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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 09-08-2009, 11:52 PM
Dad's S&W Dad's S&W is offline
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Default 1917 Brazilian

Hi, I have a 1917 Brazilian contract, one of three from my dad's collection, with a barrel bulge behind the front site. the barrel has been taken off the frame. I believe my dad was going to replace the barrel at some point when before he past away. Are there any barrel left, and if not what can I do?

Thanks
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Old 09-09-2009, 12:47 AM
john traveler john traveler is offline
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You have three options:

1. Cut off the bulged part of the barrel, recrown, and reinstall the front sight or a replacement. This will involve some skillful silver soldering. This is the least expensive option.

2. Install a surplus M1917 barrel. They are still occasionally found, but will be pricey. Try the usual surplus gun parts sources: Jack First in Rapid City, SD, Gun Parts Corp (formerly Numrich Arms) in NYC, NY.

3. Install a custom-fitted barrel made from a rifled blank, and fit with sights. You could go for a PPC style gun with full-length heavy barrel and sighting rib with integral front and adjustable rear sights. This will be the most expensive option.
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Old 09-09-2009, 05:22 AM
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option 1 will not only be the least expensive, it will also be the most useful.

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Old 09-09-2009, 05:38 AM
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Option 4:
Sell it to me. just kidding.
I agree, option 1 is what I would do.
bubbajoe45, nice revolver. Wanna sell it to me? I've been wanting a chopped and bobbed 1917/1937
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Old 09-09-2009, 08:30 AM
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Having the barrel proffessionally shortened and re-installed is the best option, as all others so far have said. The only question is should you have only the absolute minimum cut off the barrel or should you have it cut to a minimum length? In your shoes, I would have as little as possible removed. That way, the finished product would have a 3.5" to 4.5" barrel, which I would greatly prefer. Other folks will probably tell you 3" or shorter is the way to go. Whatever you decide, you will have a great handgun!

The beauty of this option is that it does not preclude "restoring" the revolver if a proper barrel does fall into your lap, and you have a very useful handgun in the interim.
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Old 09-09-2009, 12:58 PM
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Great advise. I will be going with option 1. I like the chopped and bobed. the other two are in great working order. Once I get it done I will post the finished product.

Thanks again!!!
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Old 09-09-2009, 07:17 PM
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I like your decision & bubbajoe's revolver.
I hope you enjoy your dad's revolvers for a long time.


rayb
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Old 09-09-2009, 09:05 PM
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Default Brazilian M1937

Dad's S&W here is my M1937 Brazilian that I had to crop to 3 inches because of barrel damage. Front sight must be brazed on. The smith that did mine with silver solder and the front sight came off after 16 rounds. How I found the front sight on the range is another story.

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Old 09-09-2009, 10:32 PM
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Thanks guys for the support. I am meeting with a gunsmith (Frank Glenn) in Phoenix tomorrow to start the process.

NavyFrank& BubbaJoe, how well does the pistol shoot with a cropped barrel distance wise?

I will get some pics of my dad's collection soon and post them.
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Old 09-09-2009, 11:47 PM
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Ok, in looking at the 17 again, I found that I need the plunger spring assembly located on the barrel that helps keep the cylinder closed.

Also I found the cylinder will come out of the frame? Does the missing screw located just below the cylinder have anything to do with it?

Sorry with all the questions, but this is cool!!!
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Old 09-10-2009, 12:12 AM
john traveler john traveler is offline
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Yes, the missing screw on the right side below the cylinder is what retains the crane.

A shortened barrel is mechanically as accurate as a full-length barrel. It is (or can be) more challenging to the shooter to hit well.

The missing extractor rod and spring are readily replaced. Keep in mind that the older S&W extractor rods are right-hand threaded.
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Old 09-10-2009, 12:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jack the toad View Post
Option 4:
Sell it to me. just kidding.
I agree, option 1 is what I would do.
bubbajoe45, nice revolver. Wanna sell it to me? I've been wanting a chopped and bobbed 1917/1937
Sorry, I should've mentioned this - it is cowtowncop's gun (old thread). I just copied a picture of it because I was in the same boat. Mine is at a gunsmiths shop being built currently. Same deal as yours and Navy Frank's - had barrel damage. I went with 3 1/2" and the semi-bobbed hammer. Should be finished by October; I'll post pics.
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Old 09-10-2009, 03:04 AM
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Default Chopped Brazilian

Mine shoots as good as a 5 1/2 inch barrel. I had the front sight made a little higher than the norm to cover center of mass at 15 yards or closer for a quick shot. I have no problem working the plate rack at 25 yards with it. I understand the famous lawman "Bat" Masterson had his SAA sighted the same way at the Colt factory. It's a shame Colt or S&W doesn't do that kind of work any more. Frank Jr.
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Old 09-10-2009, 01:45 PM
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Nice picture, NavyFrank.

