I saw one for $1,200.00 in a NC pawn shop earlier today. I don't know the older guns, so I did not handle it. I am just curious.

That seems high unless it was in very nice condition.You can get a decent to nice 1917 for that Money.

I paid $400 for mine about a year ago. It's pretty nice but still a shooter to me. The Brazillian guns got hit pretty hard with all the humidity down there. Mine was in the shipment that could have been used in WWII. You don't find a lot of higher grade ones.

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Dr. B

Most of the older military rifles with the corrosive primers plus the moisture it ate the bores up. Check the bore rating.

I agree that it is a really high price. I have bought 3 in the past 18 months, and paid between $400 and $500 for them. They had some dings but were mechanically very nice.

I don't believe that there are any '37 Brazilians worth that. $650-800 for a really nice one maybe. But all of the ones that I have seen had at least some minor corrosion, dings or scratches and less than 70% finish remaining. I bought mine in the late '80s when CAI imported a bunch. I can't remember what I paid but well under $200. I have no desire to sell mine but $1200 might do it.

I guess I dont get the prices on 1917s. You need a half moon clip to shoot them and ammo aint a penny apiece. Dont get me wrong, I appreciate the art of these old guys. But a 28 or 19 with affordable ammo is much more desirable. Did not mean to rain on any parades. I have been accused of being clueless by a few ex-wives. So no harm to my ego.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

$1200 is the going rate...for a pristine 1917 Army, but not a Brazilian (yet). Many of these were worn, refinished (often Parkerized) or with pitted internals, or all three. An average shooting condition example should be in the $400-500 range, and the ones that survived service and the re-importation process (reportedly stacked in barrels!) in decent shape would be higher.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I really like mine and it is worth every bit of the $150 I paid for it back in the late eighties (Navy Arms import). Actually it is the only gun my wife actually likes to shoot. But $1200? I don't think so. Even $400 seems steep as beat up as most Brazilians are. For a "real" 1917, I could see some higher prices, but...
BTW, you don't have to use the moon clips. I do use use full moons for ACP ammo and .45 Auto Rim brass for my reloads. With a light load there isn't much sweeter for plinkin' at the range.

Mike: I found moon clips addictive. I started with a Brazilian... which went to my son... I now have the full range of 45acp moon clip revolvers: 1917, pre 25, pre 26, 25, and 625 (2). 45 is easy to reload and a moon clip revolver loads and unloads as fast as a semi. But, to each their own.

I think $1200 is a mite steep for a Brazilian.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

I only saw the LH side, it looked like it had been reblued to me, there was no marking on the side under the cylinder release latch, there was a lanyard loop, service stocks with a diamond around the screw.

IIRC, the serial number was 188667.

Got an N frame 1917 "Classic" S&W new at Bass Pro in 2008. It is a modern reproduction, made by S&W complete with awful lock flag and MIM parts but it was cheap. It was closeout plus 20 percent discount for opening a Bass Pro credit card account.

In any case it has the look, shoots straight and many rounds later is a good alternative. I see them from time to time used for about what I paid, 500 dollars.

They came in blue, nickel and even "color case hardened" which never existed in the original but looks pretty cool.

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Jim

I did the same about 5 years ago and picked up a case hardened model. It is nice to look at and shoots well to. Think I paid a little over $700 but I just couldn't pass up its looks.

The Scheels near me has one in good condition for a 1937 and they're asking $895. I figured that was the very top end of the market given that they are always typically high retail price on just about everything.

Many of the Brazilians have seen hard useage and most have been
refinished and have mixed parts and some pitting. $1200 seems about
right for three of them in the condition most are seen. I have one I
bought on an auction site about ten years ago for just under $300 but
that was then not now. It is in better shape than just about every one
I have ever seen. The finish is original and numbers match. A desirable
gun to own and it's sad that most are in fair condition at best.
Poor pic with the flash but it's the only one I have.

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I have owned a number of 1917's over the years, and have two now, a nice issue model, and an early commercial version, but I have never owned a 1937 Brazilian. I might buy one today if I could find a good one from the first contract, cheap. Those should all have a hammer block safety and better sights than the ones I have.

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Tom
1560

May I please ask what Ammo You shoot for .01/ea? If You don't reload .45ACP and .38spl are pretty close in cost,Factory .357's are more than .45ACP's.

I picked up a re-blued Brazilian a couple of months ago for $350, I had a pair of dark square butt target grips hanging around and threw them on it and promptly started shooting it. I fell in love with the dang thing and am reloading and shooting it at least once a week under the guise of improving my single shot blackpowder target shooting. I don't know how .45ACP revolvers just flat slipped by me over all these years, I've been all around them with .44's, 38/357's, 9mm, 1911's in 9mm and .45ACP...its just wierd that I never got introduced or had any curiosity to try them out because of the moon clip thing or whatever. Moon clips are sorta like reloading a cap and ball revolver, it just takes a little extra time. I made a de-mooner out of some copper tubing, it holds six cartridges and is easy to operate. Reloading these old pistols is easy, 4.3 grns. of Bullseye and roll your own 200 grn. semi wad cutters. This pistol makes a guy like me that has never been a "pistolero" look good, I've never shot better with any other pistol I have owned.
If you keep your eyes peeled on the well-known sites you will often see decent looking Brazilian models going for around 5-600 bucks. I've had my eye on a few "commercial" Brazilian models that supposidly never made it to the Brazilian military or weren't brought back into the country by an importer, they run a little higher in price and for all intent and purpose should be a very good shooting pistol. You do need to find one that has not been around all that corrosive climate and poor treatment. Mine was refinished and had quite a bit of metal removed in order to get the pits out, MADE IN USA is still very visible as well as the lower part of the Brazilian crest with 1937. The lock-up is quite tight, barrel is decent and internals in great shape.
A friend of mine that is a Brazilian fan as a shooter claims that the Brazilian pistols are stronger than the WWI issue models, I have not found any truth to the matter but it makes a good story. I just ordered a Wonder-Sight for mine to help me adjust my point of aim a little better than the hold low and to the right method. Its started a whole new interest in revolver shooting for me, now all I need is a really nice quality Model of 1955 for a sweet double action pull.

