When the U.S. entered World War I, the semiautomatic M1911 Pistol was the standard military sidearm. The Army asked manufacturers to produce revolvers that could fire the .45 ACP ammo used in the M1911. Colt produced the M1917 Revolver based upon their earlier M1909 New Service Revolver. Half-moon clips, patented by Smith & Wesson, were required to hold the rimless .45 ACP ammo securely and eject empty cartridges from the cylinder. The Army persuaded Smith & Wesson to allow Colt and others to use the half-moon clips due to the wartime emergency.
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