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Colt 1917 Serial-Service Numbers

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#864 ·
haggis said:
Welcome to the forum.

Send me the full service (butt) number (40xxx), and I can give you the week it was delivered to the Government and how many were delivered that week. I would also like the full Colt serial number (189,2xx) for my M1917 database, if you agree. Nothing in the database ties a specific gun to its owner. The numbers 52x and 559x are likely arsenal rebuild numbers (some guns were refurbished twice) between the world wars, and 559x was likely done second since that number is on the barrel. The 52x barrel was probably replaced during the second rebuild. In addition to the places you mentioned, the rebuild numbers were supposed to be on the ejector rod shaft and internally on the hammer and trigger.

The verified proof is interesting. Like you, I would suspect that it went to Colt after WWII under one of their refurbishing contracts. I am not sure where Colt is getting their dates - perhaps from Wilson's research which is in error for New Services in the WWI era. The same inaccuracies plague Proofhouse's dates from the same era, primarily because it is based on Wilson's data as well. There were very few M1917's produced in 1919, maybe about 5000 before the end of February. Yours is the first half of 1918. Again, I can get much more specific with the service number.

Buck
Click to expand...
if you could give me that information id appreciate it .butt number is 129375 and sn is 280808 looks like the barrel has been replaced .
 
#866 ·
So thanks to the wonderful world of Google, I figured I'd pose this to someone who's been there, done that and has the t-shirt so to speak. I just came home with my own Colt M1917 revolver. It's in rather good shape for the age, but I didn't even pay any mind to the butt number until I got home. Colt's S/N is 155677. The number on the butt is 6681. Obviously that's early in the contract, but when did it get delivered and where did it go? I'm admittedly curious. Judging by the letter and info on it that Scott posted a few weeks ago I wouldn't be shocked if mine was in that batch that went to Springfield... Where do you even go for a letter like that anyway, Colt itself?
 
#870 ·
That is correct, I think I can narrow it down bit though.
Probably shipped by Colt to Springfield Armory somewhere on or between June 27, 1918 and July 6, 1918. Per Springfield research Service Serial Numbers of U.S. Martial Arms Volume 2 (page 190)
M1917 #80500 shipped 6/27/1918 and #81000 shipped 7/6/1918 Both were shipped to Springfield Armory along with several others for function tests.
 
#871 ·
I own 6 1917 or New Service revolvers
Three were purchased in the early 70’s, 2 are now modified “Fitz Specials”…. Modified means i would not have the triggergards cut, but one is about 3 1 & the other is 4” with a Python style rib,sights
Both done by the same gunsmith for me. There were several other “Fitz” conversions going on at the same time.
#1. serial # 76963 is the 3 1/4”
#2. Serial #205844 is the 4” with rib

#3 Colt New Service
Serial #308600
38-40
As close to new as i have seen one
This was a gift from a friend

#4. Colt New Service
Serial# 17984
44-40 cal
Lanyard Ring
Left top front of TG is a triangle with something inside
Left rear of TG has an S or a 5
No caliber on barrel / old reblue

# 5. Colt US Army Moder 1917
Army #84252 / poss 64252
Serial # 228266
Lanyard Ring
This pistol & the 44-40 have the same type of frame in that the crane does not go all the way to the triggerguard, the frame stops above it.

#6. Colt .45 Colt caliber
This one a good reblue, but Everything is polished off / mechanicals are great
Serial # F above 14432
You can see the triangle at the front of the TH & either a 5 or an S at rear of TG on left side
Right side has a star at the rear of thecTG

please let me know what years these pistols wrre made and the ones you would call New Service as opposed to 1917’s
If i used the words New Service, it is because the pistol had that on it.

#1 & #2 were purchased specifically to be cut down into modified Fitz Specials and i do not remember if they had Army numbers. Both have had their grip modified to that of the older Colt Lightning revolvers of 1877..

