I have my eye on a nice model 1917. All numbers match, including the inside of the right grip. All the markings a crisp, and it does not appear to be refinished. But the grips it has are these;



not the correct smooth ones. Is this possible for an army gun? The serial number is 1369XX so I think that makes it pretty late production. Thoughts?

Thanks

Howard

If it's a true wartime 1917, the grips would be smooth. But there were also civilian 1917s made up from wartime-manufactured frames, and yours is probably one of them. And the civilian checkered grips are far preferable and fairly valuable all by themselves.

I should have said that it is also marked US Property on the bottom of the barrel and US Army Model 1917 on the butt, with an ordnance bomb on the upper right left of the frame and an eagle head on the left rear trigger guard. Only a letter would show for certain, but I would think all those markings would indicate it was not civilian.

Does it have
Made In The U.S.A. on the right side of the frame ?
I believe that is indicative of the civilian

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

There do not appear to be any markings on the right side of the frame.

"All numbers match, including the inside of the right grip."

Is that number stamped inside of the grip or written in pencil?

I wonder if this revolver was sent back to the factory post WW I and then fitted with civilian grips? Are there any factory rework marked under the grips, stamped on the gripframe? A marking like 8.19 would indicated it went back to S&W in August 191.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Pencil.They didn't mention any date stamp, but I can ask. I thought about that, but shouldn't it have a * next to the serial number if it went back?

Sometimes. Not always.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

In the "History of S&W" it states only that the (supposedly leftover and undelivered) 1917s were sold on the commercial market from after the war until 1921. It does not elaborate on how they were marked. The fact that yours does not have the "Made in USA" frame stamp, and the SN, indicates that it was probably one of the 1917s which was not shipped to the Government, or was made up from wartime-manufactured parts. The grips are of the type that would have been used on civilian N-frame revolvers prior to 1920.

Thanks all. I am probably going to pass on it.

It's clearly not a Commercial 1917 with the US markings.

“The factory added the 1917 as a cataloged model in Catalog D-2 which was issued in Jan, 1921. Same basic gun as a 1917 Army.
No Army or US Property marks. Butt Swivel. 5-1/2" in cal 45 ACP, but the barrel reads "S.&W. D.A. 45". Bright Blue. S&W logo on left side.
Checkered non-medallion grips during the 1920s.”
Lee Jarrett

That's not to say there were none sold into the commercial market before that; there are 'no rules' that apply.
Military 1917s are in the range #1 thru # 169959 and were completed in 1918. Not all numbers were used as usual. Unused serial numbered frames preceding and following #169959 were assembled thru # 209791 in 1946.

Some were assembled into commercial model 1917s with very varied shipping dates, 2nd Model 44 Hand Ejectors, and military 1917s to fill contracts for the Brazilian government in 1936 and 1946.

Who knows what the final bid will be, but those grips alone are worth the better part of the $400 current bid. If the penciled number on the right side grip matching the gun is easy to read, there's a good chance someone added it.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

The grips are not correct for the gun.
IF truly numbered to it, there is mischief afoot....

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Even so, I would much prefer having the grips on it to those of the military style.

I was at a gun show today in Lebanon, Pa and during my wondering I saw a 1917 for sale in a case. Looked at it and it had grips on it, just like the gun that you are looking at. I said to my Buddy those grips don't look right. It also had the lanyard ring too. Next to the gun was a framed letter with a lot of typing on it. I am sorry that I didn't read it because it was surely an explanation letter, it could even have been a factory letter. Don't be too quick to dismiss buying it, especially if the price is right. A set of smooth orig grips are available and not expensive. My 1917 came with stag grips and I got orig grips for it.

Agreed, I would as well!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

If the price is reasonable, I would buy it. I bought a nice 1917 a couple of years ago for under $700 and it had post-war magnas on it! I picked up a set of correct smooth service stocks from a Forum member for $135, and now I have a great piece of history that is still sweet to shoot. In your case, if you like you could sell those stocks and pick up a pair of nice correct ones and be money ahead.

It is only a week away. I'll probably change my mind 3 or 4 times between now and then

Produced in November, 1918. As we all know, that was the month/year WWI ended.

I don't have statistics on this (would love to hear if anyone has) but my understanding is that after the war many military M1917 revolvers were sold as surplus on the civilian market. After all, the M1911 was the standard armed services sidearm.

Thus, it would not be surprising if the revolver in question has never been out of the US, and may never have fired a shot in anger, as they say.

I can't comment of the authenticity of the stocks but if the price is right on 1369xx, I would be a buyer.

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You're shy a few manners.