Product Description
EARLY S&W U.S. M1917 ARMY .45 ACP Revolver GREAT WAR & WWII Sidearm C&R
Made to Fill the Wartime Gap in M1911 Production
Here we present a C&R Smith & Wesson U.S. Model 1917 Revolver, made circa 1917 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. government contract Smith & Wesson Model 1917 revolvers had serial numbers between 1 and 175100. The M1917 Revolvers were six-shot, .45 ACP, large frame revolvers adopted by the United States Military in 1917, to supplement the standard .45 ACP Model 1911 pistol during the Great War. To put numbers into perspective, M1917s fielded during the war numbered about 2/3 the number of M1911s issued, so a little less than half of all US troops requiring sidearms were carrying these hefty revolvers. There were two variations of the M1917, one made by Colt (approximately 151,700 mfd. by end of war) and the other made by Smith & Wesson (153,300 mfd. by end of war).
Colt had been producing a revolver for the U.S. Army called the M1909, a version of their heavy-frame .45-caliber New Service revolver in .45 Long Colt to supplement and replace a range of 1890s-era .38 caliber Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers that had demonstrated inadequate stopping power during the Philippine–American War. The Colt M1917 Revolver was essentially the same as the M1909 with a cylinder cut to take the .45 ACP cartridge and the half-moon clips to hold the rimless cartridges in position. .45 Auto Rim was also developed to be fired in these without the use of the moon clips.
During peacetime, some of these revolvers were called up for duty again, this time with the Postal Service to protect mail trains and deliveries from violent robberies during this time of the “Roaring Twenties”. USPS and a contingent of Marines were armed as guards. As of the end of 1940 U.S. Army Ordnance still had about 61% of Model 1917s in inventory, so that during World War II they were reissued: some to tankers and artillerymen in theater and most to stateside security personnel and MPs on the US side, but also to Home Guard and Royal Navy on the British side. These revolvers went on to serve in both Korea and finally Vietnam, where so-called “Tunnel Rats” used them when rooting out the enemy.
The overall condition is near fine. Original blue finish and silvered case colors. Numbers match. The action is excellent in both double and single action. The bores are bright with sharp rifling. Solid grips. This example has a circled “GHS”, for Col. Gilbert H. Stewart, inspector mark on left of frame. “U.S./ARMY/MODEL/1917/No/1/933” is marked on the butt.
Own the original! This firearm is classified as a Curio & Relic.
Barrel is 5 1/2 inches.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Overall condition as seen in photos.
Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING. Will need to be sent to your local FFL or C&R licensee. This firearm is classified as a Curio & Relic.
Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
www.ancestryguns.com
$2000
#247477