Modified Colt 1917

[Goony]

Kind of a shame from the standpoint of any collector of military sidearms. Of course, it might've been a real piece of junk before the work was done.

See: Colt Model 1917 Army Double Action Revolver | Rock Island Auction

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Great gun, and selling at such a high price. John Taffin has an article about having that gunsmith modify a .44 Special Colt New Service into a gun similar to this one. It's probably in his new big .44 book.

 

[Goony]

Here's John Taffin on Andy Horvath's work: The Sixguns Of Andy Horvath - American Handgunner

 

[pasound]

An Andy Horvath build - nice.

 

[Alpo]

The seller says it was "reportedly modified by Horvath". Not that it was - that it was "reportedly".


So he didn't have it done. Whoever he got it from told him that Horvath did it.


To me this is a case of buy the gun not the story. Because "reportedly done" - that's the story.

 

[Modified]

Boy, that seems like quite a few bucks for "reportedly done".

I would love to own that gun, but man looking at that price my days of grabbing neatly modified old guns appears to be over.

I do have to say that the only DA colt I really love is the New Service / 1917 / Shooting Master. It's really great in the hand. I only have two New Services, both modified, but I love them both quite a lot.

 

[A10]

Went for 3400 bucks...I'd need some solid documentation on that one before I even considered bidding.

 

[DWalt]

Maybe for thee, not for me. I will keep my Colt 1917 in factory original condition.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In the late 50's or early 60's a gunsmith in Meritta Ohio, reportedly modified17 Colt 1917 revolvers. He removed the factory barrel and replaced them with 1921 Thompson SMG barrels and kept the Cutt's Compensator on them also. My F-I-L picked one up years ago and still has it.

In general appearance it looks like the cartoon character Marvin the Martian's ray gun! However, it is a fantastic shooting gun and seem's to defy the worst a windy/rainy day can throw at you on the firing line at Camp Perry!

Ivan

 

[dsf]

If that's a 1917 Colt then I understand why RIA wrote that it retains "99% of its finish" rather than "its original finish". Because the Colt 1917, unlike Smith 1917, had a very rough wire brush polish finish. OTOH, if it's a New Service model, which the 1917 is a version of, I suppose that finish could be original. However the hammer flats should be in the white, not blued. So I suspect a refinish and find the RIA description not exactly kosher.

A News Service Shooting Master, since we're on the subject.



The cylinder was reblued by Turnbull. Excellent work.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Boy, that seems like quite a few bucks for "reportedly done".

I would love to own that gun, but man looking at that price my days of grabbing neatly modified old guns appears to be over.

I do have to say that the only DA colt I really love is the New Service / 1917 / Shooting Master. It's really great in the hand. I only have two New Services, both modified, but I love them both quite a lot.

Wow. I'd love some jigged bone grips like that on my 1930 nickel N.S. .45 Colt. But it now permanently wears the stags pictured on my snub 1917 .45 here. And your modified .45 with the Ropers? Wow again! Everything's right about that one. Oops. Looks like I deleted the picture of it, though.

 

[AJ]

In the late 50's or early 60's a gunsmith in Meritta Ohio, reportedly modified17 Colt 1917 revolvers. He removed the factory barrel and replaced them with 1921 Thompson SMG barrels and kept the Cutt's Compensator on them also. My F-I-L picked one up years ago and still has it.

In general appearance it looks like the cartoon character Marvin the Martian's ray gun! However, it is a fantastic shooting gun and seem's to defy the worst a windy/rainy day can throw at you on the firing line at Camp Perry!

Ivan

Need a picture.

 

[Jack Flash]

Obviously when the previous owner of that Colt in the OP had it modified, he wasn't concerned about what collectors might think.

My guess is he was on one side of the law or the other and had it for potential encounters with unsavory characters in dark alleys.

 

[tops]

See: Colt Model 1917 Army Double Action Revolver | Rock Island Auction

Very nice pistol. Only thing wrong with it is it's not mine. Larry

 

[LVSteve]

Although they often have nice stuff, I won't touch that company's auctions with a 10' pole. Too much behind the scenes shenanigans for me.

 

[Muddyboot]

I just won a Colt New service converted to .41 Long Colt on Gunbroker.
At least I think it's .41 Long Colt, there may be more to the story.

 

[Drm50]

Man you guys have all the luck. I never win anything on the auctions. What is the secret? Take me Clem, I wanna be a wiener too!

 

[Modified]

Man you guys have all the luck. I never win anything on the auctions. What is the secret? Take me Clem, I wanna be a wiener too!

(or a careful OCD level observation of the nooks and crannies of internet auctions if you have more time than money.)

 

[STORMINORMAN]

"...converted to 41 Long Colt..."?

Oh, my!

Cheers!

 

[Muddyboot]

"...converted to 41 Long Colt..."?

Oh, my!

Cheers!

Or not, something may be amiss.