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04-07-2015, 07:35 PM
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Another 1917 Thread --Question -- See Post 42
Let me get this out of the way right now. This gun is awesome!
It finally arrived yesterday after a slight delay caused by the post office. I cleaned it last night and only had enough time today to fire 3 full moon clips through it. Not knowing how this old gal was going to shoot I was astounded that my first shot was dead on target. Have I said this gun is awesome?
To be able to hold something in your hands that’s almost one hundred years old and have it perform like it was built yesterday just astounds me. It would be great to know who first pulled the trigger and where and when/if it was carried.
Although I won't name him publicly I'd like to thank the forum member that allowed me to be the next guardian of this fine firearm. Of course there was a small transfer fee involved.
I believe this is one awesome (have I used that word before?) gun I will have lettered but if anyone has any info on SN# 128180 I’d be grateful to hear it.
Thanks for looking and I welcome your comments.
Dan
Last edited by g-dad; 04-10-2015 at 10:05 PM.
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CWH44300, DCWilson, Dennis The B, DRJD, Frank46, Jack Flash, jmace57, Memphis, Muley Gil, quinn, Russell Cottle, StrawHat, trashy, Watchdog |
04-07-2015, 07:42 PM
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Did you shoot standard velocity 230 gr. hardball?
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04-07-2015, 07:42 PM
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I have a slightly lower serial number, built in 1918. It's a really great revolver to shoot.
If you plan to shoot it more than just once in a while, I'd advise that you get a set of Pachmayr grips for it. Those old service stocks are very painful on the hands after a few rounds.
Very nice snag! Enjoy!
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04-07-2015, 07:46 PM
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"Those old service stocks are very painful on the hands after a few rounds."
My thoughts exactly. Was thinking about selling mine, but maybe I'll try some Pachmayrs. I thought I was just getting old.
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04-07-2015, 07:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrrick
Did you shoot standard velocity 230 gr. hardball?
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Yes I did. I'll probably reload for this.
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04-07-2015, 07:49 PM
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I don't know how much I'll shoot it. I have several other 45 revolvers to rotate to. But I'm not going to make a safe queen out of this one!
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04-07-2015, 07:58 PM
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These have become one of my favorites both 1917s and Brazilians. That's a beautiful example. Congratulations.
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04-07-2015, 08:10 PM
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Gents, I have one with a three digit serial number, 2XX. Any idea if it was made during the first week of production? Whenever that might have been? Looks shootable to me. A little worn but the action works fine.
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04-07-2015, 08:12 PM
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Congrats! Glad to see you're shootin' it, too.
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04-07-2015, 08:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russell Cottle
Congrats! Glad to see you're shootin' it, too.
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Being able to shoot it was one of the motivating factors to acquire it. I love to see the non shooters, but I want to pull the trigger and hear it go bang.
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04-07-2015, 08:26 PM
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I have both the Colt and S&W models. They are fun. The Colt is a bit of a beast. The S&W is finished better and more refined. It is cool to shoot a piece of history. Enjoy!
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04-07-2015, 09:08 PM
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Very nice.
I've found 1917's as well as my Brazilian to be unexpectedly accurate.
A couple of years back, a friend and I were shooting from a rest with a M1917 I had, placing clay pigeons on the range berm 60 yards out.
As long as we kept a proper sight picture, were careful with all the fundamentals, we'd bust a bird EVERY time. Plain old 230 ball.
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04-07-2015, 09:15 PM
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I was shooting clays today. Offhand at short distance.. 7 to 10 yards. There's something about a clay disintegrating vs a hole in a paper target!
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04-07-2015, 10:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phatdog
Gents, I have one with a three digit serial number, 2XX. Any idea if it was made during the first week of production? Whenever that might have been? Looks shootable to me. A little worn but the action works fine.
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If I recall, the factory began manufacturing the model 1917 in November of that year and was shipping them by December. I imagine that production speed had to ramp up as experience was gathered, but over 15-16 months the production rate averaged over 10,000 a month. That's an average of 330 or so a day, weekends included. I would think odds are good that any gun numbered under 300 was first week production; maybe some of the people here more experienced in the military contracts could address the question. There are lookup tables on the internet that will tell you the month that particular serial numbers were shipped, but exact details are lacking.
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04-07-2015, 10:31 PM
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This is a good site for looking up serial numbers:
U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture
It gives the manufacture date for s/n 128180 as October, 1918.
