Here is a early 1917 the finish looks like new or re blue don't look like it to me but I am no expert. The grips are commercial someone must have not like the original

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You are most fortunate to have those commercial grips (ca. 1911-19). Especially in that condition. Is there a SN on the back side of the right panel?

If it was re-blued it was very nicely done. The grips are correct for 1917 and look a whole lot better than the smooth military grips. Maybe it's one that just didn't get shipped out for WWI. Who knows. Experts will be along soon. The fact that it has no markings on either side (no made in USA and no S&W logo) would indicate that it was probably made for the WWI military contract. Maybe some General just kept it in his desk drawer.

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Dr. B

It looks to be refinished. The roll mark on barrel isn't real sharp, nor is the serial number on the butt. That is an early one denoted by the concentric grooves on the hammer and the serial number. The stocks aren't original, but they are beauties. Enjoy it. It's really cool to shoot a piece of history.

Very nice. I'm in the camp of original finish. Edges appear sharp, the pins on the left side frame are not polished flat, side plate edges are almost invisible. And the extractor rod tip looks to be still in the raw. I believe the lettering on barrel and grip flat is due to photography/ lighting. As Doc said, if it was reblued it was done very well. And those grips are beautiful! I would love to have one like that!

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Get off my lawn!

I can't say that it appears refinished. But if so it's a good job. The circular hammer grooves were used up to SN ca. 15000. It appears yours has a somewhat earlier SN (6850?), but I cannot make it out. I believe all military shipments were made in 1918.

I am looking at commercial 1917 that has those type of grips, but the folks here tell me the gun looks like a 1920s with 1930s grips.....

Those grips are from the early 1930s. Only the very early grips of that type had the larger diameter silver medallions. Are the grips numbered? The mushroom extractor rod knob was changed around 1928, so the gun is likely to have been made pre-1928. But it could have been shipped much later and with the grip style in use at the time of shipment.

I cannot see any numbers on the inside of grips.The serial number is 6230 finish looks original to me having it in my hands but it must have saw only light service where ever it was

moralem, the OP's 1917 is wearing 19 teen grips. These have recessed gold medallions. Yours are 1930s era with large, flat silver medallions.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I'm no expert and trying to judge "Re-Blue or Not" from pictures is usually tricky for anybody. But around the upper sideplate screw does look a little dished to me. Or is that the lighting?

Make me vote one way or the other just going by the pictures then I say original finish.

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You're shy a few manners.

I think I would have to have it in hand to tell you if it was a re-finish or not for sure, I'm going to go with: factory refinish.

Most of it looks good to me, the rollmarks were fairly light on these 1917s, but they look sharp on yours, my only real question for me is that the side plate is fairly pronounced in your pictures, I'd look real close at the seam there and see if the fit is perfect, or if the edges are a little rounded.

If it is re-blued it was done right, probably by the factory. Are there any date stamps under the grips? You might have a factory stamp there that says it was re-finished right around the time those grips were what they used...which might answer two questions for you.

In any case, very nice gun.

not sure if this means anything but looks like a 1.20 under grips?

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That is why I am just an accumulator I am just not very discerning when it comes to visuals.......I would probably have to see them both up close and feel them to discern a difference.

It went back to the factory January 1920 for something.

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Get off my lawn!

would a factory letter tell you what was worked on

No. It does not provide that level of detail, only gives the shipping date and to where shipped first, plus finish, barrel length and type of grips. You will probably be disappointed in what the letter tells you, as you have already been told most of it.

In the picture below, the upper sideplate screw area doesn't look to be dished at all. The sideplate seam looks perfect as well. So I vote not refinished with a little more confidence.

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You're shy a few manners.

Well having been worked on in 1920 would answer the grips?? maybe Thanks for all the help.

Well I have no opinion on refinish, but I do have an opinion on the gun. Man, that's a nice one. One day I hope to have one like that.

There is no "Made in America" on the right side anymore!

The "Made in U.S.A." stamp didn't appear until mid 1922.

We have two different 1917s shown in this thread.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Here is the image that bothers me. The majority of guns returned to the factory were refinished without charge. Any exterior part required a re-blue anyway, plus the company did not want to send back a worn looking gun.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks Muley Gil - I didn't know that. I learned something today. Just proves you CAN teach an old dog new tricks

D,

I have in my possession a S&W factory letter that states they delivered approx. 25,000 units with the early style concentric grooved hammer to the Government. The Government requested S&W to stop using the grooved hammer in January of 1918.

The letter also states the concentric grooved hammer examples were produced between November 1917 and January 1918.

Also, according to the same letter, approx. 175,000 units were delivered to the Government between 1917 and 1919.

Unfortunately, as with any S&W M1917 factory letter I've yet to review, there is no mention of the exact transition from the early style dished(concave) top plain walnut grips to the non-dished plain walnut grips. I think general consensus on them is around s/n 35,000 or so. Maybe someone has a factory letter detailing such?

The Model 1917 factory letter in which I have referenced is dated Jan 2018. It is signed by Mr. Roy G. Jinks himself.

HTH,
Dale

I have agree with you.....the lettering on the United States Property marking appears to be heavily buffed near the end, and I can't see the GHS inspection mark on the upper left side of the frame. I'm not smart enough to know if it was reblued by the factory or not.