Colt army model 1917

Andy goforth · April 17, 2017, 04:40 PM

I own a colt Army model 19 17 on the frame there is a serial number. Above the sn is a capital H below the sn is a capital Y the SN 2675xx another number is i believe a army issue No. 1164xx this number is found on the butt of the revolver
This 1917 is nickle or nickle plated and has a 2" barrell. I have never seen or heard of a 1917 army .45 cal.ACP in this configuration can you tell me any thing about this

DaleA · April 17, 2017, 05:48 PM

Everybody will ask for pictures so let me be the first and get it over with.

Sounds interesting.

It's always possible somebody SERIOUSLY worked over an old Colt 1917 to make whatever they wanted out of it but again we will need some more information (pictures) to help us out.

Andy goforth · April 17, 2017, 06:18 PM

Im nee to the forms and tried to attach a photo must have been to large ill try again when i get home.

**44 AMP** · April 17, 2017, 06:34 PM

a 2" nickeled 1917 is something I'd put in the SERIOUSLY worked over group, for sure.

That's the kind of gun I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole (not if it cost me any money

) but I would take one like that over a "Fitz Special."

I'll do some checking on the numbers...

tallball · April 18, 2017, 05:36 AM

Photobucket is a free website where you can upload your pictures and then easily insert them into your posts here. It's full of ads and is sometimes slow, but it's free and works well enough.

Yeah, I seriously doubt those were ever issued with a nickel finish and short barrel. That doesn't necessarily mean that the work was done poorly, though.

old bear · April 18, 2017, 06:29 AM

Andy, for years the surplus Colts and Smith & Wesson's were cut down and modified into "belly-guns." Some were well done and others not so well. Before you shoot yours you should have a qualified gunsmith inspect it, first.

Welcome to the forum

**Mike Irwin** · April 18, 2017, 08:34 AM

"This 1917 is nickle or nickle plated and has a 2" barrel. I have never seen or heard of a 1917 army .45 cal.ACP in this configuration can you tell me any thing about this"

That's because the military never used such a configuration.

All military 1917s were blued with 5.5" barrels.

A 1917 in any other configuration, especially with a heavily cut back barrel and nickle plating has been reworked in the civilian market.

Andy goforth · April 18, 2017, 05:29 PM

This must have been one of the better altered military issued 1917's i have had it for years and have put several hundred .45cal ACP and the .45cal REM rounds that don't need a moon clip it shoots very well at 20 yards for a 2 inch snub nosed 1917.

reddog81 · April 18, 2017, 06:11 PM

Altered guns don't necessarily shoot any worse. It's just threat they aren't nearly as collectible.

Andy goforth · April 18, 2017, 06:35 PM

AMP44 I APPRECIATE that you are checking the numbers on this 1917 for me i have often wondered when it was issued and perhaps to who i don't know the first thing about finding that info out. Thank you.

spacecoast · April 18, 2017, 07:24 PM

Here's where you check it -

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/mildateslo..._m1917colt.dat

1164xx dates to Sept. 1918, just before the end of the war. It may or may not have made it into wartime service.

Andy goforth · April 18, 2017, 10:47 PM

Thank you spacecoast for that information. I was told at the time this revolver was given to me by its previous owner that it had belonged to a U.S. Marshal who's name now excapes me, i was told he either used it as a back up or in case he needed one as a throw down. The old boy who gave it to me did so because he never could get it to shoot. He didn't know about the moon clips.

dahermit · April 19, 2017, 08:05 AM

I remember in the sixties there were inexpensive military surplus S&W and Colt .45 military surplus revolvers that were frequently the subject of articles in the various gun rags. The purpose of such articles was how to "customize", and/or modify them for various purposes including making snubbies out of them. No doubt that is what was done to the original poster's gun.

