1917 Hotroding.

[Nframecollector]

Keep us updated on this project. I'd like to see the finished product.

 

[usnrigger]

Yes, SN's are fully intact, we had to go over all that as part of some classes. I thought about possible doing some rounding of the bottom but as Serial Numbers are on the bottom and towards the rear this would not be possible. I don't know why photos are not showing for you. I will keep this running until finished. I might throw some of my other current projects in to keep thing interesting.

USNRigger

 

[Green Frog]

USNRigger, I remember you discussing this project back in the early planning phases. I'm happy to see it coming to fruition now and progressing so well. It will be fun for your readers to have an outline of the features you plan to incorporate into this project. You mention welding on the hammer... did you end up using that one with the broken spur, and will it get a "cockeyed" hammer treatment? What about sights? Will you go adjustable or enhanced fixed, or just plain old fixed sights? I can't remember ever seeing checkered horn grips... I'm looking forward to seeing them. They should really set off the rest of your craftsmanship.

"Keep those cards and letters coming!"

Froggie

 

[nedlate]

Have you considered dishing off the right side of the trigger guard ala. Bill Jordan. I have a 66 short barrel someone did that to. Looks cool, and doesn't get the cross-eyed looks of a Fitz'd guard. Mark.

Pig hunter, if you have a picture or any photos from online I'd be interested in seeing them. I did a few google searches and found text about this but didn't come up with any photos.

Pig Hunter might have been talking about something like this on the trigger guard?
Ed

 

[Pig Hunter]

Yes that is what I was talking about. I've seen some a little more aggressive than that but that is the old school way to make it easier to get to the trigger without taking off the front of the guard. Mark

 

[usnrigger]

Froggie,

Basic outline for you and the rest of the guys.

-Grip Chopped by 1/2"
-Barrel Chopped 3.25"
-Sights will be a U notch with white outline, front will be the factory style half moon with brass hi-viz rod. Styled like King Police Sight Package.
-Full action job
-Cylinder Chamfered
-Hammer Might be a Humpback'ish or I shorten it with a small pad. I will not bob the hammer completely, as I want to keep single action operation.
-Grips right now look to be either Stag or checkered bone with ink. I don't know if I will be able to find buffalo horn in size needed
-Finish will hot salt blue.
-Im still working on the pattern of leather

 

[Pig Hunter]

For leather a Berns-Martin break front holster or a Bucheimer Semi shoulder holster or their Marshall break front. Might it be done by the end of March? Mark

 

[papajohn428]

Note:
Back in the 1970s I had several S&W Model 1917s barrels shorten to 4".
Every Model 1917 Revolver's 4" barrel would key hole the bullets.

The 1917's used VERY shallow rifling, nothing deeper was needed because of the soft lead bullets commonly used back then. Harder bullets tend to skid on the shallow grooves and accuracy is often poor to the point of keyholing.

Rigger, this is a cool project, there is a thread in another section about smallish 45ACP revolvers for Concealed Carry, and I like what you're doing here. Keep the pics and posts coming!

 

[inFALable]

The 1917's used VERY shallow rifling, nothing deeper was needed because of the soft lead bullets commonly used back then. Harder bullets tend to skid on the shallow grooves and accuracy is often poor to the point of keyholing.

Rigger, this is a cool project, there is a thread in another section about smallish 45ACP revolvers for Concealed Carry, and I like what you're doing here. Keep the pics and posts coming!

But the 1917 was designed to shoot military hard ball not lead bullets. Soft bullets actually need deep rifling to not strip.

 

[45acpwheelgun]

This is a great project. I would like to build one in a similar direction you are going with this.
Any progress?

 

[usnrigger]

Okay guys, alittle update as i had some time waiting before i can get some other parts in case color. I went to work to get this thing further along, as i got stalled last semester with some other projects that are required class projects.

Ive finished the welding on the grip chop and have milled a few .001 off each side to keep it totally flat and uniform when i fit the shoes to this thing. you can see the start of the grips in a few of the photos, its a scrap piece of english walnut with nice figure. the barrel has been cut down, but i still need to put the final decorative crown as well as the 11 degree crown. im going to start in on the barrel rib and rear sight some time this or next week along with getting the grips cut and roughed out. Hammer is in the style of King and is about 75% done, need to throw a few more weld on, final shape and finish cutting the checkering. enjoy

Edit: i think im going to change the final finish to matte hard chrome. also does anyone know the name or style of shoulder holster that has a leather covered piece of spring steel that goes around the cylinder area and a place for the muzzle and it kinda snaps in. i normally see them on a stiff plank that mounts to the belt somehow?

 

[Pig Hunter]

Glad to see you are back at this project. Check out the Accessories for sale on this sight, or sometimes you can find something on ebay. That shoulder holster is like the ones worn on the old TV show The Untouchables. Can't remember the makers name off the top of my head, might be Bucheimer. Good luck, Mark

 

[usnrigger]

AL Furstnow Miles City, Montana Shoulder Holster is the one i found on google that looks like the one i like, dont know how functional it is, but looks simplistic.

 

[SG-688]

The grip shortening reminds one of the Travis Strahan shortened snub Mdl 10's chopped in the grip and converted to .357.

Another solution to the mainspring problem would be coil spring conversion as was done on full house PPC revolvers.

 

[usnrigger]

I went ahead and made a flat spring that works, it is a bit heavy right now but I can take a lot of that out by thinning I up a but.

I'll look into the chopped mdl 10

 

[ddixie884]

Nice project.

 

[Jaymo]

I was skeptical at first. I didn't like the grip chop idea.
Then, I saw your pics.
That is sweet. The barrel and grip lengths are very well balanced.
I have a weird "thing" for a balanced look in a gun.

It reminds me of the short grip Colt Detective Specials.
Bigger and better, so to speak, but reminiscent.

I honestly like it and look forward to seeing more.

 

[keninnavarre]

Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[usnrigger]

Well, no that the weather here is not super cold as my shop is not heated, and that Im finished up at TSJC and on the job hunt. Ive been trying to get some of these projects done as im not hindered by having to do things to keep my grade in classes up. I know you guys have been looking for updates and this one got pushed to the back shelf until now.

I went ahead to day and really got some headway done on the grips for this chop'd 45. This was all done by hand, started out as 2 3/4" Walnut slabs. these are still about a hair oversized and still have some final inletting to do before I bring them down to metal. I tried to stay with the old school service stocks, I will checker and if I can find a cheap set of large medallions set them in these stocks.

I also posted a picture of my concept drawing. As you can see after stocking I will get stated on the rib sight setup. probably go ahead and bring the whole thing up to 240 grit working polish

 

[usnrigger]

Well I've been going back and forth on the front sight, I don't have access to a mill like I use to right now. Thought about the king style police night sight arrangement as well.