I'm going a little quarantine stir crazy. So I've been taking some pictures, sorting through guns, cleaning, etc.

Pulled out one of my 1917s and realized that the only 1917s I have are modified, and when I started thinking about it, I think an awful lot of 1917s probably saw some modification or another. There are some old threads on the subject, but they aren't doing so well these days because of the image hosting issues.

This particular one is something that I bought because I liked it, I knew very little about modified guns at the time. I had no idea that someone had fitted a Registered Magnum hammer to it for example. The good folks on the forum here pointed it out to me and schooled me on the subject, as you guys usually do.






What cool modified 1917s do you guys have lurking in the darkest recesses of your gunsafes? I'd love to see them.

I have a coat that looks like that one. No 1917's though.

Is the top of the hammer fully checkered? I once owned a 1926 .44 that had an early, groove sided 1917 hammer in it. I have no idea WHY it was wearing that hammer.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

My "Raider of the Lost Ark" homage---

Here is mine, adjustable sights added, dehorned, chopped 1950 barrel, cut down grip frame (still has original serial number).

Call it my 45acp combat

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Yep, it's most certainly a Registered Magnum hammer.

When I bought it I thought it was just an early 1917 hammer, but it turned out to be otherwise. If the baby naps I'll snap pictures of my other 1917 with an RM hammer on it.

LOVE this gun!!!!!!!

Hah, that reminds me. The actual gun used in raiders (apparently) is for sale, and they are asking a mere $5,000,000 for it.

Seems a wee bit optimistic to me, especially considering they de-activated the gun...

Then there is this one, it started as a Brazilian, added a cut down 1950 barrel, adjustable sights and a 45 colt cylinder.

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Oh ya then there is my revolving carbine. Adj sights added, grip frame modified, stock added, shoots 45 acp or colt, 16 1/2" barrel and forearm.

WOW some nice gear.

Got this back a little while ago





Owned this one but sold it last year. Factory modified in the late 20’s to a nickel 45 Colt (with a new serialed cylinder)

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SWCA: 3154
SWHF: 552

I think this will be the winner! How does it shoot? Accurate?

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Possum—The other white meat!

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This one stirred the pot awhile back, quite an extensive conversation.

If I’m remembering correctly, Caleb has another VERY NICE 1917 that I want. If we ask nice enough maybe he’ll post a few pics of it

This thread was a good idea Caleb!
Thanks.
Bob

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Keep on keepin on
SWCA #-3282

Did you specify Smiths? Here's my Micro sighted Colt. I believe the grips to be by Hurst.

Hmm, trying to think of the one you are talking about. Is it this one?

Here is a 1917 with a cut down barrel, 4”. It was my EDC for a couple of years. The second gun is a 1950 Military with a modified front sight.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Wow, there are some sweet 1917’s here. The 1917 makes a nice looking target gun. Glad Bob (the MULE) bought the one he showed, he saved me from buying it. Hope we see some more 1917’s . Larry

Just snagged my first 1917 off GB this morning, a Commercial model.

Don't have it in hand, but this appears to be the only modification.



Regards,
Bruce

Well, add that to my want list.
No, this wasn’t it. Don’t you have one with a strapped front sight?

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Keep on keepin on
SWCA #-3282

That was a mean trick Larry.

It’s one of the coolest S&W’s I have!

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Keep on keepin on
SWCA #-3282

Bruce,

I see two modifications, the inlays and the swivel has been removed.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Thanks Kevin,
But I just happen to have swivel laying around.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Here's mine- if I recall, the barrel measures 2 1/16".

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The carbine shoots pretty well about a 1 1/2 at 50 yards. I had to keep taking tthe front sight down more and more. I think with the stock and fore arm you don't get near as much upward muzzle rotation. Then I kind of lost interest and went on to other things. Still need to get it in my blueing tank.

