Won this rusty locked up S&W 1917 snubbie at auction yesterday
- Thread starter Bill_in_fl
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Russell Cottle
Member
If the rifling's any good, I'd leave 'as is', mount a site, and call 'er good!
Jack Flash
Member
I think INA means made in Brazil by Industria Nacional de Armas.
punxsutawneypete
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If the barrel has been shot out or ruined by corrosive ammunition, I'd recommend putting on a 3 1/2 inch underlug barrel like there is on the customized 1917 I just bought. That seems to be a compromise between the original length and a 2" barrel. Mine shoots like a dream and is a nice compact piece of machinery.
OP
Bill_in_fl
Member
Would like to find out this.....
Someone told me that the Brazilian barrels have a slightly different contour than the U.S. barrels. Is that true?
Any issues different with installing a Brazilian barrel different from installing a U.S. barrel? Brazilian threads match up with U.S. frame threads?
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Someone told me that the Brazilian barrels have a slightly different contour than the U.S. barrels. Is that true?
Any issues different with installing a Brazilian barrel different from installing a U.S. barrel? Brazilian threads match up with U.S. frame threads?
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Green Frog
Member
If there is a difference in the contour, you probably won't notice it... I didn't. The Brazilian barrel is threaded the same as the ""US" version and is a direct replacement regardless so it would be just like any other routine S&W barrel swap. BTW, $50 is definitely a "friends and family" price for that barrel. I'd jump on it at that price if I had any idea of rebarreling the gun.
Froggie
shep854
Member
Is the Brazilian barrel thicker?
Jack Flash
Member
Some folks report satisfactory accuracy from their old M1917s, even with a "sewer pipe" barrel. Like so many others have said, I would try to get it up and running as it now is, see how it shoots, then decide what changes (if any) it needs.
Still, it may be smart to hedge your bets by picking up the $50 INA barrel so that you have that option. If you later find you do not need it, some one here will be happy to buy it.
Attaching a functional front sight sure sounds reasonable. Round butting it, replacing the barrel, etc., may be less so.
Still, it may be smart to hedge your bets by picking up the $50 INA barrel so that you have that option. If you later find you do not need it, some one here will be happy to buy it.
Attaching a functional front sight sure sounds reasonable. Round butting it, replacing the barrel, etc., may be less so.
About a brazillianth of an inch...
I rarely consider myself so bold to disagree with Bettis1 but ipsnay on the round-butting, hammer bobbing, and other "hatchet murdering" of this old warrior. That's an N-frame and it deserves better treatment than that! Those configurations are best reserved for the little "ladies' guns." (I- and J-frames 
)
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shep854
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jtcarm
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Hmm, your all giving me ideas for grandpas ol 17.
It has no sentimental and I doubt much, if any, collector value. The bore is pitted from old ammo and finish is even patina.
What's a source for a new barrel? Although I have a pretty good home shop, sounds like barrel replacement is beyond my tool/skill set.
Is it even worth it to have a gunsnith do the job, or just save my pennies for a 625?
It has no sentimental and I doubt much, if any, collector value. The bore is pitted from old ammo and finish is even patina.
What's a source for a new barrel? Although I have a pretty good home shop, sounds like barrel replacement is beyond my tool/skill set.
Is it even worth it to have a gunsnith do the job, or just save my pennies for a 625?
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Green Frog
Member
I rarely consider myself so bold to disagree with Bettis1 but ipsnay on the round-butting, hammer bobbing, and other "hatchet murdering" of this old warrior. That's an N-frame and it deserves better treatment than that! Those configurations are best reserved for the little "ladies' guns." (I- and J-frames
Watch those comments about "ladies' guns" or I'll hit you with my purse!
Those big blasters were made to be tools and if you make your particular example fit your hand and do the job better, then more power to you!. I wouldn't buy a pristine example to perform such surgery, but a well used, already altered specimen is fair game. JMHO, YMMV.
As for barrel dimensions, AFAIK they are identical. I am sure that the threads are the same because I used one of the INA's to replace a bulged barrel on a friend's military 1917. BTW, that one also got a set of post-War (II) adjustable sights added along with custom grips and a nice reblue. It's a TOOL, folks. It just isn't a cute tool like an I-frame!
