up.
What is the appeal of a short-barreled .45 revolver? What sort of velocity does normal factory ammo produce in such a short barrel?
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11-19-2017, 07:46 AM
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Man o man I like those guns maybe just maybe someday..............
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11-19-2017, 08:54 AM
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i would love to find one of these......
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11-19-2017, 09:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jringo8769
i would love to find one of these......
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Yeah, I bought a Brazilian with the intent of doing a chop, back when they were cheap. It was in such nice shape, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I later bought another Brazilian with the same intention, since I found it as cheap as I've ever found a 1917, but that too won my heart in as issued configuration. I just don't have it in me I guess.
I've just consigned myself to finding one that is already chopped. There's enough out there that I'll find the right one eventually.
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11-19-2017, 09:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom K
Okay, here's mine. A shortened and round-butted .45 Model 1950 Military, later known as the M-22, that I bought in 2010. The serial number on this one indicates production around 1952. Somewhere along the way the barrel got cut back to 3 1/2" and a new front sight put on, and the frame was shaped to round-butt configuration. It also has a replacement target hammer and trigger. There's no logo on the sideplate anymore, but the edges are still pretty clean with just a touch of rounding. The cylinder has turned a bit plum in color.
It had no grips on it - the seller said he'd had a pair of Lasemax grips on it but that there was a sizable gap at the top. It looks like the concave area just under the hump at the top of the grip has been ground back a bit. I put on some Pachmayer Compac Pro grips - that's what I have on my .44 Mag Mountain Gun and I really like the way they feel.
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Tom,
That is a beauty!
Your right right, it should have the large logo on the side plate. Does the assembly # on the inside of the side plate match the assembly #s in the yoke?
The standard hammer of that vintage was flat sided, the N frame version of the fixed sight K frame High Speed Hammer (or fish hook). Although yours appears to be a target hammer compared to the flat sided 1st style, it's actually the standard hammer from the 1956 and later era on both the Military and Target models.
My dad had one from 1953 with the same modifications with the addition of the factory target model rear Micro Click sight. It's now my absolute most accurate 45 ACP out of four; including a 1917 Army, 1917 Brazilian and a Pre Model 26.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 11-19-2017 at 09:48 AM.
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11-19-2017, 09:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ross3914
Yeah, I bought a Brazilian with the intent of doing a chop, back when they were cheap. It was in such nice shape, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I later bought another Brazilian with the same intention, since I found it as cheap as I've ever found a 1917, but that too won my heart in as issued configuration. I just don't have it in me I guess.
I've just consigned myself to finding one that is already chopped. There's enough out there that I'll find the right one eventually.
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Well if i can find one...i will gladly chop it...i had to sell my 24-3 that i loved and these would be a great winter project and have a great new firearm for next year....and it is so much fun to personalize one too...
Are they real expensive so u dont want to?
Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk
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11-19-2017, 11:12 AM
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I don't know what velocity it makes, but it puts big holes in a paper target. 
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11-19-2017, 12:39 PM
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[QUOTE=Texas Star;139819871 What sort of velocity does normal factory ammo produce in such a short barrel?[/QUOTE]
I also have wondered the same thing. I shot some military ball in a 5 1/2 in, 1917 and the velocity was 790 fps. I would like to test some in a 2 in. barrel but I don't have a gun. Larry
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11-19-2017, 02:27 PM
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Project 45acp
jringo8769, project guns are not too difficult to find at a fair price. I picked this one up on GB last week for 275.00 plus freight. Its a brazil 1937 contract that's missing a bunch of parts , however the barrel, cylinder, frame, and ejector star have matching numbers. It has a really nice high polish finish and came with patent date hammer with great colors. A matching side plate is the challenge. Finish looks like a Ford's refinish.
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11-19-2017, 05:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delta-419
jringo8769, project guns are not too difficult to find at a fair price. I picked this one up on GB last week for 275.00 plus freight. Its a brazil 1937 contract that's missing a bunch of parts , however the barrel, cylinder, frame, and ejector star have matching numbers. It has a really nice high polish finish and came with patent date hammer with great colors. A matching side plate is the challenge. Finish looks like a Ford's refinish.
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well that is exactly what i will start looking for....love it...thank u for sharing it....God Bless,John...
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11-19-2017, 05:19 PM
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Mine a Canadian .455 reworked to accept .45AR.
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11-19-2017, 05:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delta-419
I don't have a cut down 1917 but I do have a few cut down 44s. Here is one that I got from a Forum member a few years back, a 44 spl Triple Lock with Micro sights from the 1960s.
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That old thumper looks familiar, has it been a few years? Man, time flies. How does the old girl shoot? I recall shooting some light specials and some Russian but that's about it.
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12-11-2017, 10:19 AM
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I have several rough finish Brazilians that need to be chopped. I have a 455 chopped to 3" and chambered for 45 colt and a nickel 1917 cut to 3". The hard part is silver soldering the front sight. Now that I'm retired I think I know a guy who can teach me. I also will take a day and chronograph some loads through several lengths of HEs and answer that question.
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12-11-2017, 11:04 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delta-419
jringo8769, project guns are not too difficult to find at a fair price. I picked this one up on GB last week for 275.00 plus freight. Its a brazil 1937 contract that's missing a bunch of parts , however the barrel, cylinder, frame, and ejector star have matching numbers. It has a really nice high polish finish and came with patent date hammer with great colors. A matching side plate is the challenge. Finish looks like a Ford's refinish.
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It can be done. I had two 1917s that had been stripped down. I got lucky and have a friend (Hey Burt!) that had a side plate that fit pretty good. I had most of the other parts on hand. Of course, it helps that I have been collecting parts since the 1970s. 
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