It gives the manufacture date for s/n 200 - 299 as December, 1917.
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04-07-2015, 11:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Flash
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Thank you Jack! I knew someone would have a source for this info.
Last edited by g-dad; 10-09-2016 at 12:41 AM.
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04-08-2015, 12:03 AM
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Dan nice example......pretty awesome.
I'll be getting one very soon.
No where near as nice looking though.
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04-08-2015, 12:59 AM
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Paul, you're going to love it!
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04-08-2015, 01:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrrick
"Those old service stocks are very painful on the hands after a few rounds."
My thoughts exactly. Was thinking about selling mine, but maybe I'll try some Pachmayrs. I thought I was just getting old.
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Congrats G-dad. Looks like a nice 1917.
My 1917 is a little earlier, in the 83k serial number range. I agree on the service stocks. I'm more used to S&W targets so I found a set of target stocks in the clearance bin at a LGS that were marked as Sile stocks for $10. I cut the bottoms to accommodate the loop. My 1917 is now much easier to shoot and recoil is much more manageable.
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04-08-2015, 02:03 AM
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I'll try the service stocks for a while and see they do. Having shot only 18 rds. I can honestly say I can't tell you what the service stocks felt like.
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04-08-2015, 07:21 AM
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Not trying to cheat Roy or S&W out of any $$$ but I think that 1917's don't letter with too much detailed information. Since they were made for the war, I think that they all shipped to the same location. After the war, the commercial guns may show which distributor they went to but that's about it. You will most likely not get back a letter saying it shipped to Sgt. York.
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04-08-2015, 07:23 AM
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Very nice! They do shoot, don't they!
A lot of guys getting into bullseye competition in the post war years used a 1917 as their "starter" gun for the 45 stage.
If you reload, you may want to consider using a cast bullet instead of FMJ....
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04-08-2015, 07:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6string
Very nice! They do shoot, don't they!
A lot of guys getting into bullseye competition in the post war years used a 1917 as their "starter" gun for the 45 stage.
If you reload, you may want to consider using a cast bullet instead of FMJ....
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Yes they can! I've had the best result using 231 and a Berry's plated 230 RN in an auto-rim case. In my 1917, the 83k SN mentioned above, I can get a couple/three touching at 15 yards with the other three not far off. The next most accurate is ACP hardball. Lead round nose ACP loads seem to shoot patterns.
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04-08-2015, 10:07 AM
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I thought if I mentioned reloading I'd get some suggestions. Thanks guys!
JSR III - Thanks for the heads up on the letter. I didn't know if there was a different type of letter for military vs civilian guns.
So you think chances are slim Sgt York didn't carry this gun? Kind of deflating.
Last edited by g-dad; 04-08-2015 at 08:26 PM.
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04-08-2015, 10:23 AM
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The shallow rifling in these tend to not favor lead bullets. 230 ball always seems to do best.
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04-08-2015, 10:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H Richard
The shallow rifling in these tend to not favor lead bullets. 230 ball always seems to do best.
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Thank you H Richard. Was there a reason that these have shallow rifling?
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04-08-2015, 11:54 AM
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Shooting reloads
Quote:
Originally Posted by H Richard
The shallow rifling in these tend to not favor lead bullets. 230 ball always seems to do best.
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I have a 1937 Brazilian (not one of the 1946 scrap barrel guns), and I shoot 200 grain cast RNFP, sized .452" @ 810 fps in it all the time. This approximates the old Schofield load, 230 grain at 830 fps approximates the 45 US load, which was the basis for the 45 ACP weight and velocity. They both work fine and shoot accurately in my revolver.
I carry mine as a woods gun often, and use a lanyard. So to make the gun more comfortable to shoot I installed a Tyler T-Grip. It fills my hand better and avoids "knuckle banging" I've had my 1917 almost 30 years now and shipping of the T-Grips was prompt back then (and is a gamble these days). So if you see a N-Frame size T-grip at a gun show grab it!
Owning a S&W 1917 is an exclusive club, with almost half a million members, Welcome. Ivan
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04-08-2015, 12:09 PM
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Dan,
I have had that gun for MANY years…. I shot it regularly with 4gr. Bullseye and a 200gr.H&G Pb SWC…shot really well…dead center POA.
I found that Kim Ahrends grips were the most comfortable, but I have small hands, and the lanyard ring prevents installation of longer stocks.
