Merry , Colt 1917, Christmas

[Ru4real]

For your and everyone else's info a quick way to tell a 1909 New Service from a 1917….

Great photo @Gordon. I’ve wondered, and now I see, different frames as well.

 

[CraigC]

Very cool! The New Service/1917 is a great sixgun. Merry Christmas!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Nothing to add other than I also am a sucker for early 20th Century Colt's revolvers.

Nice score, Gunny. The 1917s, the New Service, the Official Police and the Police Positives will always see me reaching for my wallet.

I’ve never been a big Colt fan, but I do like the 1917 revolver. I’ve been on the lookout for a S&W 1917 but haven’t come across one at a good price yet.
Here are my other two Colt 1917s.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

For your and everyone else's info a quick way to tell a 1909 New Service from a 1917 model is the 1909 has a straight barrel into the frame and the 1917 has a shoulder at the frame junction. Top is a (modified) 1917 in .45acp Bottom is a 1914 .45 Colt 1909 model New Service

Interesting.

Apparently the Colt New Service first appeared in 1898, but when it was adopted by the Army it became known as the Model 1909. I did not know that.

This pair of Colt New Service revolvers are a little bit older. The 45 Colt at the top shipped in 1906, the 44-40 at the bottom shipped in 1907. (As an aside, even though I have many rifles chambered for 44-40, until recently this was the only revolver I had chambered for 44-40.)

Notice the different profiles where the trigger guards meet the frames compared to the New Service Model 1909 and the Colt Model 1917.

I’ve been on the lookout for a S&W 1917 but haven’t come across one at a good price yet.

The New Service, and the Colt Model 1917 are huge revolvers. My 45 Colt New Service is the largest revolver I own. Look how it dwarfs a S&W Model 1917.

 

[AlexanderA]

For many years, I had both Colt and S&W M1917 revolvers as part of my collection. At a certain point, I decided to thin things out, and sold both of those. Maybe I shouldn't have. But those were huge, ungainly weapons with horrible ergonomics. I can't shoot DA revolvers well anyway, and these were worse than most. The other factor is that they were substitute-standard in the military, and not really historically significant.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I can shoot an N frame S&W Model 1917 just fine.

However the bigger frame and greater distance of the grip to the hammer and trigger makes shooting those New Service revolvers of mine awkward.

 

[tominboise]

The other factor is that they were substitute-standard in the military, and not really historically significant.

I don't know about that. They were definitely part of WWI and WWII history.

 

[Seedy Character]

That would have been hard to pass up.

Great find.

 

[codytrucker]

I have a few parts, but not what I need.

It appears that the right grip panel was replaced at some time. The bottom corners are worn a lot, but the metal wear doesn’t seem to match. Once I remove them for cleaning, I’ll have a better idea.

View attachment 1122388 View attachment 1122389


When I first saw it in the case, I thought it was a 1909 when I saw the caliber on the tag, but then the cylinder looked to short.
After I made the deal for the gun, I advised them of the model number, caliber and the correct SN#.

6 notches , 3 at once and 3 separate . That revolver helped someone get home for Christmas !!