Timeless best of both worlds?

[Nesmith]

I've decided to test this claim S&W has made for their Classic line by purchasing a now-discontinued Model 22-4 Classic Model of 1917 from a fellow forum member. Should take about a week for the revolver to show up, another week or two to get a decent photo, and another week or so for me to figure out how to post a photo. Somewhere in there it will make it to the range.

My first post was an "I'll take it" for the above-mentioned revolver. This, my second post, is a note of thanks to the forum members whose posts I have read and learned from during the last three years. Only now am I beginning to feel somewhat competent in the S&W revolver arena. The knowledge and information shared on this forum is invaluable; the spirit with which it is given and shared is quite selfless. Smith-wessonforum.com is also one of the most civil corners on the internet, making it a comfortable as well as an interesting place to visit. Special thanks to members jjbrewst1, Hondo44, snowman.45, and Collects for their recent personal assistance through PMs.

Regards,

-Calvin

 

[H Richard]

Glad you're enjoying. We look forward to the future posting and your range results. Posting isn't difficult, the best results seem to be from a Posting site such as Photobucket. Lots of direct postings seem to be very small and hard to see. I believe there are instructions for Photobucket somewhere on here. If you can't find, let me know I think I might have saved them on my computer.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn Nesmith

A lot of very savvy folks like H Richard on this forum, almost too many to name. Friendships of a sort also arise with many private jokes and friendly jabs exchanged! At times, though, you will have to separate sincere, well-meant opinion from hands-on experience.

The Model 22 of 1917 is one of my favorites. I had always wanted a 1917, believing it to be one of the best guns ever made: a big bore with relatively light weight. A Gun Digest from several years back had an informative article on the original 1917, good reading. Also some great threads on this forum about .45ACP revolvers that a search will turn up.

Enjoy your gun and good shooting.

 

[Macinaw]

You are going to love it!

 

[Dale53]

One of the advantages of a fixed sighted revolver in this specific caliber (.45 ACP) is if it is regulated for the standard load, that load is comfortable enough to shoot on a regular basis and is also quite effective as a field or self defense revolver. That is not always true of other caliber fixed sighted guns.

My current .45 ACP revolvers are a pair of 625's and a Ruger Convertible (SS Bisley Blackhawk). They all have adjustable sights but I have pretty much settled on one load for most of my shooting (I run between 5000-7500 rounds of .45's a year through my revolvers). I DO have a variety of bullets as I cast my own. However, it is no great disadvantage to settle on one "do everything" load.

You have a beautiful revolver coming and have the further advantage of it being a modern revolver considerably stronger that the original 1917's (they were a bit "tender").

Good shooting!
Dale53

 

[kaaskop49]

You have a beautiful revolver coming and have the further advantage of it being a modern revolver considerably stronger that the original 1917's (they were a bit "tender").

Tender... Didn't know that! Guess you mean the metal strength in 1917?

 

[Dale53]

kaaskop49;
That is correct. The modern revolvers design limits haven't changed but the materials have. The modern revolvers are considerably stronger. It was not uncommon to hear of cylinders splitting when using "heavy" loads in the original 1917's. It certainly didn't happen often but it DID happen. Skeeter Skelton, himself, mentioned he had a cylinder split on his Model 1917 using heavy bullets.

There are other caveats using the .45 ACP revolvers. You do NOT download jacketed bullets - they have been known to stick in a revolver. In fact, when developing the 1917's for .45 ACP they had to change the rifling style to minimize this very problem.

I cast my own bullets and consider a good cast bullet to be a SUPERIOR bullet in the .45 ACP revolver. You can load light target loads to heavy deer hunting loads ("heavy" being relative in these guns) without issue (other than the P.O.I. issues mentioned above) in the modern version of these fine revolvers.

When I was a kid the original 1917 Smith and Colt revolvers were available for VERY low prices ($25.00 was not uncommon for a decent specimen). You might say I grew up with them. My father had a very nice Colt that had a bad barrel (damaged by corrosive ammo from a previous owner). The great Cincinnati Gunsmith, Joe Lamping, fitted a ribbed barrel from his inventory and it truly transformed that revolver into a DANDY!. Dad was an inveterate gun trader and traded it off to a gentleman who lost it in a sad episode. He made an extreme error in judgement driving when intoxicated with the gun in a glove box. This was a felony in Ohio at the time and he had a choice of having the gun confiscated or facing a felony charge. He lost the gun...

Sorry for the "Old Memories", this topic just transported me back in time (LOL).

