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Got rained out at work for a while this a.m. so I figured I'd go rummage around in the pistol vault at my buddy's pawn shop to kill a little time. Found a fairly descent S&W M1917, something I've been after for ages. No U.S. markings. Figured it to be a post WWI commercial but after a bit of research it seems to have all the ear marks of a Brazilian Contract M1937 although the crest appears to have been ground off the side plate. Serial number is 199772. What do the experts think?
i do not know much about s&w but that looks like a nice pistol an if price is right why not buy it.
I did. For $300 I couldn't turn it down. Unaltered 1917's don't turn up very often around here, most I see are badly done snubbies or nickel plated pimp guns with fake pearl grips.Quote:
Originally Posted by mmppres
Probably exactly what you say it is. I believe there were two separate contracts. I had one myself but it was so worn and haggard, it wouldn't DA unless very gently. Since I can't get replacement p-arts in Canada, and since all the parts I could see were in about the same shape, I sold it and bought a new 625. Too bad, we'd seen them here for years and they were about new. All gone now. That one looks OK, if it operates well enough and the price is to your liking, why not?
well for that price i would have got it too. now its got a good home enjoy it
these are collectible varient of the S&W M1917 made under contract and very nice revolvers , i do not have one [i do have the S&W M1917] because i have not found the right one yet
Both the Colt and S&W 1917s are some of the finest shooting revolvers ever made. Although I prefer the looks of the Smith, the Colt handles better.
Cleaned it up a bit today and put a few rounds through it. Seems to shoot to POA elevation wise at 25yds with 230 ball.
It's definitely a Brazilian contract piece, the s/n puts it in the second batch delivered in 1938. Assembly numbers on the frame and yoke match as do the serial numbers on frame/cylinder. Barrel # is a mismatch, probably replaced during a rebuild. The finish difference can be seen in the photos. Bore and chambers are bright and shiny, rifling is sharp. Mechanically it's about as close to perfect as it can get.
Only thing I don't like are the grips. They're quite thin compared to the Magna's on my Model 10. May hunt up a set for the 1917 and see how it handles with them. And a holster too.
glad you are using the old girl no use letting it sit in safe looking pretty
One thing you can do is look for WW1 acceptance stamps on the revolver. Many of the 1937 order for Brazil was made with left over WW1 parts many of which had the eagle head stamp on them. Frame, barrel, yoke and cylinder should have the stamp. Now the contract was done in two different times starting in 1937 and finishing up about 1946.