Smith & Wesson 45 Hand Ejector U.S. Army Model 1917 .45 ACP Revolver C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,245.00

LSB#: LSB260618MR052

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: .45 Hand Ejector U.S. Army Model 1917

Serial Number: 15650

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1917-1918, C&R (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson)

Caliber: .45 ACP / .45 Auto Rim

Action Type: Double / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “S.&W. D.A. 45”. The top is marked “SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A.” / “PATENTED DEC. 17. 1901. FEB. 6. 1906. SEP. 14. 1909”. The butt is marked “U.S.” / “ARMY” / “MODEL” / “1917” and “No” / “15” / “650”. The rear face of the cylinder, rear face of the yoke arm, and barrel flat are marked with the serial number. The bottom of the barrel is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY”. The left side of the frame just forward of the hammer is marked with the “GHS” inspector mark. There is a lanyard loop attached to the bottom of th grip frame. The interior of the right grip panel is penciled with the matching serial number. The interior of the right grip is penciled with “Warren C. Foote” / “301st U.S.F.A.” / “A.E.F.”. 

Barrel Length: 5 1/2″ Pinned

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a half-moon blade forged to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” notch in the end of a groove in the top of the frame. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two-piece smooth walnut. There are scattered handling wear and compression marks. There are minor handling scratches. There is minor scuffing on the bottom edges of the panels. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is erosion in the bore near the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 6/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 83% of its metal finish.  There is finish loss at the muzzle and along the leading edges of the frame and cylinder. There is thinning along the frame and grip straps. There are scattered scratches ranging from light to moderate throughout, a couple heavier spots on the left side of the barrel and right side plate. There is oxidation freckling and staining intermittently throughout. The action shows operational wear. There is a turn line on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp, with the exception of the lightly tooled grip screw. The markings are clear and legible. Overall, this revolver is in Good-Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The double-action trigger pull is smooth, single-action is crisp. The cylinder lockup is tight with no perceptible play at each chamber. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. When firing .45 ACP, the use of moon clips will help in the extraction of the spent brass. 

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment:  The Smith & Wesson U.S. Army Model 1917 was developed during World War I to address the shortage of M1911 pistols available to American forces. Smith & Wesson adapted its large-frame .45 Hand Ejector to fire the standard .45 ACP cartridge, using half-moon clips to permit rapid loading and simultaneous extraction of the rimless ammunition. Military production began in 1917, with more than 160,000 revolvers ultimately supplied for wartime service. Early examples were finished in blue with smooth walnut stocks, fixed sights, a lanyard ring, and government ownership and inspection markings. The “GHS” mark found on this revolver is the acceptance mark of U.S. government inspector Gilbert H. Stewart and is characteristic of early Model 1917 production. These revolvers served during World War I and remained in government inventories for decades, with many seeing additional use during World War II. The handwritten “Warren C. Foote / 301st U.S.F.A. / A.E.F.” inscription inside the grip is especially interesting, as the 301st Field Artillery served with the 76th Division during the First World War, though the inscription alone is not sufficient to establish documented individual provenance.

This is an appealing early U.S. Model 1917 retaining approximately 83% of its original blue finish, with honest service wear including muzzle and edge loss, thinning along the frame and grip straps, scattered scratches, oxidation freckling, staining, operational wear, and a cylinder turn line. The smooth walnut stocks remain in Very Good condition and are especially noteworthy for the penciled matching serial number and wartime-style Foote inscription inside the right panel. The bright bore retains sharp rifling, though erosion near the muzzle appropriately limits it to 6/10. Mechanically, the revolver remains particularly strong, with a smooth double-action pull, crisp single-action release, tight lockup, and no perceptible play at each chamber. Its low serial number, GHS inspection mark, matching-numbered components, original military configuration, and possible named A.E.F. association make this a particularly interesting World War I service revolver. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY