Doin’ the math…

The ‘mantra’ in the gun world is that one is none…None

And two is one…Two

So I guess I’ve got one Model 1917… πŸ™‚

I had to go to an offsite, it was raining so I left early to beat the traffic. Β Got to the meeting but had time to kill, so I stopped in a little place that sells fishing gear and has a little (maybe 6 foot) gun counter…

I’m casually looking and see something down on the bottom shelf (actually two somethings)…

I asked the kid to pull them out, turns out it’s a 1917 Colt and a 1917 S&W. Β Some old guy (his words) had come in and put them on consignment…

The Colt turns out to be all original, including the original grips and lanyard ring!!!right side

It’s not perfect by a long shot, but the bore is good with sharp lands/grooves and I’m going to shoot it anyway…Left side

You can see there is a little chip out of the left hand grip in the picture below…frameAnd a quick run through the serial number checker shows it was made in 1918, so now I have two…er… ONE, yeah, yeah, that’s it, one Colt made in 1918… πŸ™‚

It won’t be a safe queen, and I’m hoping to get to the range soon with it. Β Since I already have moon clips, at least I don’t have to go hunt them down again…

The S&W was probably in a bit better shape, but I just didn’t have the $$ for both… And it didn’t have original grips…

Comments

Doin’ the math… — 27 Comments

  1. That a pretty old pony, those old revolvers are fun to shoot, just a light bounce in the hand, nothing strenuous at all.

  2. j.r.- That they are! Of course they ‘define’ the term hog leg! πŸ™‚ Heavy doesn’t begin to describe them! ;-D

    • Forgot to mention above, if better than ‘Kentucky Windage’ isn’t as good as you hoped, the Evans Wondersight may be able to help. Uses the factory pre-tapped holes (not sure if they are on your handgun above) in receiver to make a fully adjustable rear sight. Internet search and decide if that is for you. I have one on my S&W 1917 and it has really helped me over the years.

  3. WSF- LOL, I should have… πŸ˜‰

    Tim- Yeah, especially these two!

    LL- me too!

    gfa- Thanks!

    Woody- Thanks, I do too!

    Rev- Oldies but goodies! πŸ˜€

  4. Grandpa carried one of those across the Solomons along with a tripod for an old -1917A1.

  5. Dammit- That it is!

    SPEMack- Ouch, he got a ‘workout’ and then some!!!

    Buck- I’m happy with it! πŸ™‚

  6. Glad YOU got it.
    Imagine that revolver with a light clamped below the barrel, a holographic sight drilled into the top strap and a muzzle brake screwed upon it’s snout. I shudder to think of that piece of history in uncaring hands.
    Clean it, oil it and shoot the hell out of it.

  7. Roger- I plan on it… Shooting it that is… πŸ™‚

    Rick- Luck of the draw. Trust me I’ve MISSED as many as I find… sigh

  8. Have Moon Clips.
    Will Travel.

    Also have a nifty moon clip loader.
    We MUST do range soon.

  9. I didn’t know they made Smiths’ with the Colt latch? I thought S&W retained their own characteristics, like the trigger-guard and rounded front sight, because to me the one on the right with the stag grips looks very-very Colty. Personally I like my M1909 and the Colt variety more than the S&W interpretation.
    Or the picture is just for illustration purposes?

  10. Stretch- Yes we should!

    NC- They are both Colts πŸ˜‰ And I own em both… πŸ˜‰

    Rick- Deals are out there…

  11. Well then Hell-Yes, you got good! πŸ™‚ I would prefer the Colt over the Smith of that sequence anyway. But closer to home, I should never have sold away my 38-44 triple-lock Outdoorsman…