1917's: S&W vs. Colt

[Tijeras_Slim]

My Great Grandfather was a Captain in WWI and was issued a Colt (first handgun I ever shot), and for the life of me I can’t see how he did it, because he was a little guy. I much prefer the Smith.

 

[alwslate]

I have one of each, 1917 Smith & Colt. My Colt is in better condition and has not been refinished like so many, it still has visible machining marks on the frame. My Smith is still original finish and has the better lock work but is definitely shooter grade with pitting under the grips. My hands are fairly small but since I only shoot my revolvers single action grip size and DA pull are not an issue. I kinda like the Colt better even though I am a die hard S&W fan. It is big and solid and has an old fashioned character to it that the S&W lacks.

 

[StrawHat]

Tried to like the Colt revolvers but they never gave the same warm and fuzzy feeling as a comparable S&W. 1917s rock!

Kevin

 

[brucev]

Wonderful post and thread! Very much enjoyed the pictures and the comments. Have fiddled with a few of the S&W's. No experience w/ the Colts. Nowadays, own only a 625 which of course is only remotely associated with these early revolvers. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[CH4]

S&W for its trigger pull, ejector rod lock and over all aesthetics.

 

[Modified]

I've owned both, shot both, and ultimately gone on to get 8 more 1917s and 2 New Services.

In the end I much prefer the Colt in my hand, fills it better, feels better, and is really the only pre-war gun that "fits" me as is.

The S&W is so much more refined in fit and finish however, its just so hard to like the 1917 better. Which is why I have New Services. Guns that are the same thing, but with nice fit and finish.

 

[gunluvver]

A less expensive Smith shooter is the Brazilian Contract 1937. I have one that I traded a Ruger Security 6 for. It's been a safe queen since I got it. I gotta get it and my Ballister Molina out to play.

 

[Green Frog]

Has anyone besides myself contemplated the serendipity by which Colt designed their New Service and S&W their Triple Lock cylinders to the same diameter of chamber spacing so that they could use the same half moon clips? I know Smith had 44 cartridges in mind and Colt probably had 45 Colt cartridges, so how did they end up so close to the exact same diameter for the chamber pattern to use the same half moon clips in each? HMMMM...
Froggie

 

[murphydog]

A friend has a Colt I've seen and handled. The machined surfaces are so rough it looks like it just came off the milling machine and the barrel off the lathe. And it had a parkerized finish.

I recall reading a report from a military source (perhaps an arsenal inspector) that stated the S & W 1917s had a commercial-quality finish while the Colts did not. Don't recall if that was just a report or a complaint.

Both were originally blued but many were overhauled for use in WW II, seemingly for MP/guard duty, and that is where many got the phosphate finish.

 

[StrawHat]

Has anyone besides myself contemplated the serendipity by which Colt designed their New Service and S&W their Triple Lock cylinders to the same diameter of chamber spacing so that they could use the same half moon clips? I know Smith had 44 cartridges in mind and Colt probably had 45 Colt cartridges, so how did they end up so close to the exact same diameter for the chamber pattern to use the same half moon clips in each? HMMMM...
Froggie

Froggie,

Don’t forget that the New Century revolvers submitted to the Army for testing in 1906 were chambered for the 45 S&W Special. And S&W was convinced it would be accepted. So, the TripleLock was designed for a 45 caliber cartridge and when it was decided to instead chamber the 44 S&W Special, they used the same cylinder. Because of the bore center, the smaller cartridge still needed the same spacing as the 45 S&W Special.

Why did Colt have the same diameter cartridge centerline? No idea!!

Kevin

 

[Miami_JBT]

I did an article comparing the 1917s over at TTAG. But someone here doesn't like me posting links to my articles. In the end, I'm much more of a fan of S&W.