Roy indicated the gun was shipped November of 1918.
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04-08-2015, 12:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tjpopkin
Dan,
I have had that gun for MANY years…
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Terry,
Thanks again for transferring guardianship of this wonderful firearm to me. I know that I will enjoy it and care for it as you have!
It's also nice to know what it's diet has been!
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04-08-2015, 12:32 PM
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Ivan, do you have a photo showing the T-grip?
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04-08-2015, 01:06 PM
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I'm fallen in the 20th century, and I can't get up! I haven't the technology to do forum photos. Sorry. Ivan
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04-08-2015, 01:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher
I'm fallen in the 20th century, and I can't get up! I haven't the technology to do forum photos. Sorry. Ivan
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lol, I was at my FFL's place the other day and laid my flip phone on his desk. He looked at it and then me and said "seriously, that's your phone? Let me give you a real phone". I passed.
There is some technology I have avoided also.
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04-08-2015, 09:10 PM
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Great gun, Dan. "Fully Loaded" with a century's worth of history.
And isn't it great to have the insight from all of the S&W Forum members to pass your way.
Congratulations!
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04-08-2015, 09:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g-dad
Thank you H Richard. Was there a reason that these have shallow rifling?
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Well, they were substitute standards, as Colt couldn't build enough 1911s for the expanding Army, Navy and Marine Corps. So, they were designed to use 230 grain full metal jacketed ammo, just like the 1911.
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04-08-2015, 09:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRJD
Great gun, Dan. "Fully Loaded" with a century's worth of history.
And isn't it great to have the insight from all of the S&W Forum members to pass your way.
Congratulations!
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Thank you for the kind words Sir! An you are correct regarding the insight of the forum members. Everyone I have had an opportunity to interact with has been a class act!
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04-09-2015, 03:23 PM
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Quote:
Owning a S&W 1917 is an exclusive club, with almost half a million members, Welcome. Ivan
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Well I own three of them so the club is only 499,997.
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04-09-2015, 07:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JSR III
Well I own three of them so the club is only 499,997.
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3 of them must qualify you for club president or something.
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04-09-2015, 08:20 PM
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I doubt that anywhere near a half million 1917s were made. I think the WWI issue guns totaled about 160,000, plus a few thousand commercials, and even with the two Brazilian orders, you probably aren't talking ove 250,000.
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04-09-2015, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeetr57
I doubt that anywhere near a half million 1917s were made. I think the WWI issue guns totaled about 160,000, plus a few thousand commercials, and even with the two Brazilian orders, you probably aren't talking ove 250,000.
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Yep, I had seen the serial number range in the SCSW end short of 211,000. Then take out all lost or damaged during war etc. there's no telling how many are left. While they are not rare, there's not an over abundance of them.
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04-10-2015, 09:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeetr57
I doubt that anywhere near a half million 1917s were made. I think the WWI issue guns totaled about 160,000, plus a few thousand commercials, and even with the two Brazilian orders, you probably aren't talking ove 250,000.
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Maybe the half million figure is for ALL M1917s (including Colts)? Even then, it still might be a bit high.
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04-10-2015, 09:34 PM
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What I find interesting is that until I got mine I hadn't noticed many. Now I'm seeing them everywhere! I guess having one makes more aware of them.
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04-10-2015, 09:37 PM
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Btw, I meant to ask earlier if anyone had stags on theirs and do you shoot with them or are the for only for show. I was considering this set. What do you think?
http://smith-wessonforum.com/accesso...top-grips.html
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04-11-2015, 07:31 PM
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Any photos of 1917's with stags??
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04-11-2015, 07:37 PM
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They ain't just for show.
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04-11-2015, 07:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy
They ain't just for show.
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They look good. I'm trying to decide which style I like better. Your type or the pair that I asked about in post # 42.
Last edited by g-dad; 04-11-2015 at 07:42 PM.
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04-11-2015, 07:46 PM
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The earlier ones by bigmtnman are of the same configuration as the military "service" grips and have the same limitations as far as dealing with recoil.
The ones I posted are the later style "magna" grips and provide a more solid and more comfortable grip.
Both bigmtnman and Executioner who made the grips I posted are wonderful craftsmen and are both members of this forum. You won't go wrong with products from either one.
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Last edited by Iggy; 04-13-2015 at 03:21 PM.
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04-11-2015, 07:52 PM
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Thanks Iggy, That's the kind of info I was looking for.
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