April 17, 2017, 04:40 PM	#1
Andy goforth Junior Member Join Date: April 16, 2017 Location: Broken Arrow Ok7j Posts: 5	Colt army model 1917 I own a colt Army model 19 17 on the frame there is a serial number. Above the sn is a capital H below the sn is a capital Y the SN 2675xx another number is i believe a army issue No. 1164xx this number is found on the butt of the revolver This 1917 is nickle or nickle plated and has a 2" barrell. I have never seen or heard of a 1917 army .45 cal.ACP in this configuration can you tell me any thing about this Last edited by Andy goforth; April 17, 2017 at 09:53 PM. Reason: adding photo

April 17, 2017, 06:34 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	a 2" nickeled 1917 is something I'd put in the SERIOUSLY worked over group, for sure. That's the kind of gun I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole (not if it cost me any money ) but I would take one like that over a "Fitz Special." I'll do some checking on the numbers... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 18, 2017, 08:34 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"This 1917 is nickle or nickle plated and has a 2" barrel. I have never seen or heard of a 1917 army .45 cal.ACP in this configuration can you tell me any thing about this" That's because the military never used such a configuration. All military 1917s were blued with 5.5" barrels. A 1917 in any other configuration, especially with a heavily cut back barrel and nickle plating has been reworked in the civilian market. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 18, 2017, 05:29 PM	#8
Andy goforth Junior Member Join Date: April 16, 2017 Location: Broken Arrow Ok7j Posts: 5	Colt 1917 This must have been one of the better altered military issued 1917's i have had it for years and have put several hundred .45cal ACP and the .45cal REM rounds that don't need a moon clip it shoots very well at 20 yards for a 2 inch snub nosed 1917.

April 18, 2017, 06:35 PM	#10
Andy goforth Junior Member Join Date: April 16, 2017 Location: Broken Arrow Ok7j Posts: 5	Colt 1917 AMP44 I APPRECIATE that you are checking the numbers on this 1917 for me i have often wondered when it was issued and perhaps to who i don't know the first thing about finding that info out. Thank you.

April 17, 2017, 05:48 PM	#2
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	Everybody will ask for pictures so let me be the first and get it over with. Sounds interesting. It's always possible somebody SERIOUSLY worked over an old Colt 1917 to make whatever they wanted out of it but again we will need some more information (pictures) to help us out.

April 17, 2017, 06:18 PM	#3
Andy goforth Junior Member Join Date: April 16, 2017 Location: Broken Arrow Ok7j Posts: 5	Im nee to the forms and tried to attach a photo must have been to large ill try again when i get home.

April 18, 2017, 05:36 AM	#5
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	Photobucket is a free website where you can upload your pictures and then easily insert them into your posts here. It's full of ads and is sometimes slow, but it's free and works well enough. Yeah, I seriously doubt those were ever issued with a nickel finish and short barrel. That doesn't necessarily mean that the work was done poorly, though.

April 18, 2017, 06:29 AM	#6
old bear Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2009 Location: Not close enough to the beach Posts: 1,477	Andy, for years the surplus Colts and Smith & Wesson's were cut down and modified into "belly-guns." Some were well done and others not so well. Before you shoot yours you should have a qualified gunsmith inspect it, first. Welcome to the forum

April 18, 2017, 06:11 PM	#9
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Altered guns don't necessarily shoot any worse. It's just threat they aren't nearly as collectible.

April 18, 2017, 07:24 PM	#11
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Here's where you check it - http://oldguns.net/sn_php/mildateslo..._m1917colt.dat 1164xx dates to Sept. 1918, just before the end of the war. It may or may not have made it into wartime service.

April 18, 2017, 10:47 PM	#12
Andy goforth Junior Member Join Date: April 16, 2017 Location: Broken Arrow Ok7j Posts: 5	Colt 1917 Thank you spacecoast for that information. I was told at the time this revolver was given to me by its previous owner that it had belonged to a U.S. Marshal who's name now excapes me, i was told he either used it as a back up or in case he needed one as a throw down. The old boy who gave it to me did so because he never could get it to shoot. He didn't know about the moon clips.

April 19, 2017, 08:05 AM	#13
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	I remember in the sixties there were inexpensive military surplus S&W and Colt .45 military surplus revolvers that were frequently the subject of articles in the various gun rags. The purpose of such articles was how to "customize", and/or modify them for various purposes including making snubbies out of them. No doubt that is what was done to the original poster's gun.