Info on this revolvers

[oakieV]

Can anyone tell me :

1. Should I clean the surface rust off this gun or just leave it?

2. General info on this gun? History? Worth?

I see that it has some stamps/engravings:

Colt da 45 on barrel

United states property on underneath of barrel

aa on side

Us army model 1917 no 116 316 on the bottom of grip



Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks

[Volksgrenadier]

US Army model of 1917. Essentially, during WWI (may all the bastard profiteers of it roast eternally in hell) the US military was not turning out the new 1911 pistol in the needed number, so Colt and S&W both produced a revolver chambered in .45 caliber to make up the shortfall in serviceable military sidearms. These utilized half moon clips that worked in both the S&W and Colt revolvers.

I would wipe the weapon down with gun oil and try to lose some of the rust that way. It looks like you have a nice revolver: what appear to be original wood grips, lanyard ring, and it does not appear to be jacked with by a home gunsmith ("bubba"). They are beasts of wheelguns!

[rkt88edmo]

Do not clean it. Do not oil it and wipe it down. If you think it has collector's value that you want to preserve get educated about it before you do anything.

[Oceanbob]

This^^^^^^

Don't touch it or try to "improve" it.

[oakieV]

Ok, I'll leave it be. I'm trying to buy the off my friend but we both have no Idea what a fair price is, let alone a price at all.