Dale53

 

[sw282]

Quite a coincidence,Sun past l read the original text of the Thompson-LaGarde tests(GRAPHIC TESTS--Done in the Chicago Stock ards using live steers and cadavers) that led to the choosing of the 45ACP cartridge ..0f all the cartgs/guns used (.455-.476Eley-45 Colt-38 Colt-9mm Para-30 Luger),, All the pistols suffered jams/FTF... The revolvers suffered NO failures

 

[kaaskop49]

Dale, not at all. I remember very well those ads from Hunter's Lodge, the Cummings retail outlet. A Colt New Service in .455 at 29.95: "The gun that made the most desperate desperado cringe in fear." A Tokarev (I believe) semi-auto rifle (SVT-40?) at 49.95: "A price so low even Nikita may want one!"

I don't handload but I appreciate the heads-up on jacketed bullets in these bbls. In one range session, I had 2 jacketed bullets protrude from the muzzle of a 4" bbl of a revolver due to poor loading from a mfgr in the NW. Those that didn't stick, keyholed... But they looked shiny and beautiful.

There is a LOUNGE thread with GUNS Magazine full issues from the 50s and 60s if you really want to visit memory lane!

Good shooting and thanks!

Kaaskop49

 

[Nesmith]

Model 22-4 Classic 1917

I received my Classic 1917 a few days ago and took it to the range two days ago. I am very impressed with its fit, finish, and function. The finish is a high polish with a superb blue. This is the first S&W with the ILS that I have even handled. I'm surprised that the hole for the lock doesn't bother me but I wasn't expecting the flag that lives next to the hammer. This is the newest S&W that I have by about three decades. Overall, the lock is not an issue to me, just part of the fine package I decided on.

It doesn't have any history behind it but it does have an air of history about it. Good balance, nice wide sights, and functions with or without moon clips. The only ammunition I had approaching a target round (I don't reload) was a 200-grain, jacketed SWC pushed at 850 fps. I shot the 1917 during a relay of bullseye practice, changing out from my Model 41 with a red dot. I wimped out and fired the rapid-fire with a two-hand hold. I wasn't having a particularly good night, even with the .22, but I did keep everything on the paper at 50 feet. I tended to push most shots to the left. Different gun, very different grip, open sights, and the sun was in my eyes (even though I was at an indoor range!).

Timeless best of both worlds? Yes. I am always skeptical of advertising claims but S&W nailed it with the Classic 1917. It does have the ILS, MIM parts, the barrel isn't pinned, and it doesn't have the fouling cup on the underside of the top strap but it does have several desirable, modern attributes. I thought I was more of a purist, but this fits my needs extremely well. Photos to follow in a few days.

 

[Worshipbass12]

You are going to love it!

I always loved that finish on a gun. What exactly is that finish called?

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

 

[Macinaw]

I always loved that finish on a gun. What exactly is that finish called?

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Case color hardening. By Doug Turnball restorations.

I think they use charcoal and bone with intense heat to "bake" the metal parts to get the color.

 

[XTrooper]

Actually, it's color case hardening and, yes, it's beautiful.

 

[Macinaw]

Actually, it's color case hardening and, yes, it's beautiful.

Thanks for the correction. I've heard it called both. Now I know!

 

[Worshipbass12]

Makes me want a ruger single six in that finish ;-)

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[XTrooper]

Thanks for the correction. I've heard it called both. Now I know!

No problem, amigo.

 

[jtcarm]

Wow, that is beautiful, Mac. Nothing like walnut, case-hardening, and hi-luster bluing.

Yeah I inherited my Grandfathers 1917. He was a WWI vet, but I'm certain he bought it from the USPS when they were selling them at $16 apiece, especially since he was Post Master for Iraan, TX

It's mucked up from corrosive ammo, too.

 

[jtcarm]

Case color hardening. By Doug Turnball restorations.

I think they use charcoal and bone with intense heat to "bake" the metal parts to get the color.

Yep the process gets it's name because the part is heated in a case surrounded by a media to draw carbon from, usually charred bone.

 

[XTrooper]

Yep the process gets it's name because the part is heated in a case surrounded by a media to draw carbon from, usually charred bone.

The process of case hardening (aka surface hardening) hardens only the surface of the metal being treated. The resulting thin layer of harder metal at the surface is called "the case."

In other words, after the case hardening process, the metal object is "encased" in a thin layer of hardened metal which is "the case." The metal container the process is done in has no bearing on its name.

 

[Old TexMex]

There's a pretty good rundown on Case hardening - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some interesting info.
Hoof and horn!