Hi all, I didn't know where to put this question, so I put it here. Anyway, I have a chance to buy a Model 1917 in .45ACP. The gun has had aftermarket Pachymar grips on it, and the finish is quite worn, but the seller assures me that it's perfectly functional, just not particularly pretty. He also said that at one time, a previous owner (not he) had machined a dovetail into the top strap to take a Smith target-style adjustable rear sight. Later on, the current owner took it off and replaced it with a Rossi rear sight, but it printed a foot high at 21'feet. He then took off the rear sights altogether and went with the standard notch in the top strap and says it now shoots at point of aim.

What would be the value of a gun like this?

Welcome. The value would be as a shooter rather than collectible. It would be well to check the action for problems to make sure it is worth shooting. I would think hard before buying unless it could had for 300 or under.

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Dennis

I would also say there are much better 1917's available. Save you coins and keep looking.

That is a gun you will have a hard time reselling or will dump a bunch of money into. Pass on it.

When I spend hard earned dough for a gun, I want one that I can be proud of. It needs to look good as well as shoot good or I will always regret buying it. There are too many real nice ones out there to waste money on a "bubba" gun, unless you want something to keep in a tackle box or something. But thats just me.

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Dennis
He's got a gun!

You will never be happy with it. Pass.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I would be a little wary of the seller's assurances. This would be a poor choice as a first revolver.

For an experienced hand who wants to tinker or buy a parts gun, it may be ok. $300 would sure be top dollar. $200 would be more like it, IMHO.

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You're shy a few manners.

Thank you all for your input. However, I only got your warnings after I decided to take the plunge and get it. *shrug*

For me, this isn't my first revolver, and I do have much nicer specimens I like to look at as much as shoot, so this was almost kind of a on-a-whim purchase because I like big-bore revolvers but don't currently have a .45LC or .44Mag in my battery, but do have semis in .45acp.

Some pics of my new acquisition:





Now - since this gun has already been messed with (albeit, the "mods" appear to have been competently done, as opposed to have been done by Mr. Bubba R. Dremel) - any objections to getting this gun reblued or chromed? This will likely see service as a plinker and nightstand gun, perhaps accompany me when camping and such since I won't be afraid of messing it up.

Have you shot it yet? Looks like it would be hard to get a good group with that cutout in the frame.

I personally wouldn't spend the money on a reblue or chrome job. Might want to try one of the spray-on finishs offered by Brownells.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Haven't shot it yet. Heck, I don't take her home until the ten-day wait is up, but I'll post results as soon as I do get it to the range.

How hard is it to DIY cold-blue? I've never done one of those before.

So here's the gun after her first trip to the range. Got a bunch of moon clips, and man, are those things fun! Makes shooting a revolver far more fun than usual. Wondering why Smith and Ruger and Taurus don't make 9mm versions of their .357 revolvers that can take moon clips. Anyway - I know it's nothing to brag about - (heck, keep the unkind comments to yourself! ) - but the first 42 rounds were shot from 10 meters, about half and half DA and SA. That shot way over on the right shoulder was me on the first shot, anticipating recoil.

Hey, you didn't do that badly! It isn't a target gun, and it looks like it will do the work you want done. Congrats on your purchase!

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Proud anachronism

Thanks for the kind words, nawlison!

Bad thing about this gun is that it makes it nearly inevitable that I'll be first ogling, then fondling, then eventually purchasing a model 625!

This model 1917 is a great gun. Very "pointable," if you know what I mean. Yes, even with the lack of a rear sight, and me having to awkwardly line up a skinny 2mm wide front post in a gaping channel that's probably a good 5mm wide, the bullets landed close to where I wanted them. The Pachymar grips were not particularly to my liking - too wide from front to back, but skinny from side to side with no palm swell. The rubber Hogues that Smith has been putting on their current L-frames are just about perfect for me. I'm wondering if I should try a pair of those, seeing as how these Pachymars are both well worn and not original anyway.

Looks like you did OK to me. The couple of old abused shooters that I've bought on a whim have worked out for me; cleaned up nicely enough that I'm not ashamed of them and they shoot well.

That old .45 obviously shoots well - whoa be it to the intruder that picks your house.

It looks like it shoots well enough. I would not hesitate to carry it afield or use it for home defense.

Without knowing the price there is not much more to say.

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You're shy a few manners.

For what you have to work with I think you did very well,.

If you can, try to get the rear sights that were taken off, especially the original one made for that cut-out and have it reinstalled. That will look better than anything you can bubba up and may just be what is needed - economical mods were typical in the 50's and those old gunsmiths knew a thing or two about converting a combat sight to a target adjustable one pretty well. If it was a standard S&W rear, you might be able to find one to fit w/o too much trouble and then determine what height rear blade to use in it. Then you can adjust it to your ammo and have a nice gun for shooting.

Other than that I'd leave it alone but if you want to 'improve' it I would go the spray or home parkerizing route as cold blue is difficult to do evenly and never looks right. If recoil isn't bad you might replace the grips with some hand fitting wood. Then go from there.

The previous owner told me that when he got the gun, it had a patridge front target-style sight, and a Rossi rear sight (which he kindly included with the sale to me). He later had the front sight returned to the "normal" one they were issued with, but then the gun shot about a foot high at 15 meters. So, he took off the rear sight and used it the way it was intended (except of course that the top strap had a channel milled out of it to take aftermarket rear sights) and when the front sight is line up with the rear channel, hits to point of aim. So yeah, no problems with elevation, but of course windage is a bit problematic.

I may eventually put back that rear sight and then see if I can find a patridge front sight again, this revolver's already been modified and it's well worn, so I don't feel bad about ruining any collector value. It's valuable to me as a big bore revolver which is fun to shoot!

I have one with the S&W target rear and raised ivory bead front. It shoots where I aim it at 50 feet