Hello everyone. I just picked up a really neat model 1917 or .45 Hand Ejector US Army. I purchased it from the grandson of the WWI veteran who used it. Overall the gun is nice, but does have some loss of blueing on one side near the trigger guard. Also, I can only pull the trigger once before the hammer won't go back anymore, just the cylinder turns.

I'm wondering if Smith & Wesson would be the best to work on this, or if they even will? If not, who would be the best to get something like this mechanically working again? I'm assuming despite the flaws in the finish it shouldn't be re-blued? I think it's a fairly early serial number, 17xxx. I can post some photos if that would help.

Thanks to everyone for the help! Don

Hey Don! Nice first post. Sounds like the cylinder stop is not returning to it's proper position. You might find that if you give it a healthy drink of a light penetrating oil / solvent like WD-40 that it may begin to work again. I bet that your 1917 could stand a good, detailed cleaning. Normally S&W won't work on guns that are 50 years old or more... they no longer have the parts to repair these guns and they don;t want to accept the liability if something breaks. Not to worry, this isn't too complicated a process to get 'under the hood' and degunk the lockwork... oh and yes, you probably shouldn't refinish this gun if it's in any kind of shape at all....

You should find out the proper way to remove the stocks (or "grips") and get some oil into the mechanism.

The main thing to be careful about is to know what you are doing and use the proper gunsmith screwdrivers. It is never a bad idea to turn it over to an expert, but there are a lot of so-called "experts" who don't know any more than you do but are willing to try anyway, sometimes with disasterous results.

Here is a thread that gives a lot of background about the inner workings and step-by-step repairs. It should help you to decide what your comfort level is.

FAQ's

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Welcome to the Forum.

There is a fond spot in my heart for the 1917. My first Smith & Wesson was a well used 1917. It was my first police duty revolver.

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I called S&W today and they referred me to a Mr. Chicoine. They said they didn't work on guns of this age. I think first I will purchase a good quality gunsmith screw driver set and see just how dirty the trigger mechanism is. I restore antique slot machines for a living so I'm quite a home with small mechanical devices. Is there a good book showing the internal workings of this model or early S&W revolvers in general? Once again, thank you! Don

Chicoine is a great name in S&W repairs. You'll find few better.

The S & W "repair Bible": The S&W Revolver: A Shop Manual Book by Jerry Kuhnhausen. You can get it from MidwayUSA among other places - $24.95.

Hoppe's no.10

You can also get a video (probably a DVD by now) by Jerry Kuhnhausen showing basic disassembly and gunsmithing of the S&W revolver. I think Midway has it. It is well worth the money.

Here is something free off YouTube that shows removing the stocks and the sideplate.

SMITH & WESSON MODEL 10 SERVICE REVOLVER PART 1 - YouTube

SMITH & WESSON MODEL 10 PART 2 - YouTube

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