Saw a nice model 1917 today at the gun show. Stamped U.S. Army, tight lock up, parkerzed, nice piece. He was asking $900.00 said he would take $800.00. I have seen them on the internet from $450.00 to $1500.00. No pictures to send but what would be a fair price with this limited info. A like loading and shooting 45 ACP just tired of chasing brass.

Far from being an expert, but the parkerzed finish might be a WWII arsenal refinish. $800.00 might be a fair price but not to me.

My impression is a mechanically sound 1917, possibly with an arsenal refinish but with original numbered parts may be in the $650-700 range. Expensive ones would have original finish and stocks, etc. Good luck in your decision.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Were all U.S. issued 1917's parkerized ? Does this make them more or less desirable.

None of the original issued 1917's were parkerized; the technology did not reach a point of being practical for large-scale application to firearms until just before WW II, when the Parker Rust Proof Company patented their process.

But there was apparently a reconditioning program for both S&W and Colt 1917's going on; Pate has a Springfield chart going from 1920 to 1945, and in later years he says this included refinishing (parkerizing). S&W got rebuild contracts for 25,000 guns in 1945 and 28,000 in 1949, and ended up buying 10,795 back from the Army for civilian sales.

So to determine whether your "parkerized" gun has any kind of official finish or is just a commercial/private job would require, if even possible, more research.

PS: The Standard Catalog does not address the arsenal/factory re-work issue on these at all, so I can't say whether an "official" versus a generic re-parkerizing would make much difference in market value.

Unless the gun is in really good condition or I was desperate for a 1917 I'd pass. For 800 you are in the ballpark of a decent condition model 25. The typical 1917 has seen a lot of use. I don't believe they were parkerized at the factory but I could be wrong. Most of the ones I've seen for sale are blued or they were refinished at some point.

I have a 1917 and a 1937 Brazillion and like both of them but paid about $900 for both of them combined last year. I bought them from a friend but he had got them from online auctions in the last couple years and sold them to me at his cost.

If the gun is still available tomorrow afternoon he might be willing to deal. That's assuming the gun show ends Sunday afternoon. Tell him you want to pay $500 but would be willing to go up to $600.

No 1917s were originally parkerized, only rebiulds.

ARSENAL REBUILDs are identifiable:

If there’s an extra large stamped # up to 5 digits (sometimes with an R or S) in the yoke, yoke cut out, under the barrel, or all three places, it’s an arsenal # indicating an arsenal rebuilt gun. The R may be found on the frame left side as well.

Examples: Tryig to identify 1917 Revolver
& Please help identify my 1917 Hand Ejector .45

Arsenal rebuild deflates the price somewhat.
Non-arsenal Parkerizing deflates the price quite a bit.

For $800, one could find a decent example with original blue finish.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks for the help