Smith and Wesson M1917

[a_majoor]

An interesting firearm, although I wonder about it's utility given the size and weight:

http://mesopotamiawest.blogspot.com/2008/04/day-at-range.html

A Day at the Range

As usual there was something interesting at the range yesterday; a friend brought along a Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver.

This is quite an interesting piece. In the First World War, the various American manufacturers couldn't make enough of John Browning's revolutionary M1911A1 semi-automatic, so the War Department asked Smith & Wesson to devise a way to use the ammunition from the automatic in their revolvers. The company came up with half-moon clips to hold the rimless cartridges.

The idea was in the mud and rain of the western front, a soldier wouldn't have to check to see what kind of ammo to put in his gun, it would always be the same.

This is a big, heavy revolver, just under two and a half pounds in weight (37.2 oz empty) and almost a foot long (10 7/9 inches). It has a nice balanced look and feel and, of course, it fires that lovely soft-recoil .45 ACP.

Smith & Wesson stopped production at the start of WWII, but they've started again as part of their 'Classic' series as a Model 22, which has to be about the most misleading gun name in history. You can buy one for $1,011.00 US.

Why am I mentioning this in a political blog? One reason is it drives Moonbats crazy. The other is that I'm trying to fight the de-normalization of firearms that is now part and parcel of the Liberal party of Canada's policy. Weap0ns are one of the things that distinguish humans from animals and free men from slaves.

I agree with the NRA (of which I'm a member) that an armed society is a polite society (like Tel Aviv), an unarmed society (like Toronto) is little more than a combat zone.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Guns and ammo had a nice article on these revolvers recently.

 

[mudgunner49]

Guns and ammo had a nice article on these revolvers recently.

These big N-frame Smith's are a great wheelgun, and I've owned a few over the years.  The only N-frames that I have right now are a couple M28's, a 624 and a 629, however I'm always looking for a good condition 1917.  If I had the cash I think I'd spring for one of the new "Classics", even with the goofy lock on the sideplate.

Outstanding if you have to pistol-whip somebody (well you just never know ), and makes you feel all "Indiana Jones-ish" when you handle it... ;D


blake

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Shotgun news treasury #6 has a great article on them as well. the 1917 grew out of the 1909 that fired it's own cartridge also .45 but with a larger rim than the .45LC. S&W devoloped the first half-moon style clip for the .45acp that allowed the 1917 to use the .45acp rd, but they were replaced in 1920 by the common half-moon clip we see today. S&W made around 150,000 of them for WWI, Brazil bought around 25,000 Also some were made in .455 for the Brits.

 

[1feral1]

Back in the 90's there was still heaps of those half moon .45 ACP clips at gun shows. I am sure there is some still around. I never owned one of these .45 revolvers, but I did have the WW2 S&W Victory model in .38 S&W, marked 'US Property. Even her in Australia, one can find these old Victory models at the gun shows.

 

[Nyles]

Actually the M1909 was a Colt (a militarised Colt New Service), not a Smith & Wesson. The M1917 was of course a militarised version of the New Century Hand Ejector. I have a British-issued .455 Hand Ejector and I really like it. Anyone wanting an M1917 should look at a Brazillian M1937 - same gun built for export, it has slightly better sights and the Brazillian crest on the frame. They sell cheaper and you see them alot more often.

Wesley, I was under the impression that handguns weren't allowed in Australia?

 

[1feral1]

You're wrong mate.

Some restrictions on bbl length, and some calibres.

Hanguns of all types including semi autos are legal to own, adn in most ways less restrictive than in Canada.

Semi auto rifles are restricted for use, but not totally banned as many think.