Well, it doesnt qualify as a past buy as it was a family heirloom that was passed from my grandfather to my father when he returned from overseas duty and from my father to me. Its a Smith and Wesson model 1917 double-action revolver chambered in .45ACP.
During the dark days of WWI production of .45 ACP Auto sidearms was falling behind. The US Army contracted with both Colt and S&W to produce DA revolvers chambered for the .45ACP. Each manufacturer produced 150,000. I've seen many examples of both over the years and find the Colts to be generally crude compared to the S&W's although it should be said that both performed well.
The S&W Model 1917 was a version of the Model 44 chambered instead for .45 ACP, using a shortened cylinder allowing for use of half-moon clips, and a lanyard ring on the butt of the frame.
The S&W M1917 is different from the Colt M1917 in that the S&W cylinder has a shoulder machined into it to permit the rimless .45 ACP round to headspace on the case mouth. In this way the S&W 1917 could be used without half moon clips, although the empty cases would have to be poked-out manually through the cylinder face, since the extractor cannot engage the rimless cases. When half-moon clips are used the cases eject normally.
My pistol is stock, it was never altered from war time use and I have to say I have never fired a military weapon with a lighter or crisper trigger pull (when firing SA), and that includes a couple M40 sniper rifles. Every time I take this masterpiece to the range I am stunned by its accuracy and smoothness. Not bad for a firearm rushed through production for wartime duty. Note the case hardened trigger.
This weapon made me a life long fan of S&W. I only wish it could tell me the stories my grandfather couldn't.
During the dark days of WWI production of .45 ACP Auto sidearms was falling behind. The US Army contracted with both Colt and S&W to produce DA revolvers chambered for the .45ACP. Each manufacturer produced 150,000. I've seen many examples of both over the years and find the Colts to be generally crude compared to the S&W's although it should be said that both performed well.
The S&W Model 1917 was a version of the Model 44 chambered instead for .45 ACP, using a shortened cylinder allowing for use of half-moon clips, and a lanyard ring on the butt of the frame.
The S&W M1917 is different from the Colt M1917 in that the S&W cylinder has a shoulder machined into it to permit the rimless .45 ACP round to headspace on the case mouth. In this way the S&W 1917 could be used without half moon clips, although the empty cases would have to be poked-out manually through the cylinder face, since the extractor cannot engage the rimless cases. When half-moon clips are used the cases eject normally.
My pistol is stock, it was never altered from war time use and I have to say I have never fired a military weapon with a lighter or crisper trigger pull (when firing SA), and that includes a couple M40 sniper rifles. Every time I take this masterpiece to the range I am stunned by its accuracy and smoothness. Not bad for a firearm rushed through production for wartime duty. Note the case hardened trigger.
This weapon made me a life long fan of S&W. I only wish it could tell me the stories my grandfather couldn't.
