History of WWI Primer 104: S&W 1917 Documentary
The S&W Model 1917 revolver served as a crucial US emergency sidearm in WWI, chambered in .45 ACP and utilizing innovative half-moon clips for reliable ejection of rimless cartridges. Despite production challenges including labor disputes and nationalization, over 163,000 units were produced, seeing service through WWII and export. The S&W 1917 is often compared favorably to its Colt counterpart for ergonomics, though Colt was easier to refurbish.









