OP
Assuming the peep sight shoots to POA, which I plan to find out this week, would the fixed sight do the same with the same front sight?
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Not our usual 1917
- Thread starter 22hipower
- Start date
Assuming the peep sight shoots to POA, which I plan to find out this week, would the fixed sight do the same with the same front sight?
Jeff
SWCA #1457
handejector
Staff member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 26,124
- Reaction score
- 46,997
Those grips resemble others that have been posted here that, I think, were attributed to G&H.
You might want to pursue a thread showing many pics of them including insides.
You might want to pursue a thread showing many pics of them including insides.
Really enjoyed seeing you post this gun up!
I have a K grip set that resembles yours quite a bit. I have no real way to be sure of the maker but they do share most of the same telltale roper traits.
I do find many of these non ribbon sets are made of the same type walnut that have many pronounced straight dark lines.
I have a K grip set that resembles yours quite a bit. I have no real way to be sure of the maker but they do share most of the same telltale roper traits.
I do find many of these non ribbon sets are made of the same type walnut that have many pronounced straight dark lines.
OP
Thanks for posting, they sure look like the same maker. The insides look just like those on the 1917. RKmesa may be along to comment on the maker as he has one or more sets that have the same attributes. Hopefully there will be a few others who have some like them too.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff:
You know that I love that one!!! Thanks for the great photos. And like Lee, I too think those grips are G&H. Here's a similar thumbrest set on a KST K-22:
They really are nice grips and as I told you, there are some of us that believe that they are Gagne crafted grips distributed by Griffin & Howe.
You know that I love that one!!! Thanks for the great photos. And like Lee, I too think those grips are G&H. Here's a similar thumbrest set on a KST K-22:
They really are nice grips and as I told you, there are some of us that believe that they are Gagne crafted grips distributed by Griffin & Howe.
Sure would like to know the history on this one. It started life as a common military 1917 (SN 98896) and has the usual Springfield Armory stamps (eagle's head) on the cylinder and frame. Beyond those stamps there's not much left to confirm it as a 1917.
The barrel, probably a 1950 Army, has been shortened to four inches with a ramp front sight with Call gold bead and is stamped in the ejector shroud with the SN much as the factory would have done before 1957.
The butt has been rounded with the lanyard ring hole plugged and the SN stamped on the butt and on the side of the frame.
The hammer is an HBH from before WWII. A Wondersight peep sight has been installed.
The stocks are unmarked but were certainly completed by an accomplished stock maker. There is nothing on the inside of them to identify the maker.
The finish is a deep blue much like that on my factory finished ones from the late '50s/'60s. The large logo seems as crisp and sharp as those on factory finished guns.
I haven't shot it yet but the action is as tight as any I have and the peep sight and gold bead center as soon as the gun is pulled up to acquire a sight picture.
All in all, odd as it is, it's quite an incredible gun smithing project and I can't wait to shoot it. Maybe this week. If anyone has anything like it, or thoughts on how it came to be, or knows who the stock maker might be, please comment.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2qniQPV https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qn769B https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qnqEcG https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qnpBAV https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qnqEd8 https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qnpYmP https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qn5Kxn https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qn7r7U https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2qn5Q1L https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Love it! Looks like the smith softened the edges also.
Are there numbers on the back of the cylinder?
StrawHat
Member
First, a very interesting revolver, I like it. Unfortunately, I have a lot of questions and observations but no answers.
But, I do not see a lot of 1917 lineage. The frame may have been bought back after the contract ended.
The serial number is not stamped the normal way for a Model 1917 Army revolver.
The logo and "MADE IN U.S.A." were not present on the military models and a small logo under the cylinder release was common for the Commercial Model.
It is an interesting revolver and it asks a lot of questions! My kind of piece.
Kevin
OP
Yes, appears to be the original cylinder for the 1917, same number and has a Springfield Armory (eagle head) inspection stamp.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
What a great gun and stocks ! Not a big fan of wonder sights though and on this gun it's kinda blocks the cool factor of the humpback hammer. I'd be tempted if it was mine to alter the height if the front to get it regulated after removing the wonder sight. But it's a treasure regardless.
The Roper/Gagne and G&H connection it brought up on a regular basis and I could believe it completely except for the production number, I'm a bit skeptical that Gagne could have produced enough to cover Both Roper and G&H. Regardless that's some beautiful lumber.
The Roper/Gagne and G&H connection it brought up on a regular basis and I could believe it completely except for the production number, I'm a bit skeptical that Gagne could have produced enough to cover Both Roper and G&H. Regardless that's some beautiful lumber.
If not Gagne, do you have thoughts as to who may have been driving the G&H stock production? The craftsmanship on the grips appears to me to be hand tooled, rather than mass produced, and if I recall, the jig marks on the back are similar to those found on Ropers.
Thank you,
Hi Richard, do I know who else, not really and they do appear to be quite like Gagne/Ropers. But from what I know of Gagnes work space and methods it just seems a stretch for him to have supplied both.
I love the gun, but do have a question. Wouldn't the 1950 45 Colt barrel be .454 diameter, so slightly too large for the .45 ACP .452 bullets? I would think this could cause a degradation of accuracy, although perhaps slight.
I like it. I would like it even more with a 45 colt cylinder fitted to it, but thats just because of my 45 colt obsession
I do have something very similar I made up starting with a 1917 frame
I do have something very similar I made up starting with a 1917 frame
Last edited:
A wonderful revolver! Thanks for sharing with us.
The factory didn't make many of them but that can be remedied with a little custom work. I've actually got another barrel coming back that was bumped out for an eventual post war fixed sight ribless shrouded barrel 45 Colt project.
The set I have pictured above does have that ledge that the trigger guard fits in. Very Roperish. I wonder if anyone other than Gagne was creating that distinct feature?
Does RK Mesa's or the OPs grips have that ledge feature?
I have plenty of Gagne's work in Walnut but none are like my above set with the straight black grain lines.
Modified
Member
I'll take it! PM me with address to send funds
SVT28
You're going to have to fight me.
You know it belongs in my collection
Seriously, I love it. What a neat gun. I love it when someone does a gun right like this.
OP
Here are a couple pictures of the insides of the ones on the 1917.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2qnG7af https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/ 
https://flic.kr/p/2qnG7ak https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Modified
Member
Here are a couple pictures of the insides of the ones on the 1917.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Them's Ropers.
