A 1917 Colt question

I have a marked martial 1917 Colt, yet the profile and fit is that of the 1909 Colt. Further, the serial number is between the listings of the 1909 and the 1917.

The question is: Where do I evaluate the firearm? 1909 or 1917?

Still looking for a .45LC cylinder for it. If anybody has any pointers, I'd appreciate it.

What's the caliber? The 1917 military model was .45 ACP

You have a transition piece. A category of its own. Colt used up old parts when they could. 1911/1911A1 pistols are often seen. Likewise Police Positive Specials with Police Positive barrels. Get a factory letter to verify the weapon and add the price of the letter to the sale price.

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I think that the 1909 is 45LC.

Some of the 1909 were Black Powder 45 LC. One of my friend had a similar revolver, thinking that it was originally for 45 ACP with 1/2 moon clips. Then he was told it for 45 LC. Upon further investigation, it was for 45 LC, BUT Black Powder. Just check to verify, as most of these guns were made up from

.45 acp, and accurate.

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#I think that the 1909 is 45LC.

It is.

Yes! I believe always did this when they were to a change point. I have a New Service ( with factory letter) that is a transition style. Some attributes on the New Service indicate the original style some show as the manner they were made the last 25 years or so. Roe

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# I have a marked martial 1917 Colt, yet the profile and fit is that of the # 1909 Colt. Further, the serial number is between the listings of the 1909 # and the 1917. # # The question is: Where do I evaluate the firearm? 1909 or 1917?

The answer may be: 'Neither'.

The 'U. S.' marking on the butt of the revolver will tell you definitively what model the frame is. It will say either '1909' or '1917'. The serial number also on the butt will tell you how early or late the revolver is. Many of these old revolvers have had cylinders and barrels changed. The original 1909 barrel was marked as government property on the bottom, just as was the 1917 original barrel. The 1909 barrel was a straight pipe leading into the frame, while the 1917 barrel tapered abruptly from the point where it snugged up against the frame down to the diameter of the rest of the barrel. All 1909s were .45 Colt. All 1917s were .45 ACP. Some New Service revolvers were made for the British military, and may be chambered for .455 Eley, but none of these were 1909 or 1917 models.

I am unsure what you mean by 'fit' and 'profile'. Perhaps a better description, along with exact reproduction of the stampings on the gun along with clearly specified locations would help.

Derek V.

Sigh. The butt stamp means little. That is what the Army accepted it as. That's all it means. The first 1917s were 1909s with a different crane and cylinder and a new butt stamp. Different years of New Services had different grip profiles. I am sure that is what he means. I have several NS's and the grips are NOT all interchangeable. One set of 1917 grips will not fit on a 1903 made New Service while the other one's will, and no set of 1917 grips will fit on a late 1930s Shooting Master. Two of the 1917's grips don't quite fit each other.

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