I recently acquired a revolver from my mothers estate. IN another more generic forum here I posts some info asking what I may have. Apparently, it is an early 20th century S&W. This has the patent numbers,"Patented Feb.6.06; Sept.14,09; Dec. 29.14" with Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Mass.USA on top of the 5.5 inch barrel.

On the right side of the barrel it says "S&W D.A. 45"

On the left side of barrel "Smith & Wesson" (all quotation marks are mine and not on weapon.)

On the butt of the grip (which have been replaced with cheap plastic grips) it says " US Army Model 1917 at the other end closest to trigger guard, "C No.136681" obviously the serial number.

The blueing (actually looks black) shows wear on all edges and the revolverbut is not all worn away. No Rust and minor corrosion due to sitting in a trunk for no telling how many years. It looks like it can be cleaned up very easily.

There are two "moon clips" with the gun with what look to be .45 cal, but have "E C 42" on three rounds, "F A 42" on two other rounds and "R A 4" on what looks to be a wad cutter.

My Great uncle passed away around 1959. He drove cattle from Texas to Kansas as a boy and young man, Was a Marine in the Spanish American War and WWI. He became a policeman in Garland, Texas after the war and then in San Antonio a few years later. This weapon may have been a side arm in WWI and possibly his police side arm? Does this sound likely as to the use this weapon serviced?

I have no desire to sell this gun at all , but I would like some sort of idea of value for insurance purposes. And the main reason for posting is to find out as much as I can about this revolver.

I have a couple of very good pictures of this piece, but do not know how to post them here. Help, with that would be appreciated also.
Thank you before hand. I appreciate your expertise.

Welcome to the Forum.

You have a 1917 S&W, chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, using moon clips. .45 Auto Rim cartridges can also be fired in this revolver.

When WWI started, Colt could not produce enough 1911 pistols to arm all of the troops. Colt and Smith & Wesson chambered their large frame revolvers in .45 ACP. The half moon clips were patented by S&W in 1916. Their use enabled a revolver to extract the rimless .45 ACP rounds.

You are correct as to the number located on the butt being the serial number.

Yes, your great uncle could have carried this revolver as a duty weapon. I carried one as a young sheriff's deputy in 1976. 1917s were issued to the US Border Patrol after WW I.

To the best of my knowledge, the Marine Corps, being very small during WW I, only isssued the Colt 1911 semiauto to its members.

You have a fine gun there. Cherish it, as a gun with a family connection is great possession.

As to pictures, I use Photobucket, and then paste the link here in Forum.

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