A friend has a colt M1917 45 acp in what he calls poor condition, I personally consider it fair. He askd me the value of the piece and my last value book is a 2005 model. Could someone provide a current value of the weapon??
Thanks all,

Eterry

Almost impossible to say without pics of the piece. I have both a Colt and S&W in my collection. There are some very good ones out there and then there are some such as the one you describe which would be "shooter" class at best.

This one is definately in the shooter class, the barrel was bulged long ago, almost all of the blue is gone leaving a brown patina with some light pitting, and some terrible cheap plastic aftermarket stocks. I told him $300 tops as a shooter, am I close ??

Eterry

That is being charitable. You have a frame to build on. Six-hundred dollars down the road you have a decent shooter.

Rich

$300? It depends on how badly you want a M1917 revolver. You won't find a decent one for even double that and collector pieces can start around $1000. If the barrel is bulged you may want to try to locate a new issue one to replace it. I know I have a new S&W properly marked barrel around here somewhere and they were available some years ago. Never heard of availability of Colt barrels however.

It's still a mess. S&W ran a series of 1917's a few years ago. Beautiful revolvers. You could have purchased one for about $800.

In its' present condition this would be like riding a pink moped. It might be fun, but you don't want to let any of your adult friends see you on it. Men tend to judge firearms by the externals.

You have:
1. a bulged barrel. Ain't gonna shoot very well
2. a set of cheesy grips. Enough said there.
3. no finish left.

If you want it, buy it. Just do not expect much.

Rich

Unless I just had to have it, I wouldn't go over $250 based on the described condition.

I have seen, and owned, Colts on the New Service frame with cheap brown plastic stocks...that were genuine Colt.

Well actually only one. In 45 Colt. All the other NS revolvers I owned (455 mostly but one 44-40 and some fiveteen years ago before the UK handgun ban) had the black hard rubber grips.

So it may be that the grips is bron plastic with a moulded mustang and the word COLT are genuine Colt?

How far down the barrel is the bulge? I had a S & W Model 1950 that had a bulge. About 1" down. the "usual" place it seems for these guns in 45 ACP!

If you were desperate I think that it could be bored out and then relined to 45 again?

Well, I bought it for $247 and him buy me dinner! I plan on steak and lobster !!! lol. Honestly, we are meeting at my dads this weekend to shoot, sit on the porch and smoke good cigars and sip bourbon. The stocks arent colt brand, someone put some cheap stocks on it, probably his aunt who owned it long ago. He is throwing a full box of 45 auto rim, which I dont need.

I know numrich arms once had some replacement barrels for the colt, but no more so I hear. The bulge is, as stated above, about an inch from the muzzle.

I have a M1917 Brazilian Navy S&W and a S&W 25-2, I guess now I have a full set.

Anyone have a replacement barrel for it ?

Eterry

quote:

He is throwing a full box of 45 auto rim, which I dont need.

Why? It is just about the best cartridge for the gun as it gives you the ability to crimp if you want.

Plus a lot easier if you just want to shoot one or two rounds and replace just what you shot.

Half moon and full moon clips are a pain in the ass.

And don't be surprised if it shoots very well. I've owned large bore revolvers that I picked up in auctions with bulged barrels and which shot with excellent accuracy. So long as the bulge isn't right at the muzzle, it MAY surprise you.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
If you want it, buy it. Just do not expect much.

Dude. That, right there, is good solid general-purpose advice for approaching life in the aggregate.

I can think of nothing it doesn't apply to. Marriages. Careers. And, oh yeah, major purchases.