Model 1917 Colt Revolver

[Phosphorus32]

Amazingly, this Model 1917 is my first Colt firearm! It's a Model 1917 in .45ACP. It was provisionally inspected by Francis l. Hosmer, as indicated by the "H" marks on the barrel and cylinder. Final inspection was by Col. Gilbert H. Stewart (GHS), as indicated by the stylized GHS on the left side of the frame in front of the hammer. Matching serial numbers are found on the frame, the crane, and penciled on both grips, which is correct. The US Army Service number is on the heel of the frame.

Mine is not as nice an example as GM's in his sticky at the top of this sub-forum on the very substantially different Colt and S&W Model 1917s but it does appear to be correct with honest wear and I'm quite pleased with my first Colt!

[Bob_The_Student]

Congrats, P32. I like everything about it, especially the wear.

[Phosphorus32]

Congrats, P32. I like everything about it, especially the wear.

Thanks Bob! Yeah, just nice honest wear.

[carls sks]

piece of our history, very cool. that is one I would pass down in my family. thanks for sharing.

[Greasemonkey]

  Nice example P32


Glad I could enable the Enabler

[Larry D.]

Beautiful revolver.

I'd have to have all the related gear as well, though.

Holster, belt, etc.....

[Phosphorus32]

piece of our history, very cool. that is one I would pass down in my family. thanks for sharing.

Thanks Carl!

[Phosphorus32]

Nice example P32


Glad I could enable the Enabler

Thanks man!  Always the enabler...it just took me a while this time 

[Phosphorus32]

Beautiful revolver.

I'd have to have all the related gear as well, though.

Holster, belt, etc.....

Agreed. It'd be great to have a holster, belt, and the 3 pocket half-moon clip pouch. As a start, I do have a half dozen original half-moon clips coming tomorrow. At least I can shoot it then.

[Phosphorus32]

Update:

I took off the sideplate this morning and found the serial number located on the back was matching as well.




The matching H for Hosmer on the cylinder and barrel indicates they're original mates. Furthermore, the early cylinders didn't have the step for headspacing without half moon clips. This is one of those cylinders, basically the chambers are constant radius cylinders and it can't be fired without clips in place.

The GHS marking indicates it's from the first 30,000 of ~155,000 produced for the Army, so the early cylinder features are consistent with that. Many cylinders were changed later during refurbishment, but this one shows no signs of ever being near a refurbishment facility.

[Bacarnal]

You can't go wrong with a New Service P32 .  Nice strong frame and still in good shape.  Using a BAR belt for background,  I see.
I know I've got some half and full moons around here somewhere...I'll look for them since it seems you'll need some.

[Phosphorus32]

You can't go wrong with a New Service P32 .  Nice strong frame and still in good shape.  Using a BAR belt for background,  I see.
I know I've got some half and full moons around here somewhere...I'll look for them since it seems you'll need some.

Thanks!

Yup, good eyes. I don’t have much in the way of WWI US militaria, but I picked up that BAR belt a long time ago.

I do have 6 clips arriving tomorrow but I appreciate the thought 

[Larry D.]

Beautiful revolver.

I'd have to have all the related gear as well, though.

Holster, belt, etc.....

Agreed. It'd be great to have a holster, belt, and the 3 pocket half-moon clip pouch. As a start, I do have a half dozen original half-moon clips coming tomorrow. At least I can shoot it then.

Are you going to load for it?

I'll have to dig around in my oddball stuff, I may have a belt around here somewhere. Pretty sure I have a WWI canteen and cover, too.

[martin08]

Your cylinder chambers look stepped in the first pic.  But the second pic shows the .45 acp round swallowed completely up to the rim.  So, it is the early cylinder.

[Larry D.]

Does 45 Auto Rim (45AR) work for these as well?

I had an old converted 455 Eley that needed moon clips or 45AR.

Just for the record - This is one of the few handguns that actually takes a clip instead of a magazine.

[Phosphorus32]

Your cylinder chambers look stepped in the first pic.  But the second pic shows the .45 acp round swallowed completely up to the rim.  So, it is the early cylinder.

Yes, it does look stepped in the picture. That's an interesting optical illusion created by the surface finish differences from significant fire-etching. As you point out, the empirical approach with the cartridge indicates that it isn't stepped.

[Phosphorus32]

Does 45 Auto Rim (45AR) work for these as well?

I had an old converted 455 Eley that needed moon clips or 45AR.

Just for the record - This is one of the few handguns that actually takes a clip instead of a magazine.

Yes, the 45 Auto Rim was designed specifically for these pistols (Colt and S&W M1917s) to bypass the need for moon clips. I don't plan to reload for this, so may get some low recoil 45ACP ammo to use with the half-moon clips, if I fire it.

[Phosphorus32]

Half-moon clips arrived 

[Bob_The_Student]

Learn me up real quick somebody. Did they not step the cylinder because of costs? Or what is the reason they decided that was a good idea to use the clips, does it have to do with reloading? Like a speed loader of sorts?

[Greasemonkey]

Learn me up real quick somebody. Did they not step the cylinder because of costs? Or what is the reason they decided that was a good idea to use the clips, does it have to do with reloading? Like a speed loader of sorts?

The moon clips are easy to load, just drop it in the cylinder.. unloading is a tad slow, the cases swell slightly and get tight. I've tried both of mine with and without clips, stick with clips even if the cylinder is cut, other wise your poking individual shells out with a rod if they stick. I've only used plain WWB and some target CCI ammo in both, figure it's pretty much safe given it's just plain low pressure target ammo.

I have had slightly better luck with the full moon verses the half moon clips. The extractor catches the whole thing squarely.


Not a really good shot, but this is how far the case sits when the cylinder is cut for use without clips.


I did manage to score a box of 45 auto rim..