45 1917 "Micro" conversion new pics....

[Mbrgr1]

This old war horse showed up today and I'm pretty happy with it. A few hours of cleaning and a little cold blue, she looks pretty good and has a butter smooth action a beautiful bore.


It has moved to the front of the "need to shoot" lineup.


Do I need to avoid FMJ rounds and go with lead?


Thanks!

 

[weatherby]

I like it.
I'm not sure that one was a war horse though ?

I also think the original loading was a fmj at 800 fps

I'd probably be out shooting it now.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Now, THAT is just down rite sexy!

 

[Mbrgr1]

I like it.
I'm not sure that one was a war horse though ?



Figuratively speaking, how about war "era" horse?


I'd probably be out shooting it now.

I should be!

 

[Ruger 13]

Very nice pistola…………..I'd be shooting 45 auto rim with Elmer's cast bullets out of it!

 

[S&WIowegan]

Originally created to fire 45ACP-FMJ

I own several Model 1917s and they can be problematic with lead bullets. The rifling is some what shallow so some lead bullets don't spin well. Trial and error is your friend; don't take opinions as gospel. The revolver is not built for high pressure rounds. You've got a beauty there.

 

[Pisgah]

Avoid FMJ? That's the proper ammo for it!

 

[StrawHat]

…This old war horse showed up today and I'm pretty happy with it. A few hours of cleaning and a little cold blue, she looks pretty good and has a butter smooth action a beautiful bore.


It has moved to the front of the "need to shoot" lineup.


Do I need to avoid FMJ rounds and go with lead?


Thanks!…

Like Weatherby, I am not convinced that is a military revolver. It has the small S&W stamp under the thumb piece as did the commercial variations and the sideplate does not bear the seal of Brazil.

I believe it is a commercial variation, from the 30s. Roy will be able to answer that for you.

Nice modifications! As for ammunition, it was designed to shoot hardball but target shooters have gotten it to shoot lead. I like lead with a long bearing surface loaded to hardball velocities.

Kevin

 

[Mbrgr1]

Does anyone know........

what the "Flying tree stump" "Casper the friendly ghost" or "Funky chicken" stamp on the cylinder is?

 

[weatherby]

I did see your "funky chicken"
I also saw the small S&W trademark.
The lack of US Army.
The way the serial # was applied and the made in USA on the right hand side.

 

[handejector]

That is not a military 1917. It is a commercial.
The eagle head on the cylinder is a Springfield inspector's mark meaning the cyl is a lefiover WW I part. That is quite common on early 1917 commercials.

 

[handejector]

Also- that front sight probably causes cancer in California.

 

[paplinker]

The cold blue does spiffy it up!!

I have not ever tried cold blue. Was it easy to work with?

Can you see a color variation with it?

Thanks, And by the way great gun!! Hope you enjoy it. I love the modified guns.

 

[Mbrgr1]

Well....

The cold blue does spiffy it up!!

I have not ever tried cold blue. Was it easy to work with?

Can you see a color variation with it?

Some are easier than others, I am hooked on Birchwood "Perma Blue", cold water wipe down and layers up pretty well when done properly, cleaning the surface first is a biggie.


It seems darker than others and yes, you can see a color difference depending on the many different hues from year to year and between manufactures.


It takes the edge off scuffed up guns like this one, it does not hide the flaws, just softens them up, like polishing faded paint on an old car.


M

 

[Mbrgr1]

That is not a military 1917. It is a commercial.


I an sincerely regretting using the term "War Horse"

 

[Mbrgr1]

Here is a good example of the cold blue effect...

The sight screw was buggered, in 5 min, removed the screw, cleaned it up and then the blue, it really comes in handy...

 

[Greyman50]

Can see that on the firing line in a NM firing line about 1948…

 

[DTH]

I do not see the two pins in the back of the cylinder?

 

[Mbrgr1]

https://i.imgur.com/BvAtiiJ.jpg[/IMG]

 

[weatherby]

The primers are still good.

Evidently you can't find the range though.

 

[StrawHat]

That is not a military 1917. It is a commercial.


I an sincerely regretting using the term "War Horse"

Why, there were significantly fewer commercial model made than the military model. Basically the same revolver with commercial stamping that may or may not be made from the contract parts the Government forced S&W to repurchase. Once S&W owned the parts, well you know, they never wasted anything!

And at that point in time there were extremely few factory Target revolvers made in 45 ACP. If you wanted a 45 ACP, Target revolver you had to have one built from a Model 1917. You own what lead to the creation of the S&W Model 1950! A "pre 1950", if you believe in the pre nomenclature.

Kevin

 

[Mbrgr1]

Shipped Feb 1930. Thanks Roy!

 

[Mbrgr1]

Also- that front sight probably causes cancer in California.

What doesn't???

 

[Muley Gil]

Shipped Feb 1930. Thanks Roy!

My commercial 1917 is less than 200 numbers higher and it didn't ship until January 1936. It must have been waay back in the vault.

 

[Mbrgr1]

My commercial 1917 is less than 200 numbers higher and it didn't ship until January 1936. It must have been waay back in the vault.

I'd give my left (anything) to hang out in that vault for a day, back in the day.

 

[hanover67]

I have a 2nd model HE .455 altered to .45 Colt with Micro front and adjustable rear sights. I shoot lead bullets (Lyman mold 45468 - 178gr round nose hollow base) over IMR 700X powder. My gun has a lot of scuff marks and could use a cold blue treatment like yours.

 

[Engineer1911]

A Herbert Hoover National Match S&W Revolver to compete against the Joseph Stalin National Match Nagant Revolvers.

Beautiful piece, what brand of cold blue did you use?

 

[linde]

... And at that point in time there were extremely few factory Target revolvers made in 45 ACP. If you wanted a 45 ACP, Target revolver you had to have one built from a Model 1917. You own what lead to the creation of the S&W Model 1950! A "pre 1950", if you believe in the pre nomenclature.

Kevin

Here is an example of a factory 1917 conversion to target done in July 1949 with the post-war micrometer click rear sight. The completely redesigned Model of 1950 soon followed.

Russ

 

[Mbrgr1]

A Herbert Hoover National Match S&W Revolver to compete against the Joseph Stalin National Match Nagant Revolvers.

Beautiful piece, what brand of cold blue did you use?

I've been using Birchwood Casey "Perma Blue" it layers well and has a nice deep blue color.


This gun was not bad, just a few small spots that I blended in, you can still see them, just not as noticeable.

 

[DCWilson]

Several years ago I picked up a .455 HE/Second that had been converted to .45 Colt and topped off with Micro sights. Even though the photos are now gone -- thank you, Photobucket -- there are some interesting observations in the full set of posts.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ed-target-shooting.html?153660=#post135612874