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Colt 1917 Serial-Service Numbers

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#21 ·
Hello. I am a new forum member and thank you so much for this information. I recently "rediscovered" a 1917 New Service with homemade grips that was given to me several years ago. I found a set of original grips and have restored it to its original beauty. The Colt serial is 279809 and the gov't service is 128740. Any other information that you can give me about this beauty would be greatly appreciated!

Bill
 
Discussion starter · #22 · (Edited)
Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum.

Your Colt M1917 was delivered to the Government during the week of November 2, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 3000 guns. This was a week or so before the Armistice, so if your gun is in good shape, it probably didn't go overseas (at least during WWI).

Buck

BTW, some of the best blackberry wine I ever had as a young man in Nashville came from Germantown.
 
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Discussion starter · #23 ·
Updated Service-Serial Number Graph

I've attached a new Service/Serial Number graph containing new data gathered over the past two years, as well as confirmed large excursions from the expected correlation line. As mentioned earlier, some of these excursions can be adequately explained by production actions of Colt, and some appear to be human errors in marking the guns. I plan to keep mining these and future data for any interesting observations that I can find.
These data may be published, for profit or not, by any interested author.

Regards,

Buck
 
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#24 ·
OK, I THINK that the DA is the same as the 1917, posted. Your serial numbers start a lot higher than mine. I have a DA with serial number 450. Is it the same or is it different? I ask because I wanted to get grips and they said they were not the same. My serial is way off also...

There are pics on one I posted asking questions. Thanks...
 
#25 ·
haggis said:
Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum.

Your Colt M1917 was delivered to the Government during the week of November 2, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 3000 guns. This was a week or so before the Armistice, so if your gun is in good shape, it probably didn't go overseas (at least during WWI).

Buck

BTW, some of the best blackberry wine I ever had as a young man in Nashville came from Germantown.
Click to expand...
Very Interesting! I received it from an uncle, a U.S. Army WWII vet, along with several .45 rounds stamped "43", so maybe it saw action in WWII. Funny you should mention blackberry wine. My 86 year old father (also a WWII vet, USMC) back in Ohio is also an accomplished winemaker. Some of my fondest memories were spent picking blackberries, wild grapes, and wine berries (and then sampling the mash while way underage). But now I'm way off topic . . .
 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
Delivery dates for the following Colt M1917's:

  • Service number 23138 delivered during the week of January 12, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2100 guns.
  • Service number 28122 delivered during the week of January 26, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2200 guns.
  • Service number 85268 delivered during the week of July 13, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2700 guns.
Buck
 
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#30 ·
Haggis, Here is mine to add to your data base. Crane # 222594, Service # 88529. I believe the revolver to be refurbished. There is another number stamped on the crane and frame (13107). Also, the date 1931 and 1-28-62 and the number 2048 engraved on the frame in the cylinder opening. Thanks, DWL
 
#32 · (Edited)
Hi, Mr. Haggis, I purchased a M1917 recently and like most of the people that posted here I am trying to find out some information about it. Like what some of the numbers that are stamped on it mean. There is # 181138 stamped on the frame and on the crane, #2911 stamped on the bottom of the barrel, frame and crane, #30830 stamped on bottom of the butt by the lanyard loop and a JM entwined with a circle around the stamp on the left side of the frame in front of the hammer. Also instead of the split half moon clips there is a one piece clip with a hexagon hole in the center, is this the correct moon clip for this pistol It seems to work alright ? Any help would be appreciated. And you can add the information to your data.
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
  • Colt M1917 with service number 88529, serial number 222594, was delivered to the Government during the week of July 20, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2700 guns. The number 13107 is likely an arsenal rebuild number that should be located on all major parts. The markings "1931", "1-28-62", and "2048" are of unknown origin and purpose.
  • Colt M1917 with service number 106002, serial number 257881, was delivered to the Government during the week of September 7, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2000 guns.
  • Colt M1917 with service number 30830, serial number 181138, was delivered to the Government during the week of February 2, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2400 guns. The number 2911 is likely an arsenal rebuild number that should be located on all major parts. The mark "JMG" is the Army acceptance mark of Lt. Col. J. M. Gilbert who was in charge of accepting these pistols at the time. Originally supplied with half-moon clips which can still be found, these revolvers and their descendants now use full moon clips for faster loading. Either will work.

Buck
 
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#34 ·
Buck,

First - thanks in advance. I've picked up a c1917 and WWI era holster to present as a gift to my son upon his graduation from West Point this May. The serial number is 202796 and the butt number is 51-066. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

DF
 
Discussion starter · #35 ·
DF,

Your revolver was delivered to the Government during the week of April 6, 1918 as part of of a weekly shipment of 2300 guns. Don't store the gun in its holster as that invites rust.

Please tell your son that I thank him for his service to his country. My son was 82nd Airborne. Go Army!

Buck
 
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#36 ·
Haggis,
Here is a shot of my 1917, along with a few period items:

1918 Colt New Service
1918 Mills M1912 Pistol Belt
1918 G&K Holster w/A.G. inspector mark
1918 R.H. Long Half Moon clip ammo pouch
1917 Lanyard (tape wound around where it was hung on a hook or nail)
WWII Half Moon Clips
.45 ACP ammo marked WCC 41 and Rem UMC
My grandfather's WWI dogtag - Pvt., 4th Division 58th Inf. Reg. Co. B.
1918 Peach pit monkey carved while in a field hospital in France; he was gassed sometime in August, 1918 in the Chateau-Thierry area. Lost one lung, survived, and was hit and killed by a Volkswagon in 1968. My dad used to say it took the Germans 60 years to finish him off!

Thank you again for providing me with information about my pistol.

Bill
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
trapper,

Your Colt M1917 was delivered to the Government during the week of September 14, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2600 revolvers.

Buck
 
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#39 ·
"Your Colt M1917 was delivered to the Government during the week of September 14, 1918 as part of a weekly shipment of 2600 revolvers."


Late on the acknowledgement, but thanks for the info. Took it out for an airing this past weekend, and drilled a soda-pop can at about thirty feet with the first shot, double-action. Still works fine.
 
#40 ·
dear all,

New comer..

I just got a Colt model 1917... About its history, it seems it was sent back by a "poilu" (french soldier during WWI) after 1918.

On the "under" of the colt number 1533 with US army Model 1917.
Other number available is : 153374.

Thanks if you can provide me info about delivery date and so on...

Best Regards
MichFich
 
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