|
|
04-14-2018, 09:00 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Liked 114 Times in 9 Posts
|
|
1917 Carry Gun Project
I thought I'd share a few pictures of project I've always wanted to do and finally found the right gun and had the money to get it accomplished. I just got it back from the gunsmith yesterday.
I wanted to create a fitz special out of a Colt New Service 1917 or something similar out of a S&W 1917. However, I could never find a base gun for the decent price point; also, I could never bring myself to destroy a true military surplus.
About a month ago I found the perfect gun for my dream project: A S&W 1917 that had a Model of 1950 barrel on it and the lanyard loop missing. It was also without the original wood grips and was wearing a set of modified N-frame pachmayr rubber grips. My LGS has it priced as a shooter. (See the before picture).
I just got it back from the gunsmith yesterday and it looks awesome (after picture).
He cut and crowned the barrel to about 3 inches, bobbed the hammer, removed the single action hitch in the hammer, shortened and rounded the grip frame, and refinished the whole gun. The gunsmith cut an N-frame pachmayr grip adapter short and created a custom pair of wood grips for it. The gunsmith said he used grips off a 44 hand ejector to make grips.
My gunsmith actually thanked me for wanting to do that project. It was seldom he gets to do old school gunsmithing and he loved doing it.
I haven't had a chance to take it to the range. When I do, I'll be sure to include a range report.
I also have to now find an N-Frame holster. I'd appreciate any recommendations on that front.
|
The Following 25 Users Like Post:
|
acl864, cgt4570, delta-419, Frank46, gunnails, Iggy, Joe Kent, Kinman, loc n load, Lt JL, MAJPATT, Muley Gil, murdock23, NCBeagle, Old_Cop, one eye joe, Papaw, S&WsRsweet, SAFireman, shell627, snowman.45, tommy F, tops, touchoneoff, Wiregrassguy |
04-15-2018, 11:58 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NW Florida
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 6,360
Liked 3,414 Times in 583 Posts
|
|
Leather
Google Archangel Leather, Jason will craft you about anything you desire. Look at their carry holsters.
|
04-15-2018, 01:52 PM
|
US Veteran SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: upstate SC / Mtns SW Va
Posts: 4,789
Likes: 3,064
Liked 9,875 Times in 1,986 Posts
|
|
yeah, that'll do just fine.
Charlie
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-15-2018, 02:03 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The SW Va Blue Ridge
Posts: 17,547
Likes: 89,899
Liked 24,942 Times in 8,538 Posts
|
|
Welcome to the Forum.
Looks good. What did your smith do about the serial number?
__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!
Last edited by Muley Gil; 04-16-2018 at 04:37 PM.
|
04-15-2018, 03:27 PM
|
Suspended
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,747
Likes: 1,590
Liked 8,914 Times in 3,554 Posts
|
|
An El Paso Tom Three Persons in floral or basket weave would be perfect! Not inexpensive, but you didn't ask for that.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-15-2018, 03:37 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Indiana
Posts: 389
Likes: 353
Liked 207 Times in 143 Posts
|
|
Wow, quite a transformation! Looks good OP!
__________________
USMC 83'-87', NRA Member.
|
04-15-2018, 04:05 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Mount Carmel, TN USA
Posts: 3,171
Likes: 1,628
Liked 3,178 Times in 933 Posts
|
|
My 1917 'pocket'
Here's my diy project from a few years back. I don't know who made the holster but it's perfect.
1917a.jpg
__________________
Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-15-2018, 04:14 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Near Birmingham
Posts: 7,185
Likes: 4,881
Liked 8,235 Times in 2,168 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Muley Gil
What did your smith do about the serial number?
|
My thoughts exactly.
Serious looking heater regardless.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-15-2018, 05:37 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Texas Gulf Coast...
Posts: 5,530
Likes: 9,966
Liked 23,049 Times in 3,244 Posts
|
|
Neat belly gun..
Always thought the "Ftiz" revolvers
were neat.
Never followed thru with the project.
Snagged this not long ago...it will do for now.
|
The Following 15 Users Like Post:
|
deltazulu334, Eddie Southgate, Frank46, GF, keith44spl, ki5mc, loc n load, Muley Gil, RKmesa, S&WsRsweet, SAFireman, shell627, shouldazagged, snowman.45, tommy F |
04-15-2018, 07:10 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Tennessee and Alabama
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 2,760
Liked 1,616 Times in 662 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xfuzz
Neat belly gun..
Always thought the "Ftiz" revolvers
were neat.
Never followed thru with the project.
Snagged this not long ago...it will do for now.
|
I'd be happy with that from now on . Beautiful gun .
Eddie
__________________
Grumpy Old Man With a Gun
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-15-2018, 07:15 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Massachusetts USA
Posts: 9,597
Likes: 3,713
Liked 8,952 Times in 3,558 Posts
|
|
I thought that the term "fitz" required the removal of the front of the trigger guard????? Just an FYI for you guys modifying military arms, remember that they lose their C&R status.
__________________
James Redfield
LM #497
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-15-2018, 09:14 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern Middle Tennessee
Posts: 2,915
Likes: 3,428
Liked 4,120 Times in 1,462 Posts
|
|
I like the looks of a big bore snub nosed revolver not a fan of cutting the trigger guard though. I too am curious about the serial number.
|
04-16-2018, 07:54 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Central Montana
Posts: 13,719
Likes: 12,860
Liked 39,491 Times in 10,051 Posts
|
|
Here is a 1917 I snubbed using a 1950 barrel and milled for adj sights and cut down and round butted.
|
The Following 9 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-16-2018, 02:22 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Liked 114 Times in 9 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamabiker
My thoughts exactly.
Serious looking heater regardless.
|
The gunsmith restamped the serial number on the butt of the gun.
You were right that a true Fitz special has the front of the trigger guard removed but that's recognized as a liability in this day in age.
It was more of the spirit of the Fitz special: Taking a full sized duty gun and converting it into a carry snubnose.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-29-2018, 09:25 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 702
Likes: 1,360
Liked 122 Times in 66 Posts
|
|
I would like to know who the smith was that wanted to do this kind of work as many off us would like to send him an inquiry
__________________
Tommy
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-29-2018, 11:39 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 5,521
Liked 6,738 Times in 1,180 Posts
|
|
Looks great.
|
04-30-2018, 07:28 AM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 271
Liked 1,207 Times in 659 Posts
|
|
I like it!
|
04-30-2018, 08:24 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2017
Location: TTown Alabama ,Roll Tide
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 9,772
Liked 2,220 Times in 1,031 Posts
|
|
Cool guns all ,those big bore snubs are coool
|
04-30-2018, 08:31 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 447
Likes: 15
Liked 660 Times in 188 Posts
|
|
I would prefer a traditional round butt, leaving options for grips.
|
04-30-2018, 08:34 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2017
Location: TTown Alabama ,Roll Tide
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 9,772
Liked 2,220 Times in 1,031 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by steelslaver
Here is a 1917 I snubbed using a 1950 barrel and milled for adj sights and cut down and round butted.
|
Impressive ,then again most of your customs are .
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|