Interesting stamp found .

[RBHarter]

It seems that Ms April 1918 the Smith 1917 gave me a little peak into her history tonight . My cameras won't cooperate and give me a clear picture of the glimpse . In among the 4 digit frame number inspection stamps and defaced flaming bombs and 5 digit US Army No. was a dotted rectangle with the words "NOT ENGLISH MADE" . It would seem the old girl made a trip round the world and came back home ..........

Actually it begs a question someone surely has an answer to , was she sent to the Britt's in the First war or a lend/lease in the Second ? Both perhaps ?

Too bad she was chopped up so such a legacy might have been worth something to some safe queen hording collector .
Perhaps this is one of those if only they could tell us their tales occasions .

 

[CZ93X62]

I have a few old warhorses in my safe that I wish could give voice to their histories.

 

[RicinYakima]

Most likely it was WWII lend lease, when sold by the British Military in the 1950's, it had to be proofed for civilian sales. One of the requirements was the stamp "Not English Made". Then it went to commercial proof house in England and re-imported into the US for sales at Ye Olde Hunter or Interarms. Some were actually new when they got cut up to make them "sellable" in the US.

 

[Pistolero]

I have often looked at an old gun ane quietly said, "I wish you could talk."

What stories some of them could tell!

Bill

 

[RBHarter]

I think someone intended to make this a duty carry or something like that chamfered chambers 3" barrel , target sight in letted in to the sight groove then lowered the front sight it shoots stupid high even with ball ....
In my quest to find suitable parts for her I learned much but for whatever reason only now noticed that stamp .
I almost feel bad about the pending face lift . But I've longed for a double action Colts for a long , long time and she's already messed up . I can live with +P Schofields run up to say standard ACP pressures .

Too , too bad she was messed up ........

 

[Charles Graff]

In the last 50's and early 60's, Colt and Smith WWI DA revolvers were a dime a dozen. Well, that is not entirely true, they were about $25.00 each. The government and Post Office released them and they seemed to be everwhere. As mentioned above many came back from overseas as well. I had several, but never managed to hold on to them. However, I picked up a good Colt 1917 in 2005 for $450.00. I was missing the original grips and lanyard swivel. I replaced these with reproductions. It has a very good condition original "War Finish" and is tight as a tick and shoot very well. From time to time, I put in some good 45 ACP 230 hollow points and tuck it under my pillow. I sleep well.

 

[RBHarter]

A pair Ms April and Ms September .

 

[freebullet]

Oh man, those are nice. The local scheels had one last year. It didn't have any original finish left @ 550+tax, I passed. Sure would love to find a nice one at a fair price someday.

 

[RBHarter]

I paid middle market for the top one , the altered one I gave $230 and $75 later on for a 6" Model 1955 barrel . It will need to have either another cylinder or the barrel set back 1 thread and index and fitting for the ejector rod . The 1955 barrel is drilled for the spring pin and retainer pin for the triple lock lug parts .

 

[Charles Graff]

There is always the Brazilian Navy contract of Smith and Wesson 45 ACP Hand Ejectors. When they hit the shores of America about 1982 or so they were plentiful and cheap. I owned a few but found one that was near perfect, but somebody had tried to cold blue the finish. I sent it to Smith for a factory refinish. They protested, but I prevailed. Here it is..

 

[Pistolero]

Nice old guns. Can't help but notice the grip adapter on the Colt 1917 - which I have
a nice, original example of, too. Love the N-frame .45 ACP belly gun.....gonna need a big
belly.

I can use the S&Ws without the grip adapter, although they are a nice addition, but the Colts just
demand new grips entirely or a grip adapter. What in the world was Colt thinking with
revolver grip frames from just after the SAA until the King Cobra and Anaconda? I have
no idea what kind of hand they may fit, but certainly not mine. I love the guns, once I
get the grips fixed. Python factory grips are fine, too.....but I have never seen if the grip
frame underneath is that same weird shape.

Bill

 

[RBHarter]

I think it was a reversion to the Dragoon .
The Rugaer Sec 6 isn't a real gem either . I've never bloodied a knuckle but I've wondered why it wasn't bleeding once or twice .