Info on 1917 Colt

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tinman1275

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I met someone with a Colt 1917 Mounted Police model in 45 Colt, and am having a hard time finding a value on it? Bluing looks good for it's age, and I think it's just 45 Colt, not 45ACP as well.
Anyone have any ideas?
 
If a Mountie revolver it will be a New Service in either 45 Colt or .455 Eley, not .45 ACP. Nice find if genuine. If you can get the s/n I'll see if I can unearth my Klancher book to check against the list. As for value, comfirmation it's legit, and condition will make a big difference. Markings? Pictures?
 
It turns out it does have the clips for 45ACP as well, I'm trying to get the serial # but he's a bit leery of giving that out. It's legit, he was ex RCMP, so I'm not worried about that, he just figures it's worth a small fortune, and I'm not sure.
 
They go regularly for $800-$1200, in fair to good condition, more if the condition is very good. It should be distinctly marked, and if you get the serial number it can be confirmed as a RCMP revolver by someone with Don Klancher's excellent book "Arms and Accountements of the Mounted Police" like RangeRover said.... I also have the book.

They were never issued in 45 ACP to the RCMP. They were however, military issued in the U.S. in that caliber.

It should have RCMP markings, or RNWMP markings. If you get an archive letter from Colt, it will prove authenticity.

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image.jpg1_1.jpg
 
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This one has "M" and "P" stamped on each side of the lanyard ring, he thinks it means Mounted Police, is he right? Or is that something else? He doesn't want to email me the serial, and I can't even figure out what make it is, I'm assuming Colt, but I thought S&W made these as well? Patent date on the barrel are Aug5 1884. July4 1905, Oct5 1926 if that helps.
He seems to think it's worth in the 3-4000 range, and I think he's nuts, he's got an old Webley mkV that he's convinced is worth about the same, and I know he's way off on that one too.
It is marked 45 Colt, but he has the clips for 45 ACP, but he could have got the clips somewhere else.
 
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that all sounds correct for an RCMP Colt New Service. Those patent dates are correct, as is the M.P. Stamp. It's probably chambered in 45 Colt, with moon clips to shoot .45 ACP. However, it could also be an imposter, faked to look like an RCMP gun to up the value. Only way to know is to check the book, or buy an archive letter from Colt.

It's not worth 3-4000.... Yet!
 
I know he had 3 of these at one time, but he sold 2 years ago to some collector, and I didn't think to ask if this was the one he was issued, or one of the other 2. The grips are black on his, are the ones in your pics original?
 
That number should be the "issue number". If it is on the backstrap of the gun, similar to the picture I posted. That gun should be serial number 349363, shipped to the RCMP on October 24, 1940, according to the book.
 
To note, if it is chambered in .45 Colt, it cannot use .45 ACP, especially with moon clips. I would be somewhat worried if he has .45 ACP moon clips and believes it is part of the gun; it might mean that it was milled off the back end to allow for the use of .45 ACP and moon clips.
The .45 ACP with clips was part of the US Model that was chambered for the .45 ACP and moon clips. The .45 Autorim was created to allow proper headspace in those revolvers without the clips.
If it was milled off, then it becomes a shooter more than a collector item.
 
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