Colt definitely made a commercial version of the 1917, for many years.
The target "triad" was a .22, a center fire (.32 or above) and a .45, auto or .45 ACP revolver. The service pistol match could also be fired with the 1911 auto or a 1917 revolver. Many shooters preferred a revolver in .45 ACP to the auto pistol and some shot the .45 in the center-fire match. So there was a market, small but influential, for a revolver chambered in .45 ACP, and both Colt and S&W made such guns.
Jim
The target "triad" was a .22, a center fire (.32 or above) and a .45, auto or .45 ACP revolver. The service pistol match could also be fired with the 1911 auto or a 1917 revolver. Many shooters preferred a revolver in .45 ACP to the auto pistol and some shot the .45 in the center-fire match. So there was a market, small but influential, for a revolver chambered in .45 ACP, and both Colt and S&W made such guns.
Jim
