Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Colt M1917 revolver was developed as a wartime solution to supplement the shortage of M1911 pistols during World War I. It was essentially an adaptation of Colt’s existing .45 Long Colt caliber New Service model, which had replaced the less powerful .38 Long Colt M1892 revolvers after the Philippine-American War. The M1917 featured a cylinder bored to accept the rimless .45 ACP cartridge, utilizing half-moon clips invented by Smith & Wesson but licensed for use by Colt. Early Colt M1917 production models were less reliable when fired without half-moon clips, as cartridges could slip forward in the cylinder. Later versions incorporated headspacing similar to the Smith & Wesson M1917, allowing use without clips but requiring manual case ejection. From 1917 to 1919, Colt produced 151,700 M1917s for the U.S. military. These revolvers saw service not only in World War I but were also used in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Firearms expert Elmer Keith considered the Colt model “rough finished” compared to the Smith & Wesson version. Despite this, the Colt M1917 played a crucial role in arming U.S. forces and later gained popularity in the civilian market.
“Manufactured in 1920. Fixed sights, with “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” on the underside of the barrel, “eagle head/S15” on the left side of the frame, and the model marking on the butt, along with the number “129/249″ and the traditional Colt markings. Fitted with a set of smooth matching numbered grips.”
Lot 1537: U.S. Colt Model 1917 Revolver – Exceptional World War I U.S. Colt Model 1917 Double Action Revolver. (n.d.-aw). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved September 11, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/76/1537/us-colt-model-1917-revolver.
The post POTD: Wartime Adaptation – The Colt Model 1917 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