I saw many 45 acp that were bored to take 45 Colt and also 455’s bored to 45 Colt. If i remember right, 200 gr SWC’s were used in the converted acp’s because of cylinder length?

We used 250-270 gr SWC’s in the 45 Colt cylinder guns.

I hope this helps in some way with your serial number Quest
 
#872 ·
The Model 1917 was a New Service chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge using half moon clips, to supplement the Model 1911 Pistol during WW1. It was primarily issued to rear echelon troops.

The upside down triangle at the front of the triggerguard is the Colt Verified Proof with a tiny common leg VP, in the triangle. The mark at the rear of the trigger guard, probably a 3, identified the Colt final inspector that applied the VP.
 
#873 ·
JohnnyP,
Were you referring to any particular one of the pistols 1-6.....
I was hoping to get an idea on when each pistol was made, even if it meant you had one near my serial numbers and you knew it's age....

There are two different types of frames on these guns.
#5 has a frame that stops at the front edge of the triggerGard, and the crane opens in front of it, like the 44-40 does....

The other style of frame extends a bit forward of the triggergard and the crane opens more in the frame.

I would send photos, but I have one heck of a time getting them from the phone to the computer and then into this thread....I just learned enough to call it that....

Anyway, I would appreciate any help in getting dates of manufacture or shipping,,,,

I also have a few S&W 1917's, including one of the 1937 Brazil models.....for a while they were everywhere, now not so much...

The pistolsmith, Heber Ward, who did the "Fitz type" conversions for me has long since passed.
He was doing 3-4 other guns, both Smiths & Colts, at the same time,,,, apparently, we were all reading the same books & magazines....
I also bought a 1911 Government model (1917) that Heber had worked over to feed literally anything, RN, HP, SWC's and in the early 1970's that was quite a feat,,,,,The 1911 came with several mags, a couple of holsters and a few hundred rounds of ball ammo & cost me $100, about 20% of my take home pay.

Thanks
 
#875 ·
With the Colt serial number provided I'm thinking it is #84252. It was shipped July 15,1918 to the Ordnance Base Depot - Bush Terminal Brooklyn, NY in a shipment of 1600 M1917s #84101-#85700.
I have a M1917 in my collection with close numbers which was shipped July 11,1918.
1oldlawman,please post some photos of your revolvers .
 
#877 ·
JohnnyP said:
Which is it, No.64252 or No.84252 ?
Click to expand...
I am not totally sure,
If you tilt it in the light just right, it looks like an 8 and tilting it the other way, it kind of looks like a 6. My book show it is an 8 and my eyes were 40-50 years younger back then.

But I also know that some guns went out the door using the Army number, because many young salesmen or buyers used the more clearly readable Army number on the butt when these guns were traded/logged in.

I would not have known the difference in the 70's when I picked up the first two revolvers to convert to Fitz Specials and I only remember where I bought one of them, Welcher's Gun Shop in Tacoma. I did not keep a book of purchases until about the 80's when I actually had enough guns to log in that I could not clearly state each one off the top of my head. I kept serial numbers & price & the date & whatever I thought was an identifying mark. I was one of few I knew who bothered to do this back then, it was not necessary at that time, but it was smart to know all the serial numbers in case of theft.

Gun shows were big and many people bought or traded up for their collection. Gun Shows had individual people coming in for a day or two to sell or trade up for their collection. There were dealers at the shows, but you could see what they had by dropping by their shops. Deals were to be had with regular people. I later also sold/traded at the shows, but only to walk over & buy something "better". I later became one of the Club Directors, but I was a member way back to 1971.

Washington State had not drifted so far Left that it fell behind the Iron Curtain back then....CCW's were obtained within a week or two and no state paperwork was required for private sales/trades.. It was like living in AMERICA, instead of the Fecal Depression it is now....

Montana is like Washington was in the 1980's.....stores close early, most private shops not open on Sundays...bigger multi-location stores are open, and 70 miles is just a drive in the park to get there, if you Need something....
 
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