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FRANKFORD ARSENAL .45 cal ACP AMMUNITION PACKET –
SPECIAL PACKAGING FOR THE MODEL 1917 COLT AND SMITH &
WESSON REVOLVERS WITH THE HALF MOON CLIPS – FULL
UNOPENED PACKETS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
Frankford Arsenal manufactured packets of “20 Cartridges
Pistol Ball, Caliber .45 M1911”, especially packaged
with the steel “half moon” three round clips for use
with the Model 1917 Colt and Smith & Wesson Revolvers
during, and after, World War One.
In order to meet the demands for handguns during the
war, the army contracted with Colt and Smith & Wesson to
produce their large frame double action revolvers which
became known as the Model 1917 Pistols. The primary
requirement of these contracts was that the pistols were
to be chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge in order to
simplify the supply of ammunition in the field.
However, the extractors on those pistols were not
designed to eject a rimless cartridge such as the .45
ACP, so the “half moon” steel clips, each designed to
hold three cartridges, were developed and issued with
these specially made packets of cartridges. The top
panel of each packet is labeled, “THIS PACKAGE CONTAINS
7 REVOLVER CLIPS”, providing the information necessary
to route these packets to a soldier armed with the Model
1917 Pistols.
These packets are sealed, with both end pull tapes
intact overall clear, legible labels, and complete with
all 20 original cartridges. These were found with an
identical packet, bearing the same lot number
information on the label, but that packet was open. The
cartridges are head stamped “F A 23”, indicating they
were produced in 1923, after World War One, but still
correct to display with a war production Colt or Smith &
Wesson Model 1917 Pistol. These packets show some minor
handling and storage wear, but the labels are present,
full form and legible with minor wear around the edges
and as a display item, the packets are very presentable.
These packets specifically prepared to be issued with
the Model 1917 Pistols are quite scarce and they survive
in very limited numbers, so this is an opportunity that
should not be missed to add to your World War One pistol
collection. I have a very few of these packets and will
send the best of those available. (0304) $150
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