Help Me Decide

[45B10]

So I picked up this 1917 at the last Gunshow and it really has me struggling quiet a bit. By all indication its a commercial model in the 179xxx range that's been recently Parkerized. I have about 450 in the gun and really want to chop the barrel and add a 45LC cylinder, but I'm just really unsure. In my head its lost any collector value and will only ever be a shooter grade gun, but I've made rash decisions in the past that I've regretted so I'm asking for advice on this one.

So modify it into what I've always wanted or toss it in the safe to maybe become an occasional shooter at best ?

 

[GT_80]

It's 45 ACP right now, correct? I would just shoot it as is. Having a cool revolver that shoots same caliber as a 1911, or other semi autos is not only cool, but handy.

The parkerized finish is not near as desirable as bluing, but it's durable, and looks kinda cool with that grip on it.

No one can decide for you, but you. But we can all say what we think is cool, right, wrong, etc.

$450 for a functional revolver, in a common caliber is not a bad deal. Do you really want to spend several hundred more on it to make it worth less, but more "shootable" or more "desirable to you"? only you can answer that

 

[45B10]

It's 45 ACP right now, correct?

$450 for a functional revolver, in a common caliber is not a bad deal. Do you really want to spend several hundred more on it to make it worth less, but more "shootable" or more "desirable to you"? only you can answer that

Yup 45acp

I know its inevitably my decision, but I'm more than open to advice from those that are happy they built their dream gun and also from those that have regretted the decision..

I think the reason I struggle over it is partially due to the fact I think the chopped 1917's are sexy and spending a few hundred on a conversion really wouldn't diminish the value in my eyes, but again I've been way wrong before.

 

[Muley Gil]

Shoot it before you do anything.

Several posters here on the Forum have bought "project" guns that they had intended to modify, then they went to the range and decided to leave them as they found them.

 

[lamarw]

The parking process, and most likely heavy polishing, appears to of totally remove the stamping on both sides of the barrel, "MADE IN USA" on the right side of frame and the small S&W emblem on the left side of the frame. The stock are nice enough but not correct. I would also suspect the stamping along the top of the barrel is no longer visible.

I am sure you know all the above. This probably leaves the gun in the "fair game" status of ruining any value of a commercial version of a Model of 1917. Converting the revolver would eliminate the small aggravation of using clips with the standard .45ACP.

If I were to convert, I would also have it re-blued unless cost prohibited.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Were you thinking of something like this?

I picked this one up a while back with the barrel already cut. There is a thread in the forum about it. But, they cut off 1/8" of the locking lug when they shortened the barrel. If you do proceed, don't do that.

 

[Targets Guy]

Don't touch it except to shoot and clean.

 

[mk70ss]

So I picked up this 1917 at the last Gunshow and it really has me struggling quiet a bit. By all indication its a commercial model in the 179xxx range that's been recently Parkerized. I have about 450 in the gun and really want to chop the barrel and add a 45LC cylinder, but I'm just really unsure. In my head its lost any collector value and will only ever be a shooter grade gun, but I've made rash decisions in the past that I've regretted so I'm asking for advice on this one.

So modify it into what I've always wanted or toss it in the safe to maybe become an occasional shooter at best ?

Since you only have 450 in the gun and it has no collector value, what the hell, do it. If you regret it later, sell the gun and pickup another 1917 and keep it stock.

 

[45B10]

The parking process, and most likely heavy polishing, appears to of totally remove the stamping on both sides of the barrel, "MADE IN USA" on the right side of frame and the small S&W emblem on the left side of the frame. The stock are nice enough but not correct. I would also suspect the stamping along the top of the barrel is no longer visible.

I am sure you know all the above. This probably leaves the gun in the "fair game" status of ruining any value of a commercial version of a Model of 1917. Converting the revolver would eliminate the small aggravation of using clips with the standard .45ACP.

If I were to convert, I would also have it re-blued unless cost prohibited.