I wondered how short the barrel could be cut without interfering with or needing to modify the barrel lug / extractor rod. I was too lazy to get my Brazilian out of the safe to measure.

Now I know the answer is about 3".
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Old 09-11-2009, 06:11 PM
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The smith said that the barrel was not from revlover, so he needed to machine the shoulder a little. also when he checked the timing, he notice the cylinder would hang up when cocking the hammer back. He is going take it a part and look a the "hand". Not sure what that means. Should have it back next week.
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Old 09-12-2009, 11:57 AM
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The hand is the part of the internal mechanism responsible for rotating the cylinder. Sometimes, a good cleaning is all that is required to get the internals working smoothly again. Old grease may have hardened inside, or there may be some accumulated crud messing things up in there.

Many Brazilians saw hard use and precious little maintenance, so it's possible that the gunsmith will find corrosion or other damage inside.

I am amazed you could find a gunsmith who can turn this around in a week! Please post pictures of the finished product!
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Old 09-12-2009, 09:48 PM
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Default 1917

I will post pics as soon as I get it back.

Navyfrank, what model hogue grips do you have on your 1917? they look comfortable.
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Old 09-15-2009, 10:43 PM
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I have a 1917 that has no finish left,but is in excellent condition other than that.The old guy that had it for the past seven or eight decades had passed away,and his relatives found ''dad's old service revolver'' out in the garage,wrapped in an oily or kerosene soaked rag.Whatever it was took off the finish,leaving a dull grey patina.this has a four digit even serial number,and is collectible,so no refinishing or bobbing for me,but what you've got is actually sort of liberating.You can take yours wherever you want to go with it.Grips,sights,finish....whatever!
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Old 09-15-2009, 10:58 PM
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Default M1937 Brazilian

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dad's S&W View Post
I will post pics as soon as I get it back.

Navyfrank, what model hogue grips do you have on your 1917? they look comfortable.
They are Hogue Monogrips for squarebutt N frame S&W's.
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  #20  
Old 09-21-2009, 05:47 PM
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Default Range report

Well, I got the 17 back on friday. The Smith did not cut down the barrel like I thought he was going to. He said to shoot in like it is and if the accuracy was bad we would cut the barrel down. I took it out today and the acurracy was great!! small groups at 3 yds, pie plate and 15. So the barrel seems fine with the small bulge in it.

But we have another issue, the time is off, when I shoot the pistol in DA I start to get little shaving. My hands were getting gritty. I was warned by the smith that the hand was worn. So before I took it out, I cleaned the hand and the area around it as best I could (thanks Jackflash).
But other than that I had a great time!

Any sugestions to fix the hand?

Will post pics tonight.
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  #21  
Old 09-21-2009, 10:24 PM
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Default pics of 1917

here are some pics as promised
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  #22  
Old 09-23-2009, 01:08 AM
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Nice Revolver! The finish is in good shape. I'd whatever you can to get it working properly. Either way, enjoy it!
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Old 09-23-2009, 09:26 PM
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Thanks for posting the pictures. The bulge is hardly noticable. Mike Venturino once commented that whenever he encountered a revolver with a bulged barrel, he would test it for accuracy before making any changes. Often, bulged barrel and all, the revolver would be just as accurate as any other. Or so said Mike at any rate.

Before replacing the hand, I would continue to clean and lube the revolver and dry-fire it double action a lot. (Get some snap caps if you think you might damage the firing pin.) It may work out the crud and begin to function better. Even if the gunsmith took off the sideplate and did a thorough cleaning, dry firing still may do some good.

{Anyone else getting the ads at the bottom of the page about picking up a "Brazilian" of a different sort?}
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Last edited by Jack Flash; 09-23-2009 at 09:30 PM.
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  #24  
Old 09-25-2009, 12:22 AM
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Thanks Jack Flash I will continue to work the action by dry firing. I have a few dummy rounds I can use. Will keep you posted.

And no I have not seen any ads for picking up a brazilian of a diffrent sort.
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  #25  
Old 12-08-2013, 01:39 PM
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If you are unfamiliar with the disassembly of a S&W revolver to clean it properly you can always dunk it in a bucket of "Ed's red" for a few hours. (remove the grips first)
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