1917 Colt Revolver Serial Numbers

COLT MODEL 1917 .45 REVOLVER - HOW TO FIND DATE OF MFGR

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Discussion in The Powder Keg started by Anton, Aug 12, 2008.

HELLO, DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO FIND THE DATE OF MFGR OF A COLT MODEL 1917. 45 REVOLVER. THERE ARE TWO SERIAL NUMBERS - ONE ON THE BUTT OF THE HANDLE MILITARY SERIAL NUMBER 336xx AND THE OTHER WHEN YOU OPEN THE CYLINDER 1742xx. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE YEAR IT WAS MADE. ALSO, WHAT IS A GOOD PRICE FOR THIS REVOLVER.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP - MARK

1

Which the serial number you listed is about 1919.

3

No matter, that s a very nice looking specimen you have there. Is the finish original or has it been touched up or redone at all to your knowledge.

4

GlockMeister,

Aug 13, 2008

I belive the finish to be original. I though the new service revolver is a non military revolver. My gun is marked US Govt property on the barrel and has the military serial number on the butt. What is the difference/how can you tell. Obviously the grips are not original.

5

I am confused because I found a website which indicates there should be a inspectors mark on the left side of the receiver which I do NOT have. This would lead me to believe that it is NOT a military firearm. However, I DO have the US Property stamp on the bottom of the barrel. I also have the little H inspection mark stamped on the cylander face and on the bottom of the barrel. I also have the US Army Service Number on the bottom of the handle. All of this leads me to believe that it is a Military Revolver.

Also, if we use the New Service Revolver serial number on the chart of the 2nd website, it puts my gun at 1919 which is when they were still making the gun for the military.

Any comments.

6

I know the grips were replaced. But the civilian models were not stamped US Property stamp on the bottom of the barrel. I also have the little H inspection mark stamped on the cylander face and on the bottom of the barrel. I also have the US Army Service Number on the bottom of the handle. All of this leads me to believe that it is a Military Revolver.

8

I believe you. All I m saying is they made both military AND civilian models.

I m still sticking to my it was probably made in 1919.

9

I agree with you that it was made in 1919. Maybe since it was made after WWI there was no cartouche.

10

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For Sale or Trade is for a Colt Model 1917. 45 ACP Cal 6-Shot Blue 51/2 Inch Barrel Revolver Asking 800 OBO/TRADE. This is a double/single action revolver that has.

Jun 10, 2015  Colt Model 1917 Army New Service Model 45 ACP Double Action Revolver.

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When the Americans formally entered World War 1 in 1917, they lacked much in the way of viable fighting equipment and this included stores of viable military small arms. The United States Army had already adopted the semi-automatic, repeating Colt M1911 pistol designed by John Browning but needed to shore up war-time limitations even when various manufacturers had already committed to production of the M1911. The US Army, therefore, chartered both the Colt and Smith Wesson concerns to produce a six-shot revolver sidearm under the M1917 designation and chambered for the. 45 ACP cartridge - the same as used in the M1911. Both firms naturally accepted the government contract and each went on to produce slightly different versions of the gun based on each firm s own respective civilian types.

Some years earlier, Colt had already unveiled their civilian-minded New Service Model revolver chambered for the . 45 Long Colt cartridge. Colt was then lucky enough to have the gun accepted into US Army service as the M1909. It was this revolver that Colt elected to use to fulfill the US Army need and began boring their cylinders to accept the required. 45 ACP cartridge. The end result was a serviceable and effective revolver that was very conventional in its base design.

The frame was solid meaning an integrated bridge was fitted over the cylinder for a more durable design with a smooth barrel protruding forwards and marked with a forward blade sight just aft of the muzzle. The barrel measured a standard length of 5.5 inches while the revolver exhibited an overall length of 10.8 inches. A rear notch sight was also included in the design. The trigger ring was integrated into the receiver itself and managed a curved, double-action trigger assembly. This double-action terminology meant that no manually-actuated cocking of the hammer was required on the part of the operator - he need only pull the trigger and the hammer cocked automatically though it could still be managed manually if so desired. The pistol grip was well-contoured downwards for a firm hand hold and covered over in wooden detail. The exposed hammer spur protruded from the rear of the receiver which allowed for manual cocking if required. An ejector rod was fitted under the barrel ahead of the frame and this was furthermore connected to the cylinder. The cylinder was fluted along its surface and bored to accepted six cartridges of. 45 ACP or. 45 Auto Rim ammunition, rotating smoothly in its stout frame. For reloading, the cylinder was designed to swing out for easy access to each of the available cartridge chambers. Overall weight was 2.5lbs while muzzle velocity was rated at 760 feet per second.

Production of the M1917 revolver began in 1917 and spanned into 1920. All told, some 300,000 of the type were produced with Smith Wesson managing 150,000 of their own version these based on the Second model. 44 Hand Ejector - now chambered for. 45 ACP. The M1917 could be loaded by the operator with individual. 45 ACP cartridges or make use of the Smith Wesson-inspired, three-round half-moon cartridge clips. These cartridge clips allowed for quicker loading of up to three. 45 cartridges at a time and made extraction of spent cartridges easier in the heat of battle as opposed to manually reloading/extracting single rounds. The US Army lobbied Smith Wesson to allow Colt the use of these cartridge clips and was ultimately granted permission. Therefore, the Colt M1917 could make use of the Smith Wesson patented technology without any cost to itself or legal recourse from Smith Wesson.

The M1917 survived in service into 1954. Its circulation in number ensured that the weapon saw action in every major American conflict of the century including World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The US Army and US Marine Corps both made use of the type while other global operators included Brazil and South Vietnam. After official frontline use had ended, the type served well as a cheap and reliable second-line system for non-combat entities and the like.

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Specifications for the

Colt Model 1917

Service Revolver

Country of Origin: United States

Manufacturer: Colt / Smith Wesson - USA

Initial Year of Service: 1917

Overall Length: 270 mm 10.63 in

Barrel Length: 140.00 mm 5.51 in

Weight Empty : 2.43 lb 1.10 kg

Caliber . 45 ACP;. 45 Auto Rim

Action: Double-Action; Rotating Cylinder

Feed: 6-shot revolving cylinder 3-round Moon Clips

Muzzle Velocity: 760 ft/sec 232 m/sec

Rate-of-Fire: 15 rounds per minute

Sights: Notched Rear; Front Blade Post

Listed caliber s for firearms may be model dependent if more than one model type/chambering was produced. Always consult official manufacturer s information or a licensed dealer.

Variants:

M1917 - Base Series Designation; based on the M1909 US Army revolver which itself was based on the Colt New Service Model revolver.

Operators:

Brazil; South Vietnam; United States.