S&W Mod 1917 (?) 455 cal

[tallyho]

Howdy folks,
I'm new to this particular forum, though I have been on GB for a couple of years, mostly hanging out on the NEF single shot forum.

I am about to come into posession of a S&W model 1917 in 455 Webley that my dad asked if I wanted... I am not one to turn down a free shootin' iron so I said yes.

I haven't seen this gun for years and don't remember much about it. One thing I seemed to remember however, is that the ammo for it was expensive and rare. (I found him a box of  Fiocchi about 5 yrs ago for $40 and thought it a bit steep.)

Anyway, I 'googled' 455 webly ammo and found that it is not quite as rare as I thought, and it is still in the $40 range.

But I also seem to remember (hope?) that it shot another cartridge - a 45 cal US cartridge - or was it able to shoot 45ACP with half moon clips...?

Any info you could supply about this gun and its ammo, or a website I could connect with would be greatly appreciated.

My dad hasn't shot it in years, and I intend to change that! He takes good care of his toys, so I don't expect it will be in rough condition, and I plan on shooting it for fun.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Kerry

[wiley]

in 455 were sold to the Brits and Canadians. It's rare to get one in the original 455 caliber, as many were converted to 45 Long Colt. The 1917 that you're thinking of was US issue and used the 45acp with half moon clips; it's not interchangable. All of these date from WWI and are quite a prize!

[Mikey]

tallyho - check some of the distributors and ammo makers that sponsor the Graybeard forum and you should find some for less.  In addition, some firms like Starline may make the 455 Webley case and reloading is sure a heck of a lot cheaper than trying to find 455 Webley ammo.  

As for this 1917 Smith - please leave it in its original caliber - it's a much better find.  And you don't want to try hot-rodding an old warhorse like that - shoot it with what it was chambered for and it will do just fine.  After all, the 455 Webley served the Brits in close combat for many years and through a couple of world wars and who knows how many incursions into hostile territory and never failed them, sooooooooooooo there ya go.  HTH.   Mikey.

[tallyho]

Hey Mikey,
Thanks for your posting.

Truth is I don't really want to change anything anyway. I just thought I remembered some other possibilities as far as ammo. I have no desire to put a strain on the old dear, I just want to be able to shoot her for fun.

I am planning to handload for it, and have found some dies and components.

I and agree with what you say about the Brits and their Webleys... in fact I read that in the famous Thompson/LaGarde handgun stopping tests, the 455 Webley was rated superior the 45ACP.

My dad also has a 455 Webley that his great uncle carried in the 'Great War' (WW1 - the one to end all wars!) Dad's not shooting too much these days, and he's more emotionally attached to the Webley than the Smith, so I get the Smith... but I'll probably be bringing the Webley home some day too.

Kerry

[Mikey]

Yo Tallyho - interesting note about the 455 Webley.  Yes, it was rated as more efficient than the 45 acp but that was because both the 455 webley and the British 38-200 were loaded with soft lead slugs.  The acp was jacketed.  The Brits either found or felt the 38-200 to be as combat effective as their 455 Webley but again, that was due to the soft lead bullet being used at the time.  In fact, the 3rd reich complained about the 'non-healing' wounds created by the 38-200 so the Brits, being the courteous folk they are, dropped the bullet weight to 177 grains and by doing so turned the former 38-200 into a pretty ineffective cartridge.  Mikey.

[S.S.]

I have one also that is a .455 Webley.
Mine will shoot either the .455 Webley or the .45 auto-Rim.
It was nickel plated sometime in the past so the collector value is not really there on it. I am about to have it customized for a carry weapon.
I am going to have a 2 inch barrel installed, make it a round-butt
and have a bobbed hammer installed. As I have lots of brass,
I am going to use the .455 Webley ammo in it. Should make a pretty
nice "Pocket Howitzer"