1917 identification assistance

[Physher007]

I have a 1917 that appears to be a military issue, 1917 manufacture due to the GHS inspection stamp. However, it doesn't say "United States Property" under the barrel. Does that make sense to anyone?

The serial is 34527 which matches the barrel. Some of the other one I've seen from this year had indents in the grip and either it doesn't have the concentric circle hammer or they were ground off, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

Any help with identification and/or valuation would also be greatly appreciated!

[murphydog]

Welcome! If the barrel is original to the gun (probable, given the matching serial number) someone probably ground the property stamp off the barrel. Less likely is a numbered replacement barrel from the factory. Photos would help to confirm this.

The milled hammer sides and flat sided upper stocks went away prior to SN 34527.

[s&wchad]

Good photos may help.

Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures

[Physher007]

I was only able to get two to load but have included a link to an album, hopefully that is alright

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

[murphydog]

The "S & W D.A. .45" stamping on the right barrel is typical for later guns, specifically the Brazilian contract guns from 1937 and after WW II. Do you see a three or four digit code on the left lower grip frame with the stocks removed? This may indicate a factory barrel swap as mentioned above.

[sodacan]

Maybe the Stamp was omitted by mistake during production. It doesn't look like it was removed and refinished. The stocks do look like replacements. Cool gun and a really fun shooter.

[Physher007]

There is, what appears to be, "37" stamped on the left side of the grip near the stud

[murphydog]

Thanks for the extra photo. It is more likely a fitter or inspector stamp. No other numbers on the forward part (just out to the left of your photo)?

A photo of the barrel number would help here too.

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Originally Posted by Physher007

There is, what appears to be, "37" stamped on the left side of the grip near the stud

I believe that is an inspector's mark. Can you post a picture of the right side?

[Gene L]

It's got the flaming bomb up near the hammer. My source date is 1918. Almost certainly had the U.S. property mark buffed off. (edit) If you look closely at the underside of the barrel. you can see the buffing marks. Not likely to have been mistakenly left off, that would make it unique in that it passed inspection.

[Physher007]

Barrel flat with matching serial. There are no other markings on either side of the grip

[Physher007]

The flaming bomb is actually the stamp for Gilbert H. Stewart

[murphydog]

It looks to be a factory numbered barrel. Again, with the right side barrel stamping my guess is it was replaced by the factory; an original 1917 Army barrel would lack this. They would not have necessarily stamped it separately as a repaired gun.

[JH1951]

I am thinking that the barrel may have been replaced on this one.
Reasoning: 1) "S&W D. A. 45" marked on the right side of the barrel - I have not seen that on US Govt. issued 1917's - 2) lack of Govt. inspector mark on the barrel flat - 3) Lack of "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the bottom of the barrel (with no obvious signs of removal).
I think murphydog is correct in that the barrel looks more like it is from the Brazilizn Contract era. Perhaps it was replaced between the wars when those barrels were being used for production?
I have an odd feeling about the barrel flat serial number font, too. Just seems to me to be a replacement - (I also suspect a reblue, more and better pictures will help determine that - so perhaps the barrel was replaced when that was done.)

Here's a few pictures of a 1917 barrel I have.....

Right
1917 S&W13.jpg

Top
1917 S&W14.jpg

Bottom
1917 S&W17aa.jpg

Flat
1917 S&W26.jpg

[Physher007]

This makes a lot of sense. I was suspecting reblue as well, really appreciate the pictures!

Thanks jh1951 and murphydog, I think you nailed it with the rebarrel.

[handejector]

Originally Posted by murphydog

Thanks for the extra photo. It is more likely a fitter or inspector stamp. No other numbers on the forward part (just out to the left of your photo)?

A photo of the barrel number would help here too.

Like murph said, show us the left side of the grip frame to the left of the pin- at the toe. There might be a date there. Might be some marks at the rear corner also, so show the whole left gripframe at the bottom.
The barrel is replaced, probably by the Factory.
The gun is reblued.
The grips are repros.

[murdock23]

From what I've seen, WWI barrels have 1909 as the last patent date. Post war barrels have 1914, it looks like yours has 14 as the last date and that would make it a nice 1917 made from NOS after the war.