S&W M1917 cylinder without step for headspace

M25max · Sep 1, 2023

I have seen a S&W m1917 revolver that won’t headspace a 45ACP without using the moon clips. I thought all S&W m1917’s allowed proper headspacing without moon clips unlike the early Colt m1917. I just watch the C&Rsenal video about the S&W M1917 and at 3:45 in the video he also shows a sub 20,000 serial number S&W that won’t headspace a 45ACP.

At what serial number did S&W start having the stepped cylinder s the 45ACP would headspace without moon clips?

sodacan · Sep 1, 2023

My understanding is that S&W headspaced their guns from the beginning. I'm guessing it may have been a manufacturing oversight on those guns.

Hondo44 · Sep 1, 2023

Welcome to the forum.

Sodacan is right all smith 1917s had a shoulder in the chambers for the case mouth to headspace on. They did not use charge holes like the early Colt.

The cyl you saw has been reamed for a longer cartridge, most likely for the 45 Colt by a gunsmith after the war. Not uncommon to find. Now it can safely shoot three different cartridges including the 45 Auto Rim. As you said the 45 ACP would require moon clips.

The new deeper shoulder in the chambers is a little less deep than normal 45 Colt shoulders to allow the case stick out the back of the chambers the same amount as the ACP for proper headspace in the shorter ACP cylinder for reliable ignition.

Likely the guy in that video had a converted 1917 as well. The caliber marking on the barrel was stamped over sometimes but not always, even if converted as above to 45 Colt, it was still .45 caliber.

M25max · Sep 2, 2023

That makes a lot of sense.

LoboGunLeather · Sep 2, 2023

In addition to rechambering to .45 Colt I have seen a couple that were converted to use shot cartridges, supposedly for pests around the farm, etc. One had a smooth bore, presumably the rifling had been reamed out, the other retained a rifled bore. I recall seeing advertisements for this in gun magazines back in the 1960s to 1970s when surplus M1917 revolvers were dirt cheap.

S&W M1917 cylinder without step for headspace

M25max

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sodacan

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Hondo44

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M25max

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LoboGunLeather

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