People always worry about the gap blast and your arm, but I have neve had a problem wearing a shirt, Your elbow is down and away kind of under the bottom of the frame. You do feel a tiny bit of blast stuf on your face with it being way closer to the frame than normal. Nothing bad but, you can feel it. I thought it would be the ticket for going int heavy cover after whitetail.

I also have a nice 1917 commercial and that will remain as is. There is another Brazilian in the safe that might become something else someday. A heavy barreled rig with a Bomar sight would be interesting. Or cut the cylinder down to just over acp length, set the barrel back so the lug is where it would leave the ejector rod just long enough to stroke out empties. Mill a big channel inthe top to sight with and add a ramp sight.

I have a Ruger Old Army percussion revolver I plan to give the same basic treatment to. A cap and ball 6 shot carbine.

Here is my pair. Taken next to a 1917 1897. The guy on top has British prod marks

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Oh, so that wouldn't be this one:







You are probably talking about this one :





I have no idea how I ended up with so many modified 1917s.

Of all of the possible problems in the world, an excess of stag / ivory stocked, modified 1917's is one I think I would like to have.

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Mario B.
SWCA 3249, SWHF 157

That last one is my all time favorite and I’m happy to take any of them off your hands if you choose to thin the herd

Caleb, that grip style looks awfully familiar. Do they have the toe cutaway like mine? Did they come on that gun or did you acquire them elsewhere? I never did find out who the maker was.






Here's a modified 1917 that I acquired last November at the Wanenmacher show. It is an unfortunate gunsmith conversion to a target configuration with the front sight filed to Patridge shape, a windage adjustable rear sight, trigger stop, and filled lanyard ring hole. The grips are modern reproduction Altamonts but of the appropriate early style.







I say unfortunate because prior to modification, it appears that it was an immaculate and original early four-digit 1917 complete with grooved hammer.

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I did find out who made the stocks, and no they didn't come on the gun. I think when I bought it the thing had pachmayrs on it.

A guy named Mike Poulin made them. Skilled pointed me to a couple threads on the subject: http://smith-wessonforum.com/139092025-post44.html

My set, with the JR initials, were said to come off of a registered magnum (when I asked the guy I bought them from). My set has the toe cut out.

I have zero doubt that our stocks were both made by the same guy. I have to say, I really like them. They are also really great for shooting with this gun. Outside of Kearsarge and Ropers the only other past maker who's I have an equal amount of affection for is Cloyce. That's not true, I love early 2 piece Hogues.

I guess I just like a lot of old grips.

In any case, if your set is every on the chopping block, let me know. I wouldn't mind a second set. His work is rare enough that I don't think it will ever have the collectability of Ropers, but much like Kearsarge and Keith Brown's, I just really really like Poulin's work.

Thoroughly enjoying all these 1917s. Great thread idea Caleb. Those Mike Poulin stocks are incredible!

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Tim
SWCA #2697

I purchased this firearm back when they had the 1917's in Shotgun News
for a $125,, I think.. I wish I had purchased 3 or 4 more..

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I bought this "target" 1917 a while ago.

Nobody wanted it because it was "ruined".

It is as accurate as any 45 I own and a joy to shoot.

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I think the rear sight is King, the front similar to some Kings, but unmarked:

Bob

I saw this one on G.B. a couple weeks ago and thought it was neat. The job looked good enough to pass for factory, although I believe the factory would have done a little more to the muzzle. I got into the bidding and ended up thinking it was neater than the others. I have not taken possession as of yet but have filled out paperwork.



I also have this converted Brazilian Model of 1917. I got it from a friend who also got it from a friend who had performed a fairly nice job of re-finishing it. I decided that since it was already molested it needed to be cut down to 4" and have a Baughman style front sight with insert installed, I added the Micro sight. Its a fun shooter and one you can hand to anyone that hasn't fired a .45 ACP/AR revolver and not worry about any mishandling.

