U.S. Model of 1917 cousins - S&W, Colt

[jeed]

Just thought I would share these, it's too *#!? hot to do anything else. The Smith is # 938 shipped on November 6, 1917 and delivered to the United States Government, Springfield Armory, Springfield, MA. The Colt is # 109135, I've not gotten a letter from Colt. The holster is a Textan from 1942 and the moon clip pouch is dated 2 - 18. Not sure when the can of .45's are from, I'm quite certain they're post WWII, maybe even post Korea. The background is my Dads USMC poncho from WWII.

 

[gaucho1]

Two of my favorites. Look to be in great shape.
Are these family guns? The backstory is always interesting.

 

[BUFF]

According to the printing on the ammo can and boxes, the ammo was made by Federal Cartridge in 1990. U.S. military also has the date the brass was made stamped on the head or bottom of the brass.

Nice pair!

 

[tekarra]

Handsome pair of cousins.

 

[DCWilson]

Great photos of some wonderful guns. I have a similar pair and have also thought about a group photo. I also have a .455 Triple Lock that would join the picture to make a kind of WWI Trio. Somewhere around here I stashed my uncle's "doughboy" campaign hat. I need to get that in the image, too.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I wouldn't say they were "cousins"-more like "Brothers in Arms". Excellent pair, excellent photography.

 

[jeed]

Thanks everyone, no family history with any of this stuff, just collected over the years. My oldest brother does have the 1911 our grandfather was issued in WWI. He was a Major so he got to keep it. I didn't even think to look at the head stamp on the .45's... duh. They are from 1964.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Sweet, thanks for sharing...now get out and shoot that ammo from them!

 

[Jack Flash]

... My oldest brother does have the 1911 our grandfather was issued in WWI. He was a Major so he got to keep it. ...

I think some privates and sargents "got to keep" theirs too.

 

[lenb]

Wow, what a great pair of 1917's, those are handsome revolvers. It's always neat to see examples of both grouped together, especially with the accessories. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Len

 

[semperfi71]

Great photos. Great guns. Your Dad's poncho, depending on condition is very collectible as well.

What was his unit?

 

[BHP FAN]

I only have the S&W 1917, and a nice little .38 special Victory pistol. Great guns.

 

[jeed]

Great photos. Great guns. Your Dad's poncho, depending on condition is very collectible as well.

What was his unit?

My dad quit high school in 1945 at 17 years old to join. The war ended before he finished training. He was stationed in Tsingtao China with the 6th Marine Division for most of his service. Upon returning he finished high school and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in agriculture. He ran a dairy farm and also spent most of his life in law enforcement. He was a gun collector and custom ammunition manufacturer. Cancer took him in 1987.

I'm surprised the poncho survived all these years, it has had a small piece cut out of it and was also used as a drop cloth at some point. Still one of those things I can't part with.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Great to see your .45 revolvers and with the accessories. They look to be in good shape. Hope you get to shoot them from time to time. M1917s are fun shooters.

Thanks too for the snippet of history of your dad's service.

Here's my two M1917s. The Smith & Wesson is pretty nice but the Colt is worn. It's in good shooting condition though. I never got around to collecting any accessories or equipment for these revolvers and regret it now. I was always going to get "a round tuit," thinking that the stuff would always be available for cheap. Well, that was then and this is now and it isn't cheap.

 

[jeed]

Thank you, and thanks for posting yours. You have a great looking pair, overall they look much nicer than mine. Mine are just the opposite of yours, my Colt is in very good condition, the Smith is very worn.

I guess I'd have to call mine safe queens. They've been to the range with me, but VERY rarely.

There was a time when nobody wanted U.S. military, guns or accessories. Luckily I did, or I guess it was all I could afford. The one I kept putting off and regret the most now are the 1911's.

 

[jeed]

pics for semperfi71

My dads little overseas box from China, patch, Thanksgiving dinner menu, photo album and loose pics.

The box is filled with letters from home, loose pics and personal items.

I find it amazing our dads were stationed there at the same time!

Thanks, and best wishes.

 

[ACP230]

I ran across one of those Colts in a gunshop in Gainesville, Florida many years ago. At the time I was too broke to buy it.

Back in Michigan, about 10 years later, I picked up a Brazilian Contract 1917 Smith that cost a lot less.
I have come to think it's just as well it worked out that way since I prefer Smith revolvers to Colts.

Nice pics.

 

[semperfi71]

jeed,

Many regards. If your father was assigned to the 22nd Marines that was one of the three combat infantry regiments of the 6th Mardiv. The other two were the 29th and the 4th.

He could have been a "support MOS" such as photography and attached to that regiment.

I sent you a PM with my email. Email me and I wil tell you what I have learned about the "China Marines" at Tsingtao.

 

[Muley Gil]

" ...'China Marines' at Tsingtao."

IIRC, Skeeter Skelton served there as well.

 

[bummer]

My Mother-in laws gave my son her uncles Marine uniform from ww2. He enlisted at 16 and was in boot camp when the war ended. His sea bag has stamps from Panama,PI and China. The patch on his uniform is the 2nd Marine Division. My mom is into genealogy and kept his discharge and other papers but I saw a warehouse pass for him and any Chinese. By the way do your relatives have the China Liberation Medal? It is very similar to the occupation medal.He had some pictures but my mom did not take them "too risque".My Father in Law told her to "lighten up"