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The story of the 1917 revolvers is well-known but must be told again. Considering the material shortages across the nation as we entered World War I, it is a surprise Krag rifles were not sent to Europe! The Springfield was in short supply but a production line in full swing, supporting the British, supplied the Enfield 1917. In like fashion, Colt and Smith and Wesson production lines were producing large-frame .455 caliber revolvers for the British. Production of these handguns, which were based on the Colt New Service and S&W New Century respectively, was diverted to the US Army. The Army did not wish to use .455 caliber revolvers; neither did they wish to use the .45 Colt cartridge. The .45 Colt is designed for button-ejecting single action revolvers and does not translate as well to double action star-ejecting revolvers. The big .45’s case rim has a tendency to hang under the ejector star. Most of all the Army did not wish to have two handgun cartridges in the inventory, anyway. A solution was developed to allow the revolvers to chamber the .45 ACP cartridge.