I inherited a Colt 45 revolver and would like some information on the type and maybe the year it was produced. It is nickle plated with pearl grips. It has COLT D.A. 45 printed on the left side of the barrel and on the top of the barrel the last patent date is Oct. 5, 1926. As for serial numbers the bottom of the grip says US Army Model 1917 No 64 286 and numbers on the frame and crane are 188012. Any info that can be provided about this gun would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

What you have is a mod 1917 Army Revolver. These are chambered in .45 Colt ACP and use a half moon clip to retain the rounds. S&W built a similiar revolver for the same military specifications and along the same lines.

Some one help me out here. One of the two in it's early form was through bored at the cylinder and would not function without the clips. Later Both manufacture companies bored the cylinders so the they could operate with or without the clips. The were set up to "headspace" at the cartridge mouth.

Your revolver should have a lanyard loop on the bottom of the grip. Look through the chambers in the cylinder and you should see a shoulder to corespond to the case mouth of the .45 ACP. If so you can fire it without the clips but will have to eject the spent cases with a rod of some sort. The clips are available through Midway and Brownells as well as some discount ammo sellers.

I thank you for the reply and the info. There is a loop at the base of the grip and I can see a a raised edge inside the cylinder's chambers. I never saw my grandfather use any type of clip with the gun, but the last time I saw it shot I was quite young and may just not remember very well. Thanks again for your response and also for helping me learn where I can the appropriate ammo.

I just recently came across a web site that said I could use a .45 auto-rim ammo. They said it would solve the problem about not have the half moon clip. I cannot find this ammo anywhere. Any help with this question would also be helpful. Thanks again.

The half mood clips are easier to find than the Auto Rimmed ammo. Check Cheaper Than Dirt or Spotsmans Guide. They handle lots of surplus military stuff and most likley have the clips in stock and cheap.

Remington discontinued .45 Auto Rim about 20 years ago and I think they were the last ones to make it. It's in the 1979 catalogue, but not the 1992 catalogue.

Bye
Jack

The only source for brass for the .45 Auto rim that I know of Starline. I don't know of any major company loading it. The clips are the way to go and most fair sized gunshops have some around. Several companies still make them in both half moon (3 shot) and full moon (6 shot).