Here are a couple pics of my Brazilian 1937. Only a couple pits, nearly no finish left, just a cool patina. The crest is worn(holster?) but she locks up tight with a .007 cyl. gap. The bore and chambers are shiney, I replaced the mis-matched stocks with some Thailand magna types. I'm going to try and kill the orange-ish color with some stain. Going to try her out this weekend hopefully. I think I'm going to like this one a lot!

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Original issue S&W grips may fit this gun. There was a time when I would have recommended a refinish but I now think these old revolvers, with signs of wear, should be left alone as to refinish it is to strip the gun of its history.

For now I am going to leave the finish as is. Just some wax to keep the rust away. I'm going to keep my eyes open for a set of 1917 stocks. Maybe a refinish way down the road. It surprises me how good mechanically it still is being its age.

Many of these older guns have been neglected outside but not shot very much. Even the rusty old dogs can be crisp inside once the 100 years of old dried grease and oil have been removed.

You definitely need to find a set of correct stocks as the ones on it now remind me of a pimp at Easter.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Nice old Smith. But please trash those Mardi-Gras grips and get some period correct , appropriately used, stocks

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John

Any S&W that runs 45acp in moon clips is tons for fun. Get a bunch of clips and a handy dany clip tool and have fun.

Got mine from a friend and it is definitely finish-challenged. I use it mainly as a woods gun and fun shooter. Someone parkerized it, and guess I don't really care. Surprisingly accurate for an ol' beater.

Attached Images

M1937 Brazilian.jpg (97.4 KB, 73 views)

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

...or DON'T get a bunch of clips and chamber the rounds individually. Fired cases are easily lifted out and the amount of time saved by not clipping and unclipping rounds will give you more than enough time to whittle your new grips from scratch.

I just bought one that is uglier than any of these (lol) but reportedly sound mechanically. Haven't seen anything but pictures but I got it fore less than I've seen these selling for so I'm pleased enough. Since it's in such sorry shape outside I plan to make it a custom. Chop the barrel to 3.5", put on a front sight that still looks kind of period but that I can see, maybe round butt the frame, and for sure fine bead blast and blue. Looking forward to it.

And the almost knee-jerk objection to Moonclips goes on. They aren' any more trouble than loading hi-cap magazines with a loader and if you load up a dozen Moonclips before you head to the range your shooting time will be so much more fun. I'd rather do that than pluck empties out with my finger nails any day. YMMV!

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Took her out to the range and HOO BOY, do I need to get more range time in! 25 yds. my groups were about Imp. Cyl. 25' were about 2" center to center. The shiny top of the sights made it hard to line up correctly. Going to use some flat black paint to tone it down.
I personally don't see the big deal about using moon clips. I go to the range to relax, not to see how much ammo I can burn up. Truth be told, I probably spend more time BS'ing than shooting. Of course YMMV

A buddy of mine has been telling me the past few years he has one stuck back in a safe somewhere and the other day I sent him a link to this thread. Yesterday he told me to come over to look at it after he dug it out. Looks to be one from the 1946 shipment, just about mint condition. I have never seen one as nice.

Im a fan of the Brazilian's, they are practically non existent where I live. A buddy of mine has one that he cut down to 4" and did a do it yourself job, he didn't butcher it and was the reason I got reacquainted with shooting .45acp in a revolver. I spent some time asking a bunch of questions and one day someone mentioned have a friend that wanted to unload a Brazilian model of 1917 that had been refinished. I spoke up and picked it up for a song. Whoever did the refinish did a very nice job and did the best he could to keep the roll marks intact, partically obscuring the coat of arms but the 1937 is prominent. I shot it and it is responsible for acquiring a number of other .45 acp revolvers and although not the most accurate it is my favorite, even more than my very nice pre-model 25. What I did do was give it to a gunsmith I know and had him cut it down to 4", mill up a Baughman style front sight and then I added a Wondersight to it, a set of diamond center-ed magnas and swivel. Its one of my favorite carry guns today. I also switched over to 45AR and never looked back, not that there is anything wrong with 45ACP I just prefer the ease of operation and the fact that my 1911 buddies can't be bumming my ammo.

My wife told me that she was getting a Brazilian the other day and I thought great another S&W added to the fold.

Turns out that she wasn't getting a gun.

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James Redfield
LM #497