Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

111 страница из 495

Procuring revolvers to supplement the semiauto pistols seemed a reasonable solution to the handgun deficit. However, the Army’s requirement that revolvers submitted for testing use the same rimless .45 ACP ammunition as the Model 1911 posed an engineering challenge. Smith & Wesson had been working on a Hand Ejector capable of firing the .45 ACP round and submitted samples to the Army for evaluation. The problem of extracting the rimless cartridges from a revolver cylinder was solved by means of a three-round “half-moon” clip, the design of which has been credited to Smith & Wesson President Joseph Wesson.

Following tests conducted in early June of 1917, the Army found Smith &Wesson’s submission to be satisfactory for military use. The company was initially awarded a contract for 100,000 model 1917s, but according to Army records, Smith & Wesson ultimately delivered 163,634 of the revolvers to the U.S. Government between 1917 and 1919.

Utilizing the half-moon clips developed by Smith & Wesson, Colt Firearms adapted their New Service revolver to fire the .45 ACP round as well. After testing, it too was deemed an acceptable alternative to the Model 1911 pistol, and Colt was also awarded a Government contract. Like Smith & Wesson’s Hand Ejector, Colt’s New Service revolver was labeled the Model 1917. While there is some difference of opinion among firearms historians regarding the exact total, At least 154,802 Colt Model 1917 revolvers were delivered to the U.S. Government during the course of World War I.