Auction find. Colt Army Model 1917

J

Jeff #111

New member
So I went to an estate auction today. The gentleman who passed was a serious gun collector. All of the pieces were in fantastic condition. There were three revolvers that I was interested in. A New York State police S&W Model 520. A Colt Army Model 1917 and a S&W Model 65 with a 3" barrel. First up was the Model 520. My pain threshold was $600.00. It sold for $875.00. Next up was the Model 1917. I expected it to also go soaring pass my cut-off. But ,as I listened to the bidding, I was surprised at how sluggish it was. The auctioneer eventually dropped it down to $200.00 before anyone started to bid. Well I jumped in and won with a bid of $550.00. Now figure in the Buyer's Premium (10%) and the Idaho Sales Tax (6%) and the final figure was $641.30, but I'm satisfied with that price. Very clean and mechanically it's in excellent condition. Serial number is 304*** . Seems appropriate with it being the 100th anniversary of World War I. This revolver is massive. Weighs 40 ounces unloaded. A serious chunk of steel.






 
Very nice Colt

Jeff #111 that is a beautiful piece of history there. That was a great purchase at what I think a good price. I am not a Colt collector but would be proud to own that one.
Congratulations an a nice addition. Will you shoot it? .45 ACP? JA
 
Sweet revolver you got. That is 45C/45ACP right? I've a parkerized one. i had to get a replacement grip for mine because as a teenager in the 60's I sanded (too much) the original down and lacquered it. I shot the heck out of that pistol using the 3rd clips and 45ACP. She is a big gun.
 
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What is the New Service serial number under the crane? The number on the butt is the Army serial number. FWIW, 154643 is one of those above the usually accepted final number of 151701. The reason for the anomaly is a point of discussion among collectors. They may have been assembled from leftover parts in the 1930's, which would explain why most are in excellent condition.

Note that there is nothing "wrong" with that gun; the numbers are quite genuine and correct, and you have an excellent gun. The high numbers just have not been fully explained.

Jim
 
The finish looks good to me, and typical of those guns. Due to the wartime haste, Colt skipped a lot of the polish and finish work they would nave normally done in areas like the sideplate, frame, barrel, etc.

Jim
 
Serial number is 304984. Matching serial number on the crane and the frame under the crane. According to Colt the serial number gives it a date of birth sometime in 1919.
 
That is what I thought. Most lists show production stopping in December 1918 (the Armistice went into effect on November 11, 1918*) with 302500/151701. Bob Murphy, in his little but good book on the New Service, reports that 154800 was shipped to the Army Reserve in Schenectady, NY on February 19, 1919. The NS serial is not given.

Four others are listed: 303495/154142, 303556/153005, 304262/153645, and 304914/154127.

So when did production stop? Did Colt make guns from surplus parts as required by the military? Were some left over revolvers, already bearing military markings, sold on the commercial market? Good questions, no good answers.

Jim

*Originally designated as Armistice Day to honor veterans of WWI, November 11 is now Veterans Day, honoring all our war veterans.

JK
 
Jeff, congrats on the Colt 1917, I've never owned one, but perhaps one day, who knows. The M-520 NYSP at $875.00 was a good price, if it was in the condition you stated. Do you remember what the 3" model 65 went for? I have one but would not mind having a second one.
 
excellent find, congratulations. it is nice to see a piece of history so well appreciated. i love shooting 45acp out of a ruger vaquero single action revolver, im sure that you will enjoy it out of your colt.
 
The Model 65 3" went for $725.00. So I guess I was meant to have the Colt. Part of the fun of collecting old guns is the questions that can arise when looking into the history. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and pay for a letter from the factory. Might tell me something.
 
i love shooting 45acp out of a ruger vaquero single action revolver, im sure that you will enjoy it out of your colt
Click to expand...

Not sure if it's the shape of the grip or what, but I don't really enjoy shooting my Colt Model 1917 (shipped March 1918). It's just not very comfortable.

photo86_zpscb47ecfa.jpg
 
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