The Small S&W logo on the left is still present and the stamping on top of the barrel is still there as well.. My guess is it was blasted just enough to remove bad pitting and dusted to remove the bluing..

If I go ahead with the project Ill just repark it due to cost, probably in a light gray.

 

[45B10]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Were you thinking of something like this?

I picked this one up a while back with the barrel already cut. There is a thread in the forum about it. But, they cut off 1/8" of the locking lug when they shortened the barrel. If you do proceed, don't do that.

Almost exactly what I have in mind, but with the sight just in front of the locking lug and parked a lighter gray.

 

[Jim Watson]

Will you be doing the work yourself?
Paying somebody to provide and fit a cylinder (Do you plan to make it a "convertible?"), saw the barrel off, and fit a front sight will really run the cost up.

 

[45B10]

Will you be doing the work yourself?
Paying somebody to provide and fit a cylinder (Do you plan to make it a "convertible?"), saw the barrel off, and fit a front sight will really run the cost up.

Most of it.. Ill have my buddy mill the slot in the
barrel for the sight, but most of the rest Ill do myself.. Ive been a small arms repairer for the
DOD for over 20 years now so besides for machine work I can do pretty much everything else on my own..

 

[JH1951]

I would keep it as is and shoot the dickens out of it. But, that's me, not you. You do not need moon clips with the S&W 1917 (although they may make it more convenient - I take a chopstick to the range with me if I have a sticky case. I would keep my eyes open for one that is already modified to your liking, as the price for that will likely equal close to what you are looking at spending for modifications on the one you have.

 

[Pig Hunter]

Find a recessed M-27or 28 , they are short enough to fit . The recessed end takes up the headspace gap of the ACP cylinder. The only downside is the length of some LC bullets are too long. the 255 swc by Lee just fits. After the cylinder lug is fitted to the LC cylinder the ACP one slides back a bit when open .

 

[glenwolde]

Build what you want. It's not about resale. I can't think of a better candidate to use. If not this one, which one?

My favorite revolver is one I had rebuilt and modified. I won't make any money on it but the cost of the reloads I've shot through it far exceeds any value it will ever have.

 

[Chukar60]

Do as you please with it.
There is zero, none at all collector value.
If someone wanted a 45 ACP blaster it would be a good cheap one.
If you are like me and have no use for moon clips or any other form of shooting pistol ammo in a revolver then 45 Colt is a great way to go.
Shoot it first, who knows you may like shooting 45 ACP out of it, but if you don’t, make what you want out of it.

 

[StrawHat]

I like 4”, tapered barrels on N frames. If you want to trim the barrel, go ahead. There will always be someone who will like that length. Slotting the barrel for a sight is not necessary. Here is how the front sight on my chopped 1917 was handled.

Converting to 45 long Colt sounds like fun but is a lot of work. The cylinder needs to be cut to length because if you trim the barrel, the ACP cylinder will then have too much b/c gap. As mentioned by Pig Hunter, if you thin the frame lug for the long Colt cylinder, the ACP cylinder gets a running start at battering the lug. Better to turn a dado on the end of the cylinder to accommodate the original frame lug.

This conversion was detailed in an early Gun Digest.

Downsides are cost and each time you switch cylinders, the sightings change.

My advice? Cut the barrel first and use it. Then if you decide to convert to 45 long Colt, have that done.

Of course if you do not want the ability to change cylinders, the conversion is a little simpler.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

Here is one that is outside of the traditional box.

You could have the chambers deepened to accept the 45 long Colt. Then, if you can trim any of the 06 family of cartridges to that length and use them with moon clips.

Kevin

 

[jeffrefrig]

Coincidentally, there's a small article about the S&W and Colt 1917 .45 ACP revolvers in the latest Amer. Rifleman; just was looking at it this evening. They have history, I suppose, but once it's altered, all bets are off. Have at it as you wish I suppose. I kinda like that finish.