A Brazilian revolver? I have not priced a Taurus or Rossi lately, but I have never seen one for $1,200.00.

If you mean the Brazilian contract of 1937 S&W revolvers, it has been so lomg since I have seen one offered by any of the importers, I could not guess. It probably depends in large part on condition.

I never couild see the pricing difference between the 1917 and the Brazilian 1937/1946 models. Yes the 1917 had a finer finish, but of equal condition, the 1917 seems to price out nearly double the Brazilian. Granted most of the Brazilians were treated hard, I've heard stores of then being tossed into a barrel loose to be shipped back to the U.S. Most do have a fair amount of dings. But, if a Brazilian is worth $1200 a comparable 1917 might be worth $2000+?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Almost anybody could get a Brazilian at good price three or four years ago, but prices have climbed since early 2012. Still, $1200 is about twice the price an ordinary Brazilian should bring, and it's 50 percent high for one in top condition.

This from a guy who has been known to overvalue firearms from time to time, so feel free to adjust for (1) the California market, and (2) the makes-my-heart-beat-fast effect.

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David Wilson

Well, you can take more than one moon clip at a time to the range. And yes, it takes a while to load them, but it can be done in advance.

I like third-moon clips because the clipped ammo fits conveniently in a 50 round box.

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You're shy a few manners.

I prefer Auto Rim brass for cast bullet handloads. With AR brass the
.45 acp revolver is just like any other caliber revolver.

I believe it was in the eighties I bought my Brazilian '17. The dealer was a quite substantial importer himself and had licenses for automatic weapons under a different hat. I had the privilege of picking through a wooden crate of perhaps common book box size full of these guns. All loose in the box! Most in quite decent shape save the bright metal nicks and stocks which looked strangely more worn and oil darkened. I don't know whether this is how they were shipped from S America. I don't believe he was the importer, but this was as received by him. I just took a 'pick of the litter' and believe I paid something just over a hundred dollars. Really don't recall now. I do know that they never reached the sales floor in such a box!
For whatever this commentary is worth and...
My take

Is it a Taurus ?

I bought one of those in the '80s as well. On close inspection, the sideplate seemed to be ill-fitting. Removing it revealed that someone had jammed a handful of dirty grease into the works. After a thorough cleaning, the sideplate fit perfectly. Unfortunately, there was a lot of pitting, especially under the stocks. Maybe they should have applied grease there too!

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You're shy a few manners.

What, nobody yet? A BRAZILIAN DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, and don't forget to tip your waitress!

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Even older, even crankier....

This one sold today at a proxybid auction for $280 plus a 15% commission. They claim very good condition, with the (usual) dings and dents you usually see on these. A good price in my opinion.

https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDeta...566&rfpb=0#Top

I was a 'back pocket FFL' holder back in the mid-80's. So well recall the never-ending stream of 'Shotgun News' and several ads from wholesalers/importers with ads for 1937 S&W Brazilians. It almost seemed they couldn't give them away. IIRC, $150 was the average price.

If I'd only known............

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I like my Brazil model. It shoots where you aim and has a nice trigger.
The Revolver is not heavy and it could make a good carry gun. Clips are fast on the reload.Not a collector piece but a work horse!

Picked this shooter up at a local "little town" gun show for $325 this spring. The grips are Grasshorn's from my grip stash. All numbers match, only issue is the purple cylinder and ejector rod. Bore is 99% as well as the chambers. Shoots like a S&W we are all use to " smooth as home made butter". It sits on my night table with a couple of extra moon clips in case the bad guys get past my two German Shepherds who sleep outside the BR door.

I like that, delta-419. I do not know enough about the older guns to give an adequate description of one, much less make a purchase.

I've been shooting a S&W Brazilian .45 ACP revolver for two decades and have never used any sort of clip. Apparently I am doing it wrong.

In my area, NW South Carolina specifically; I haven't seen a halfway decent .45 Smith or Colt revolver for less than $550.00 in years. They just don't exist, reblue or not. I guess the classic big bore revolver gods don't like us.

Mine was an odd one, made in 1918 but unsold, and sent as a Brazilian Contract gun in '37...Nice action, but sold...IIRC $1200 would have bought 3 of them with money left for a bunch ammo.

I had been wanting a Brazilian to fill a hole in my collection. Finally found one on GB for $500 and it has turned out to be one of my favorite shooters. I was fine with the price and love the large medallion service grips. All markings are crisp and clear with a fine Brazilian crest. Patent marked hammer and trigger. But I too think that $1200 is too much.

Roger

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Eph 2:8-9

Sounds way too high to me. I never mess with clips in my .45 ACP revolvers. They just seem a hassle to me. I don't have any trouble pulling the hulls out with my fingers. I don't use them for SD.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Me I will stay with my Smith 25-2

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