Caleb:

I may be mis-remembering (not an infrequent occurrence), but I thought that some of the 1917s shipped from the factory with the grooved hammers (there is a vague recollection that the 1917 grooved hammer tidbit came out when someone was looking for a grooved RM hammer for their pre-war .357 Magnum). I also recall that there were slight differences in the RM and 1917 grooved hammers. I'll try and do a little searching for the information... [Post Update: Here is one of the threads I was thinking of: 1917 with Concentric grooves on Hammer ]

I have no 1917's... yet, but there are sure some beauties in this thread that make for lustful wishes in this "modified S&W admirer".

Thanks for sharing,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I have an early (11xxx) 1917 that has a ringed hammer, I was told the earlies do.

Here's a post-WWI Commercial model 1917 that went back to the factory in July 1949 for modification to 45 Colt Target. The cylinder, barrel, sights and stocks were replaced with post-WWII versions . . . but otherwise it is totally original

Russ

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Oh yeah, the earliest of the 1917s had the concentric grooves.

Funny thing is that I think all of my 1917s have the grooves, but two of them are Registered Magnum hammers, the other two are just because they are early guns. I had no idea about any of that until the forum here explained it all to me, which you will see in this thread: The best 1917 (I'll ever own), maybe ever?

As a bonus, it turned out, that I had picked up a stray Registered Magnum HBH somewhere. Except it had been...bobbed.

So all told my collection of guns may only have 3 pre-war .357 Magnums, but I somehow have 6 Hammers, either loose, or on guns.

Caleb:

I know I read that great thread, I just forgot the details (I have always loved your King Super Police 1917). Great photos and summaries of the hammer differences.

Thanks for reminding me.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Some more modded than others but I’ll play using these old (repost) pics...










Targets from 5 of these old shooters. None are match quality (at least with me shooting) but minute of bad guy anyway.
10 yards DA standing off-hand.

Lovingly referred to as "The Pimp Gun". I rescued this from a certain death.

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Dave

I love it. Some great mods guys. Still a lot of 17s and Brazilians around and available for interesting projects. Those and model 28s have been the base for a lot of projects. Like I said I have a Brazilian that will become something else and a 5 screw Highway patrolman that got some Bubba work on it that is going to become my dream gun.

45 wheelgun - do you know who did the engraving? Thanks for sharing those photos she is a beauty to my eye!

Normally a lurker but I find this thread interesting. Here’s a 1917 Colt. Not a “Fitz” but one done nicely by someone who knew what they were doing. The DA trigger is like butter.

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45 Wheelgun, you most definitely made a "silk purse" from a "sows ear". Who did the leather work?

Couple colt 1917's

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Charlie

To cover several questions -

All modifications to this gun other than the engraving and grips, were done prior to my ownership.

I found this in the early 90's at an OGCA show. I bought it from a "walk around" young man who wanted to sell it to fund a black rifle.

The right side of the gun was completely rust pitted. Worse than I have ever seen. You can still see it under the grips, but it has been nickel-ed over.



The gun had been expertly modified with workmanship worthy of a master gunsmith. While the surface was destroyed on the right side, it was only beauty damage. Everything that mattered was perfect. The bore was spotless.

I was determined to resurrect this gun and it became clear the only way to put any reasonable finish on it was to engrave right over the pits.

Jeff Flannery was at the show, so I walked the gun over to him and we worked out a plan. He engraved the gun and created the K-Frame round butt grips to fit the frame as it is today. The "popcorn" on the left side is breathtaking in person.

The leather was done by our very own forum member Wyatt Burp. Another 45 revolver fan and an artist with leather. He hit this one out of the park.

It has the best action I have ever had the privilege of shooting. I don't know what the gunsmith did, but it is unlike any S&W action I have ever cycled. BTW - I shoot this gun a lot.

A clear closeup to show the both Jeff's and the gunsmith's raw talent.

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Dave

Interesting thread, bumping to see if more 1917’s will be posted!! I’m sure everyone has shot these guns. How’s the accuracy?
Old & slow how does your gun shoot with the aftermarket barrel, nice looking piece.
Red9 do you have a side view picture of your gun? Larry