Welcome back to another Wheelgun Wednesday here at TFB! Timing is everything. Two weeks after Ruger pulled the plug on most of its revolver catalog (source), Smith & Wesson went the other way and released a pair of .45-caliber N-frames whose family tree runs straight back to the trenches. Meet the Model 1917 Classic and the Model 22 Classic, both available now. But first, some history. When America entered the First World War, M1911 production couldn’t keep up with a rapidly expanding Army, so Ordnance bought large-frame revolvers from S&W and Colt in .45 ACP, with the half-moon clip giving the extractor something to grab. S&W hung the Model 22 designation on the postwar descendant in 1957. The Model 1917 Classic is the purist’s pick: 5.5-inch barrel, half-moon front blade, fixed rear trench in the topstrap, smooth walnut stocks and a lanyard ring (pictured above). The cylinder takes three-round half-moons and modern full-moon clips, five of which come in the box. It weighs 36.6 ounces, runs 11 inches overall and is .45 ACP only. The Model 22 Classic (above - images are not to scale) is the one I’d drag to the range. The barrel drops to 4 inches, bringing it to 9.38 inches and 34.6 ounces, and a black serrated ramp replaces the half-moon blade. The real story is the cylinder, which runs .45 ACP in moon clips or .45 Colt loaded straight into the chambers. And yes, movie buffs, that 4-inch silhouette should look familiar. Raiders of the Lost Ark used a pair of S&W revolvers, one of them a 1917 in .45 ACP with its barrel cut to 4 inches. Whip not included. Yes, I am aware that Mr. Jones used other brands as well. Beyond barrels and sights, the two are mechanically identical: blued carbon steel N-frame, fluted six-shot cylinder, DA/SA lockwork and a 1:16 right-hand twist. Better still, neither gun has an internal lock, unlike the 2007 Thunder Ranch Model 22 and the Classic-line 22-4 that followed it. Both list at $1,299. For the same money, the Model 22 Classic gives you the shorter barrel, the better front sight and a second cartridge. The 1917 gives you the history. My head says 4-inch. My heart says the 1917 is the one I’d regret skipping. Revolvers are among the most labor-intensive guns to build, so S&W doubling down on blued steel N-frames is a statement worth noticing. Indy’s Raiders gun was a 1917 with the barrel cut to 4 inches. Did S&W just build the Indiana Jones revolver, or is something still missing? More details in the following links, as per your preference:https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-1917-classic https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-22-classic What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.