First and for most, this is not an add, I am not selling this.

An acquaintance has an original military issued 1917, it was issued to an officer in ww1. He also has the original belt and holster. The revolver is in very good condition. No rust, no pitting, just some very light bluing wear on the barrel and cylinder. The original owner was stateside throughout the war ..... which is why I believe the gun and the accessories are in such good condition. The acquaintance worked for the original owner in the 1950's and purchased it then, and has had it in his collection since. I have been offered the opportunity to purchase it but neither of us know a fair value.... I don't want to rip him off but I don't want to overspend either

....can anyone advise what a reasonable offer would be?

Once again, I'm not selling, I'm only asking for advice so as to make an educated offer to add to my collection. Thanks for your help, John

I would estimate the usual nice condition with accoutrements, around $1200. Early S&W with early grips (scalloped) or groved hammer perhaps a little more. Exceptional condition maybe $1500. Refinished, rubber grips, added sights, etc, price drops like a rock to "shooter grade" around $400. YMMV

You can search GB "sold" items and get some pictures with prices to compare.

From your description, $1000 sounds about right. Pics and a serial number would really help and giving a more accurate price estimation. If the gentleman is an old friend and the gun is staying with you, slide the old guy some cash, he may need it. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I haven't bought one recently, but for the described "package" I would guesstimate the floor would be $1,500. Obviously, if you have time, you can do some research for selling prices on GunBroker and / or other auction sites.

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You're shy a few manners.

Is "floor price" a gun show asking price? I dont know, never heard the term.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Mike, it means bottom price to me. When you get to the floor it's as far down as it goes. My consternation is I'm seeing these 1917's being priced all over the place. It wasn't too long ago that people were buying them in the $500-700 range. Recently, it seems the market has exploded. I can see the added value of an original belt and holster in that $1500 quote if the gun is truly upper 90% condition.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I meant "the bottom of the range", or "rock bottom". That is, the lowest I would expect to see it sell for.

Of course, other people have different opinions and I could be wrong since I haven't been in the market for a while. Exact condition would certainly play a role as well.

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You're shy a few manners.

I bought my S&W 1917 from one of our forum members and I paid $1,500 for it. I resides inside my safe with a Brazilian 1937 I bought from him as well.
Sadly, with my deployment schedule neither have made a trip to the range.

Since I mentioned the 1937 here is a picture of it as well.

Attached Images

	SmithWesson Md 1917 left.jpg (154.6 KB, 71 views)
	Model 1937 Brazilian 002.jpg (221.1 KB, 67 views)

That's one of the nicer Brazilians I have seen.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I am not trying to hijack the thread but since we are talking about values this is the information I got on the 1917.

"I bought it from a gunshop who had purchased an estate sale of guns. Gun was in one family its entire life, issued to a young cavalry officer in the 20's. He preferred a 1911 so kept the gun in cosmoline for most of its life. Son got it years ago and did nothing with it. Gunshop cleaned it of cosmoline and found the gun in near perfect condition.

Now on the 1937
It is a Model 1937 Brazilian contract S&W in 45 ACP. It is a non-import piece. I'll explain: the Brazilian contract was for 25,000 units (same configuration as the 1917 you bought). All 25K have the Brazilian State crest on the right side of the receiver opposite the S&W crest on the left. 14000 were imported into Brazil and stamped with import marks. 11000 were not imported and don't have Brazilian import marks. This gun has no import marks. The condition of this gun is close to the one you bought, about 97%. It has a small scratch on the barrel but otherwise is in superb condition. It was not used much and mechanically it's perfect. The only down side - the grips are not original. The gun's serial number is 2080XX (and all numbers match) which makes it one of the original contract guns and not ones assembled later using WWI parts. Those are easy to spot due to the low serial numbers.

With all the information and photos it was easy to make the decision to buy.

as you desribed it that 1500 to me is closer to reality than some of the lower numbers. They are around, but that was 100years ago. To find a clean one that is still pretty much as issued with the belt/holster combination, it's worth the money. I never thought i would see WWII 19aaA1's priced the way they are today either.
I paid a few bills to get a set of original good condition grips for a WWI colt, and don't regret it at all.
And i have been also offered a couple bills for a set of grips for a brazilian too. prices are not what they were once.

Here she is, I picked her up today. I haven't had time to thoroughly clean and renwax her yet..... but I think the pics show the condition pretty well.
Lock up is very tight, I don't think it's been shot much at all, also learned a little more about the original owner, interesting story. After the first world war he worked as an engineer.... his son became a pilot in the Second World War and was lost in the pacific in 1942, supposedly on a test flight. I'll do more research on the father and son because I'm kinda curious like that.


The belt is in great condition but the leather holster is in serious need of tlc... any tips on how to care for the holster so as to preserve her for the future?

I also picked up a 38 single action(2nd model) from the same gentleman. Overall pretty nice condition, but the cylinder stop spring is broken or missing.

Attached Images

	IMG_4616.jpg (73.4 KB, 54 views)
	IMG_4613.jpg (39.8 KB, 56 views)
	IMG_4614.jpg (41.3 KB, 53 views)
	IMG_4615.jpg (35.9 KB, 49 views)
	IMG_4610.jpg (73.0 KB, 49 views)

It's an exceptionally nice 1917, with the early flat-topped stocks that were seen to about SN 30000.

The holster is a military issue model...for a 1911 . That may explain the lack of holster wear! Blackrock N'Rich is by report a good product to use on it.

A pretty nice .38 SA as well; gunsmiths to work on them are harder to find than the guns themselves. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That one looks like it has the early features, very desirable. I can't tell from the photos, does the hammer have the concentric grooves on the sides?

That's a really great find.

Per this website, (U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture),
that revolver's manufacturing date was March, 1918.

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You're shy a few manners.

Murphydog and jackflash, thanks for the comments. Thank you to everyone for the advice.

Jackflash.... no, unfortunately no grooves on the hammer but it is still a fairly early model and i couldn't be more pleased by the condition for an nearly 100 year old pistol.


Regarding the holster, I suppose someone could have gotten confused over the years or perhaps the guy was issued the wrong holster, I guess the old codger may have even snookered me a little.... but he claims the gun, belt and holster came together from the original guy it was issued to.... says he was working for him in the mid 1950's and they got to talking about guns in general, one thing led to another and he bought the 1917 off of the guy. Says they've been together in his collection since the 1950's.

I have a copy of the original owners obituary as well. Not much info out there but found a little by googling the name. Wish I could actually see his service records but don't know what that would take if even possible.