1917 S&w Da 45

[kenc9]

I ran into a nice S&W 45 I couldn't resist, it is apparently refurbed but I had to have it. All 4 serial numbers match and the trigger is as nice as any pistol I have....SWEET!

[kurac]

Looks good to me, make sure it hasn't been bored out to chamber 45 Colt

[kenc9]

Not sure what being bored out to .45 Colt means?
From everything I have read these were made by S&W as .45 for the military from their .44 line. I have never heard of these being bored out pistols.
But I don't know much about them, how can you tell a bored out one.

-ken

[rkt88edmo]

Nice !

[kurac]

They are called the 1917 because they were made to issue to our boys going over to fight the Germans in WWI, (there was a shortage of 1911's)

The 1917's made by Colt and S&W were chambered in 45ACP and designed to be used with half moon clips. Some time after the war they were sold as surplus and all kinds of popular at the time, things were done to them such as re-chambering (boring out) the cylinder for 45 Colt.

[asintado]

So these things won't operate unless you use the half moon clips?

[kurac]

It should operate without the halfmoon clips but ejection will be an issue. If you can find 45 auto-rim it will also work.

[kenc9]

It came with half moon clips.

-ken

[saki302]

I have a Colt 1917 which will not operate without moon clips- the bullets fall in too far. It's not bored for .45 colt either- thay just made it that way.

I dunno about the S&W 1917 though.

-Dave

[50ae]

I have a 1917 Colt that was made in 45 Colt and love that HUGE sucker. I'd love to pick up it's S&W brother to go with it. Nice find.

[mrkubota]

I have a Colt 1917 which will not operate without moon clips- the bullets fall in too far. It's not bored for .45 colt either- thay just made it that way.

I dunno about the S&W 1917 though.

-Dave

I wonder if some .45schofield would chamber.... I've got some brass/ammo if you want to try! //Ben

[50ae]

Wouldn't the Schofield not have the right spacing. With the moon clips the 45 ACP round is brought up more than the rim on a Schofield and I would think it would cause problems.

[kenc9]

I shot my S&W and shoots fine with or with out the clip.
What a nice trigger!

-ken