Froggie
Jack Flash
Member
I'm sure the INA barrels were intended as replacements for damaged Brazilian M1917s. As so often has been reported, the Brazilians subjected their S&Ws to extremely harsh use and little if any cleaning or other maintenance. So it is not difficult to believe that they required replacement barrels. Perhaps they thought they could make them locally for less than S&W was asking for same.
So of course the barrel should have the proper dimensions and especially the proper threads to fit an M1917.
I usually advise against making major mods to any gun. But in this case, you sure can't say you might hurt the collector value! Still, if it was me, I would be careful about putting $700 into a $400 gun. Just sayin'.
So of course the barrel should have the proper dimensions and especially the proper threads to fit an M1917.
I usually advise against making major mods to any gun. But in this case, you sure can't say you might hurt the collector value! Still, if it was me, I would be careful about putting $700 into a $400 gun. Just sayin'.
Bill,
If you're thinking of getting the barrel for originality, frankly I'd rather have the short barrel that's in the gun with Smith & Wesson on it rather than a long barrel with INA on it. Just MHO and preference.
If you're thinking of getting the barrel for originality, frankly I'd rather have the short barrel that's in the gun with Smith & Wesson on it rather than a long barrel with INA on it. Just MHO and preference.
Green Frog
Member
Bill, if the gathering consensus is correct and the stags are real, I would be tempted to take those nice stags and put them on that gorgeous Commercial Model. Then I would experiment with the rest of the gun with some random set of grips on it and see whether the barrel can be saved (as is or shortened.) If it couldn't, I would probably grab an INA barrel and polish the lettering off of it... most of the lettering from the gun will be gone anyway, right? Now you should have a good solid platform to build whatever big blaster you want, with no guilt about collector or historical value. You can let your imagination run wild and have fun with it, and isn't that really what you wanted in the first place?
Regards,
Froggie
pilgrim6a
Member
Round Butt?
Correct me if I'm wrong.(I may very well be.) I think that round butting a pre-war 'N' frame will involve a considerable amount of welding.
Correct me if I'm wrong.(I may very well be.) I think that round butting a pre-war 'N' frame will involve a considerable amount of welding.
It takes no welding at all. It can be done with a hacksaw, some files and a hand drill.
My PD had a number of confiscated, found, or abandoned handguns that they allowed the officers to "Check out" for duty or off duty use. I got a nickeled 1917, with gold plated hammer and trigger, and stag grips. I cut the barrel down to 4", round butted it, and added a ramp front and an adjustable rear sight. I carried it as a duty gun for several years.
OP
Bill_in_fl
Member
Thanks again for all the helpful hints and advice fellas. I'm leaning to keeping it a snubby, but at the same time I'm still thinking about buying that full length barrel a friend has for $50.00 As another member here mentioned, it couldn't hurt to have it in case I ever need it and I can always sell it if necessary.
Since Hondo44 assured me those grips are for sure India Sanbar stag, and several other members also said they thought they were stag too, I believe they are stag, but will know for sure when it arrives at my dealer.
I'm not that nuts about the look of those particular stag grips myself. So since I've been told they are worth about $200.00 I think I'm going to sell them to help defray the cost of the cut barrel, project revolver and put wooden replacement grips on it instead. When it comes in I'll check the grips with a torched redhot paper clip on the back side to make sure it won't melt (which would mean it's plastic), and if they are truly India Sanbar stag like others said, I'll put them up for sale at the buy sell forum here. Sure they are nice, but they just don't do it for me.
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Since Hondo44 assured me those grips are for sure India Sanbar stag, and several other members also said they thought they were stag too, I believe they are stag, but will know for sure when it arrives at my dealer.
I'm not that nuts about the look of those particular stag grips myself. So since I've been told they are worth about $200.00 I think I'm going to sell them to help defray the cost of the cut barrel, project revolver and put wooden replacement grips on it instead. When it comes in I'll check the grips with a torched redhot paper clip on the back side to make sure it won't melt (which would mean it's plastic), and if they are truly India Sanbar stag like others said, I'll put them up for sale at the buy sell forum here. Sure they are nice, but they just don't do it for me.
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