Remake the Model 1917 in .45 ACP!

[Dalkowski110]

Okay, I confess, this is probably because the Model 1917 in .45 ACP is my favorite Smith & Wesson revolver, period. But think of it this way: who'd have thought marketing a WWI M1911 would actually sell, especially when most of the market focuses on the M1911A1? I would think it would be a perfect bridge for the fans of autoloaders due to the cartridge (.45 ACP) and fans of revolvers (due to the overall design obviously as well as the construction). Most of the revolvers we've seen in .45 ACP, quite frankly by any company, have failed due to focusing on being futuristic or purposely "modern" (and let's be honest, when was the last time a revolver NOT explicitly designed for CCW being advertised as new, updated, or tactical succeeded for more than a few years?). So why not try a retro .45 ACP revolver before Colt's marketing department comes up with the same idea?

 

[dave_g]

They already do:

Product: Model 22, Model of 1917 - S&W Classics - Blue

well, sort of. I think it's really a 1950 Army, but it's close to being a 1917.

 

[Dalkowski110]

Apologies for not making myself clear...

I should have mentioned that I thought making a 1950 Army and calling it a Model 1917 was, well, not particularly true to making a really nice replica. Granted, it looks like a great 1950 Army replica, but I guess it would be like saying "we've made a World War I M1911!", dressing it up with WWI markings on the slide and a lanyard ring on the mag, but then having it an M1911A1 the rest of the way. I still think if they did an exact replica that it would sell better.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

I would just be happy if they would do restoration work or at least a factory reblue on an original 1917 or even Brazilian. I think the replica issue is probably because they no longer have the machinery to produce those old handejectors. Besides, they probably couldn't install an IL on those! I'm not too dissastisfied with the current model, but I do wish S&W would have kept making that excellent 4" 22-4, especially in the color case hardened frame.