4 digit HE 45lc

[4WHLDRFTN]

OK I'm not a buyer but I would guesstimate $650.00. I lean toward the factory conversion theory and it is a very nice 2nd model. Heck it might be worth 1K. At least it uses a readily available ctg...............

that would be a good deposit

 

[iskra]

Honorable "Other"...

I lost score here way early!
Probably of no use, but below a few pix of my .45 LC New Service from 1939, showing cylinder length & 'aft gap' as Colt did it!
For any assist???
Best & Stay Safe!

 

[Toyman]

This is a .455 Mark II, 2nd Model HE. There were .45 Colts that were shipped to the Canadian Govt. in Ottawa. So this can plausibly be a standard .455 or a factory .45 Colt. Let's focus on the details first before further speculation.

I don't think that any of these went to RCMP. There is no mention in the book "ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS OFTHE MOUNTED POLICE 1873-1973.

The RCMP was buying Colt New Service revolvers first in 455 then in 45 Colt.
There are Colt New Service revolvers that have showed up and letter to Canadian Navy.

 

[Toyman]

This is snapshot from above book about purchase of Colts no mention of S&Ws in the same time frame. There is mention of RCMP buying S&W pocket sized revolvers but no large frame 45 or 444.

 

[Hoosier45]

Roy, he has a letter posted. It's a 2nd Model HE .455 and the serial is too low to have been one of the .45 Colts. It was converted and refinished post WW2 at the factory to .45 Colt.

At the end of the day it's a refinished and converted 2nd Model. A $1300-1800 gun in an auction...due to the quality of factory work, remaining in high condition (post refinish) and a proper .45 Colt cylinder vs a shaved cylind/recoil shield. Several 2nd model .45 Colt conversions in original condition have sold between $700-1100 in the last year. This gun in my opinion has premium over those but it's not a golden nugget.

 

[linde]

For those of us subscribing to the factory conversion theory . . .

Here is a Model 1917 converted by the factory in July 1949 to 45 Colt (with adjustable sights also added). It is complete with a replacement cylinder (and barrel to accommodate the target front sight and reduced barrel set-back).

The replacement 45 Colt cylinder measures 1.57" in length whereas the standard 1917 cylinder in 45 ACP measures a nominal 1.55" (my example measures 1.53").

I didn't recall cylinder length being compared for the OP's 45 Colt example with other 2nd Model 455s ... hope this helps.

Russ