M1917 trivia..//update w/ pics....

[Old Corp]

OK, here I am an ol' guy - and will admit to being a little excited about most likely getting my hands on a near-perfect M1917 near the end of the week. Most of the deal is done.

A couple of things come to mind -
I would like to build a proper WWI-period correct belt, holster, cartridge pouch set and lanyard for it. Does not have to be original - repro would be OK. I know Pacific Leather & Canvas has the leather holster and canvas moon-clip pouches.
They don't seem to have a belt - what was the correct type belt? Seems sorta strange that the holster was tan leather and pouches were web.

And - where would one find a correct lanyard and was any sort of 'clip' on the lanyard? Of what material were they?

And, for more idle thought - does anyone know HOW M1917's were shipped out? WAS there even a box of any type, or just a wooden crate of a dozen or more?

Sorta fun ponderin' all this stuff.
Yes, you're right - I've got it bad.......

 

[DWalt]

You might try International Military Antiques ( http://www.ima-usa.com )

They used to carry some superb replica leather for M1917s, but I don't see that in their current product listing. But it wouldn't hurt to call or e-mail and ask.

 

[Muley Gil]

El Paso Saddlery also makes a fine holster.

The proper belt is the web pistol belt. IIRC, it is the 1910 version.

 

[peyton]

The 1910 holster will look like this. This is an original I got from a forum member last year.

 

[fat tom]

I'm lookin' for a holster myself. There are half a dozen on ebay right now anywhere nfrom $50-$160 and none have the original lanyard. The only original, complete holster I've seen there went for $350! You can buy a repro for anywhere from $29.95-$49.95,but they just don't cut it for me.
f.t.

 

[The Wizard]

I have found that the M1909 holster from What Price Glory is the closest to the original out there. They also offer a reproduction of the World War 1 era pistol lanyard. They also have a reproduction of the pistol belt.

 

[Hondo44]

Leather was used only for the holster for it's rigidity. You will see leather mag pouches for the 1911 magazines used with dress uniforms and there may be an equivalent dress pouch for 1/2 moon clips but I don't recall seeing one.The web stuff didn't cut it for the heavy 1917 and 1911. The English used a web holster for some of their revolvers but then they do some 'funny' things.

The pistol/revolver lanyard is a stout chord with a HD metal clip on the end. If you clip it to the guns lanyard ring it'll play hell with your guns finish! Nice to have but I wouldn't use mine.

You might want to get a book on web gear, you'll have a ton of fun reading about all the accoutrements. Go to Amazon books or google it. Bruce Canfields Weapons of WW II has good pictures of holster and pouches shown with the guns. The 1917 WW II issue M2 holster is shown next to a WW I 1909 model also used. And the three vertical clip pouches that holds 3 pair of 3 round clips, 18 rounds total.

 

[haggis]

IIRC, the 1917's were delivered from S&W packed in wooden cases - I don't remember the exact number per case, but it was something like 25.

Arsenal rebuilt guns were shipped in individual cardboard boxes with a data label. At least some of them were - I don't know of any other method.

Buck

 

[Citiboy289]

I dont own a 1917 S&W but do have a colt , I picked up a real holster butt forward on an off time on ebay I think it cost $95.00 , It had the leather lanyard from the ring,,,, I did consider getting a repo I did find a company when I was looking for a repo for my S&W victory , that made repos of the 1911 holster and belt < I cant recall their name since I was able to get a real one along the way. I suggest you go to ebay find the repo ones and then go to sellers other items or stores , or google 1917 holster , and just read the links All I can recall was they were located in California --- Hope that helps I know how crazy these things can be GOOD LUCK

 

[Cyrano]

I have a photo of an infantry company's officers during training before their unit went to France. They are wearing 1911s in leather holsters, web cartridge pouches and web belts. Two are wearing leather puttees, and the other is wearing 'wrap leggings', so the official accoutrements were a mixture of web and leather. I posted the photo in the lounge a couple of months ago, but here it is again.

 

[DWalt]

I had a very nice clear 8X10 photo at one time of a group of NY National Guard soldiers at some camp in NY state, dated from the late 1930's. There must have been 20 to 30 uniformed guys in the picture and they all had their sidearms carried in the M1917 revolver holsters. Therefore at least the NYNG was still using M1917s at that time. I listed it on eBay 7 or so years ago, and the guy who bought it said that his father was in the picture. I should have kept it.

 

[dsbock]

This is the best reference for web equipment I have found.

Others have already given good information regarding the holster and lanyard. What Price Glory has a good reproduction of the M1912 Pistol Belt.

Good luck in your search. Don't forget to post pictures.

David

 

[The Wizard]

The long life of the M1917 revolver and its ammo pocket.

 

[Old Corp]

Thanks to everyone for the great responses.
I actually acquired the M1917 today, and wanted to clean it up - but it was sorta anti-climatic. It's so near perfect there's not much to do.
Did find the penciled s/n inside the rt. grip panel, and it matches.

Looks like Mr. Jink's queue is too full for me to put in a request for a ship date. If anybody wants to hazard a guess, the s/n is: 2103x.

Hope to get pics done tomorrow. Another of the ol' guys I work with p/t at the GS does all the store's internet-listing gun photography and has better gear and skills than I possess. I'll get him to hopefully get some good shots of it.

And as much as I'm interested in a 'correct' holster, durn - this one's almost too pretty to stick in stiff leather.
Thanks again to all.

 

[Muley Gil]

Old Corp,

I presume it has the dished top grips and the grooved hammer. Correct?

My guess would be February 1918, but it's strictly a guess.

 

[Old Corp]

Gil -
It does have the dished-top grips, but the hammer is knurled. All numbers match, has the 'GHS' inspector mark, and US Property mark.

Interestingly, even though I'm unable to get in queue right now for a ship date, Mr. Jinks just responded to someone else on a M1917 that was s/n 77xxx, and stated it was a July 1918 date.
So, I'm thinking mine has got to be considerably earlier. Don't know - we'll see....
Thanks a bunch.

 

[dsbock]

My S&W Model 1917 has S/N 213XX and shipped February 1917. Yours is probably just earlier that month. Possibly late January.

I'm looking forward to the photos.

David

 

[Hondo44]

Gil -
It does have the dished-top grips, but the hammer is knurled. All numbers match, has the 'GHS' inspector mark, and US Property mark.

Old Corp,

Gil was referring to grooves on the sides of the hammer (which it should have being such an early gun), not the hammer spur.

 

[Old Corp]

David - thanks, that's pretty close s/n to mine, thank you.
Hondo - thanks for the clarification - I'll check. Thanks guys.....

 

[OFT II]

My S&W Model 1917 has S/N 213XX and shipped February 1917. Yours is probably just earlier that month. Possibly late January.

I'm looking forward to the photos.

David

I believe that you mean February, 1918. WWI didn't start until April of 1917.