U.S 1917......Redone

[bulletproof-791]

could not pass it up for $220.00 from LGS here is N.E Ohio
& yes i do know it has been redone & it has the wrong grips.. but for the price i was NOT going to let it go

 

[Rpg]

Great buy!!

Congratulations!!

 

[Jack Flash]

Yipes! Where's my sunglasses?

I would have bought it too. $220 for a functional N-Frame in a caliber that starts with 4? That's a no brainer.

 

[bulletproof-791]

About what year of DOB ??? S/N 501XX

 

[RILEY31]

I would have probably broke my wrist getting the money out to pay for that one at that price. Great find!

 

[Jack Flash]

50100 to 50199 :::: May, 1918

Per this website
U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture

 

[jack the toad]

Wanna sell those "wrong" grips?
Congrats on the find.

 

[bulletproof-791]

GRIPS

if i had another set of N frames grips i would

 

[quinn]

Ok, who's got the brisket? Guess you'll need to move to Texas....

 

[KEN L]

You do know that finish & those grips are not original, right?

Sorry, just couldn't resist!

What a great shooter at a phenomenal price. Looks like you bought a really nice set of stocks & they threw in a re-nickeled 1917 for free!

 

[bulletproof-791]

You do know that finish & those grips are not original, right?

Sorry, just couldn't resist!

What a great shooter at a phenomenal price. Looks like you bought a really nice set of stocks & they threw in a re-nickeled 1917 for free!

VERY GOOD SHOOTER

 

[VaTom]

Nice! Bought a refinished 1917 Commercial recently at a low price and it is a great shooter. You will enjoy.

 

[JSR III]

Boy, you made me look. Your serial number jogged my memory. I own 50156 but its a model 52 not a 1917.

 

[RAPOM65]

SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!

How come I never come across deals like this?

 

[les.b]

Guys, I know that everything was done wrong, refinishing, too flashy, wrong stocks, and so on, but I can't help myself: that is a spectacular gun, and I just can't help myself, if I had gotten it for that price, I think I'd just leave it the way it is. Somehow, as wrong as it is, it looks right! Not in a strict by the book fashion, of course, but I like it.

Sort of like, "How can a love so wrong be right?"...if you see what I mean.

I think I'd spend some of that money that was saved on the gun, and have Dave whip up one of his fancy BBQ style holsters for it!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Nice 1917! Nothing wrong with that. I've got a similar 1917 S&W.

 

[RobertJ.]

I would have probably broke my wrist getting the money out to pay for that one at that price. Great find!

This was my first thought exactly!

Last year, I found a Model of 1905, 4th change, shipped in 1940, beautifully re-nickeled, w/ the 5" barrel. Not quite as good a deal, ($330 OTD) but I had to have it, and, as it turns out, it's my best shooting K frame so far.

And, just like yours, a re-finish doesn't mean a gun isn't awesome. I mean, come on, re-finish or not, you still have one of the best revolvers ever made, and for next to nothing these days!

 

[Jack Flash]

...

Sort of like, "How can a love so wrong be right?"...if you see what I mean.

I think I'd spend some of that money that was saved on the gun, and have Dave whip up one of his fancy BBQ style holsters for it!

...

It does cry out to be a holster gun!

In addition to the above, I would sell the near-new looking diamond magnums and get with Patrick Grasshorn to make up a set of antler stocks. A shiny grip adapter would finish it off. In other words, unabashedly copy that beauty owned by C & L.

 

[tops]

Here's a picture of my shiny 1917. It's a 4 digit with the grooved hammer. The hammer spur was missing when I bought it and it had real pearl grips but they were cracked. Larry

 

[BC38]

Nice score. You'd be a fool to pass on it at that price.
I'd buy it at that price and I don't care much for nickel OR 45 acp....

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Reference post #16

 

[bulletproof-791]

I just noticed under the Barrel in front of the injection Rod its marked "United States Property" does that mean it was really Army issued at one point ??

 

[jack the toad]

Typically yes, at least it was the model to be issued but whether it actually was is hard to tell but I bet it was.
To my knowledge, the commercial models didn't have that.

 

[Jack Flash]

Since it left the factory in May, 1918, I think there is a very high probability (almost a certainty) it went with the troops over to France.

I know that when the US first declared war after the sinking of the Lusitania, there was great enthusiasm to join the fight in the American press and popular culture. But getting an army organized, trained, and shipped to France took time.

A popular American war song in 1917, "Over There", prompted some impatient Allies to ask "Over Where?" Well, they had been fighting this gruesome war for 3+ years, I guess they wanted something a lot more tangible than a song.

By May, 1918, about a million Americans had made it to France. The US had been woefully unprepared to arm such a large number of men. That's why the M1917 came about in the first place: Colt simply could not produce enough M1911s, which was the standard military sidearm.

So it makes a lot of sense that this particular M1917 went over to Europe just as fast as the Army could send it.

 

[Inusuit]

I have a Colt 1917 that has been reblued and the front sight modified. Again, price at the LGS was reasonable, $300. I've always wanted a New Service and this was one I could afford. Replaced the grips with correct ones, put a lanyard ring on it. It scratched the NS itch.

OP, I like your revolver and would keep it just as it is.

 

[bulletproof-791]

45

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I would leave it just like it is.I like having original grips to go with my old Smiths but I like the Magna grips for everyday use so I always change them out.

 

[raljr1]

I'm gonna start prowling those West By God Virginia gun shops.

 

[caddy2507]

GREAT FIND!!

I'm never that lucky. Enjoy it -- they are fun to shoot.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Nice 1917! Nothing wrong with that. I've got a similar 1917 S&W.

I'd buy an extra set of screws and have them fire blued . Good as it looks now it would really be sweet with the blued screws.

Eddie