identification help please

[patio]

Was told that this is a commercial variant of the M1917. Numbers match including the grips. Finish is a little rough. Should make a good shooter. S/N 17217x. Could anybody tell me what year the revolver was made?

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[murphydog]

It does appear to be a 1917 Commercial, with the small left frame logo.

The ship dates on these are all over the map - the stocks are from the 1920 decade but a letter of authenticity would be the only way to pin down the exact date.

[Muley Gil]

Does it have the stamp "MADE IN U.S.A." on the right side? Does the right grip have the serial number written in pencil on the inside?

[lamarw]

I have two of the commercial versions of the Model of 1917. The top one in the picture is serial # 179459 and the bottom one is serial # 180632. Both of these are believed to of been produced prior to 1926. Your serial number is slightly lower.

The commercial version is far less common than the military version. You may want to read the article at this link: A Look at the U.S. Army .45 Model 1917 Revolver | Gun Digest

Congrats on having a fun and relatively uncommon revolver.

[DWalt]

If it has the S&W logo frame stamp, as yours does, it is a commercial M1917. That stamp began just after WWI (1920-21). I would guess yours probably shipped in 1922-23 based upon its SN, but no accurate way to tell without a letter.

[Muley Gil]

I own a commercial 1917, #180652, that shipped in 1936. It must have been stuck WAAAY back in the S&W safe.

[jmace57]

I have 181608 (getting really close to the S/N block for the first Brazilian shipment). I haven't gotten a ship date on mine, but it has the 1930's style service stocks.

Edit- updated - got an August 1930 ship date from Roy

[patio]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Does it have the stamp "MADE IN U.S.A." on the right side? Does the right grip have the serial number written in pencil on the inside?

No MADE IN USA on the right side. The right grip has the serial number written in pencil.

[patio]

S/N 17368X. This one has a grooved trigger. Is this correct?

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[murphydog]

The lack of the "Made in U.S.A." stamp on the right frame, plus the style of the original stocks, suggests it was produced from between 1920 and '22. This still doesn't give you its official "birthdate", the day it was shipped from the factory.

[lamarw]

Even though I own two of these revolvers, I am far from an expert. I am learning a lot from other Forum members such as Hondo and murphydog.

Both of mine have smooth triggers. I have learned that S&W used up left over components from the Military production of the Model of 1917 in the production of the commercial version. The early one I have has a proof mark on the frame in the yoke area. The other one does not. Yours may also. I do not know whether this will have anything to do with your grooved trigger or not.

[CZU]

This one, sn 174737, shipped on May 11, 1921.