 

[Inland7-45]

1917 S&W vs Colt

I think they are both good revolvers but I think the Colt seems clunkier, kinda like comparing a Ford Thunderbird to a Kaiser Manhattan. If you are old enough to know what a Kaiser is.
SWCA 892

The next best thing to an old gun is an old car. A neighbor of mine collected Kaisers. He had a Manhattan and a Darren which you don’t see very often.

While I own more S&Ws than Colts I can’t knock Colts. I have 3 1917 Colts and a 1909.

The 1917 Colts have glassy smooth but heavy DA pulls. The 1909 is as nice as any S&W for DA.

Pictured is one of my 1917 Colts, an M-37 Brazilian and a U.S. 1917 S&W that was rebuilt and nickeled at the factory. It has smoot Goncalo Alves Magnas and a Wonder Sight.

I have 2 other 1917 Colts that are with a gunsmith right now. also pictured is my 1909.

It is a shame that Colt did’nt bring back the New Service after the war.

It would have been nice to see a .45 ACP/AR Shooting Master set up like a 1950s - late 1960s Officers Model Match. Or maybe a .41 or .44 Mag configured like a Trooper or Python on the old style lock work and all forged parts.

 

[Heinz]

Since we are posting photos I though I would get in the game.
Also, I have never seen a S&W 1917 with a dented barrel as mentioned above. Has anyone here seen that?

 

[Inland7-45]

1917 Colt rebuild

I just picked up an all original S&W to go with my awesome, twice-rebuilt (Augusta and Rock Island Arsenals) Colt. The Colt is definitely a tank compared to the Smith. I adore them both!

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Both of your 1917s look great. Beside the Colt 1917 that I posted I have 2 more at a local gunsmith still waiting for a quote. One has a bulged barrel that keyholes bullets and groups low to the right. There is also little remaining of the original finish. I have considered using a Numrich replacement barrel if I cannot locate an original. This is one case where I would opt for doing a refinish. A zinc phosphate parkarizing would give it the same look as an arsenal rebuild.

The third Colt 1917 has a nice older refinish and a nice bore, but is missing the recoil shield and the area around the shield is damaged. This one may not be repairable.

Whether Colt or S&W 1917s are a ball to shoot especially with loaded down AR cases.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Don’t have any 1917s any more but do have a couple .45acps. I’ve replaced the mainspring on some of my New Services with Official Police mainsprings to lighten the trigger pulls. Also have 455 Hand Ejectors and 455 Webleys. Big slow boolits are da bomb.

 

[Muley Gil]

I recall reading a report from a military source (perhaps an arsenal inspector) that stated the S & W 1917s had a commercial-quality finish while the Colts did not. Don't recall if that was just a report or a complaint.

Both were originally blued but many were overhauled for use in WW II, seemingly for MP/guard duty, and that is where many got the phosphate finish.

The government thought that S&W should be building more revolvers that weren't as pretty, which was what Colt was doing. The government took over S&W during WW I.

 

[StrawHat]

The government thought that S&W should be building more revolvers that weren't as pretty, which was what Colt was doing. The government took over S&W during WW I.

Here is a thread about the “takeover”. Some interesting facts.

1917s and the Takeover(?) of S&W

Kevin

 

[kamloops67]

Had a Brazilian that was very accurate and had a smooth but heavy DA trigger pull , I could shoot it fairly well but got tired of loading moon clips sold it before the ban to fund a different purchase , now I can’t replace it .
Have a Colt new service that is almost unusable in double action , but has a fair SA trigger . With current laws I guess I am stuck with it for life .
Have been toying with the idea of modifying it to 45 Colt and making the DA pull more manageable .

 

[Drm50]

No contest. Everyone knows S&W superior design over Colts. I could kick myself for not gathering up all the 1917s back when they were dirt cheap from places like Klein’s. I remember when the cheap surplus ammo ran out and guys were offing them for $10. That was a tidy sum back then for a 45 revolver that most had no use for.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have a very early Colt 1917 that has the bored-through chambers. Just use it with half-or-full moon clips.

John