Post your modified 1917s!

[RKmesa]

Caleb:

I know I read that great thread, I just forgot the details (I have always loved your King Super Police 1917). Great photos and summaries of the hammer differences.

Thanks for reminding me.

 

[jack the toad]

Some more modded than others but I'll play using these old (repost) pics...

Targets from 5 of these old shooters. None are match quality (at least with me shooting) but minute of bad guy anyway.
10 yards DA standing off-hand.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Lovingly referred to as "The Pimp Gun". I rescued this from a certain death.

 

[steelslaver]

I love it. Some great mods guys. Still a lot of 17s and Brazilians around and available for interesting projects. Those and model 28s have been the base for a lot of projects. Like I said I have a Brazilian that will become something else and a 5 screw Highway patrolman that got some Bubba work on it that is going to become my dream gun.

 

[Ed Fowler]

45 wheelgun - do you know who did the engraving? Thanks for sharing those photos she is a beauty to my eye!

 

[Hill536]

Normally a lurker but I find this thread interesting. Here's a 1917 Colt. Not a "Fitz" but one done nicely by someone who knew what they were doing. The DA trigger is like butter.

 

[usmc2427765]

45 Wheelgun, you most definitely made a "silk purse" from a "sows ear". Who did the leather work?

 

[crsides]

Couple colt 1917's

 

[45Wheelgun]

To cover several questions -

All modifications to this gun other than the engraving and grips, were done prior to my ownership.

I found this in the early 90's at an OGCA show. I bought it from a "walk around" young man who wanted to sell it to fund a black rifle.

The right side of the gun was completely rust pitted. Worse than I have ever seen. You can still see it under the grips, but it has been nickel-ed over.

The gun had been expertly modified with workmanship worthy of a master gunsmith. While the surface was destroyed on the right side, it was only beauty damage. Everything that mattered was perfect. The bore was spotless.

I was determined to resurrect this gun and it became clear the only way to put any reasonable finish on it was to engrave right over the pits.

Jeff Flannery was at the show, so I walked the gun over to him and we worked out a plan. He engraved the gun and created the K-Frame round butt grips to fit the frame as it is today. The "popcorn" on the left side is breathtaking in person.

The leather was done by our very own forum member Wyatt Burp. Another 45 revolver fan and an artist with leather. He hit this one out of the park.

It has the best action I have ever had the privilege of shooting. I don't know what the gunsmith did, but it is unlike any S&W action I have ever cycled. BTW - I shoot this gun a lot.

A clear closeup to show the both Jeff's and the gunsmith's raw talent.

 

[Jebus35745]

Interesting thread, bumping to see if more 1917's will be posted!! I'm sure everyone has shot these guns. How's the accuracy?
Old & slow how does your gun shoot with the aftermarket barrel, nice looking piece.
Red9 do you have a side view picture of your gun? Larry

 

[Ed Fowler]

Purchased this one from a fellow police officer Dan Joseph who had Claude Simmons, a gun smith in LaPorte Colorado do the work. It was in an article by Ron Terril in 1962, Guns Magazine I believe. Carried it for a few years, then replaced it with a Mod 39. Found it shot well and worked very well as a club when you could avoid lethal force by a "little bit".

 

[S.B.]

My "Raider of the Lost Ark" homage---

I love it when movie guns make sence to me and when "Raiders of the Lost Ark" came out oh so many years back Indy's carry piece struck a cord in my heart. Right era right time frame popular conversion at that time etc. Owning a Brazilian model had me thinking, who would I trust to do this? Clements had done some work for me in the past so. off it went(my gun originally had been dunked in a chrome tank, read wouldn't extract shells from cylinder and the last 1" or so of bore was frosted) to Ford's first for dechroming then down to Clements for assembly asked Charles to look at the bore and considered shortening barrel to 4" but, he though he could clean it up OK? And when he shot it and told me it shot better than most he'd fired left it alone and glad I did. But, that damned movie gun had me thinking?
Brazlian crest on the side plate is very faint but, suits me OK.
Steve

 

[The Gila Bender]

1917 Chopper

 

[billybobboinkin]

Here's a coupla mine.....

 

[Bill Bates]

I've only got one modified 1917 so it has to be my favorite. It is a Commercial 1917 likely factory converted to .45 Colt Ctg. with a 6 1/2" barrel.