1917--keep or return--pics

[deanodog]

No one here would return a nice 1917 like that I notice. I agree. Keep it. May take a long time to find one better and more $$$$

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I would keep it. You do not see them in that condition too often.

 

[lebomm]

Not to be too repetitive, but heck yeah, keep it ! Around here a 1917 like that is referred to as "gorgeous".

Larry

 

[DHENRY]

If you were to look at many M-1917's, .455 TL's, M-1911's, and Lugers, you'd come to realize that 90-year-old, wartime, military arms
have (generally) 'well-used' bores, and they weren't cleaned within minutes of being used.
Your gun is a good dollar-value at what you paid for it.
Keep it, shoot it, and congratulations!
Don

 

[bettis1]

Todd,

I think that is an excellent example of the M1917 and well worth the price in that condition. The most notable defect is the grip and, as was said, there are several here who can repair it.

The earliest M1917's had the fine circular grooving on the hammers and that was discontinued at the request of the Government in approximately February 1918. (The military thought it trapped dirt and led to rust formation.) The concave medallion area of grips was dropped a few weeks later. The earliest guns also had the GHS (acceptance mark of Gilbert H. Stewart) in the circle on the left side of the frame in front of the hammer. The GHS was replaced with the Ordinance Bomb in approximately April, 1918. From that, we can deduce that this gun was produced somewhere from late February to April, 1918...most likely Feb-March.

I'd buy it if I had the chance.

Bob

 

[jchapm9]

I'd say keep her! That's a fine pistol.

 

[bubbajoe45]

Of course the 3 days is long since up, but I just wanted to congratulate you and affirm that you made the right choice. I recently purchased one in much worse shape and a later, more common example. I paid a bit less, but relative to the condition, you did well in the current market. Gosh, I wish I'd kept the one I paid $200 for in 2001.

 

[wraco]

I'd keep it. The grip appears to be repairable. If the slight pitting is in the grooves and not the lands, I wouldn't let that bother me none. It might clean up with some Hoppes and a bronze brush. Run a few wadcutters through it and clean it again, You may not notice if the lands are shiney.

If it were me, I'd keep it.

Rod

 

[DCWilson]

Thanks for the feedback--it's much appreciated. The condition was fairly well represented by the seller, with the exception of the bore being described as "very good". It's all subjective, but seeing the pitting was enough to give me second thoughts..it's my nature to get hung up on the one negative, so your perspectives all helped make the decision a little easier.

Best regards,
Todd

So Todd, does that mean you decided to keep it? Hope so. We're way past the end of your three-day inspection period and I just wondered what the outcome was.

And I neglected to say it earlier, so I will now: Welcome to the forum.