Bottom feeder at the Lakeland Gun Show

[Leslie Sapp]

The wife and daughter and I went down yesterday to the Lakeland show. My daughter has been in the military for the last ten years and has not had the chance to attend, so she was excited to have the opportunity.
I've had a .45 acp revolver itch for some time, and so I made an offer on this one, and brought it home.

It has beat up stocks, a replacement sideplate, and maybe a reblued or replaced barrel, but it shoots better than I can and is a nice piece of history to boot!

On top of that, how often these days to you get an N frame Smith & Wesson for 400 bucks even, out the door.

All in all we had a great time, and filled most of our shopping list ( new Leupold 3.5 - 10 scope for wife's rifle, cartridge boxes for daughters 6.5x55, .22 hornet brass for me)

P.S.I had a lot of fun watching my daughter interact with several of the older veterans that were in attendance. She encountered one or two who had been rotary wing aircrew in their day and had some great conversations with them. The fact that she doesn't look anything like what she is made it even better.

 

[AJ]

A friend always has a table there. He sells mainly high end items and especially high end Colt M191's.

Any relation to the Sapp's that lived in Vero Beach?

 

[bigmtnman]

VERY nice for THAT price !!

 

[Leslie Sapp]

Any relation to the Sapp's that lived in Vero Beach?

The family has been in Florida since the late 1820's, so we're probably some distant relation.

 

[StrawHat]

…I've had a .45 acp revolver itch …

It has beat up stocks, a replacement sideplate, and maybe a reblued or replaced barrel, but it shoots better than I can and is a nice piece of history to boot!…

What leads you to believe the sideplate has been replaced? There is a decent seam. The crest is intact. The barrel, is it numbered to the revolver?

It appears you have a Model 1917 from the Brazilian Contract. A decent revolver and depending on which era it shipped, it may have seen service with the Brazilian Army during WWII.

Nice catch, wish I had been there.

Kevin

 

[AJ]

The family has been in Florida since the late 1820's, so we're probably some distant relation.

Mine too. Started in North Florida in the late 18 teens and moved south slowly.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

What leads you to believe the sideplate has been replaced? There is a decent seam. The crest is intact. The barrel, is it numbered to the revolver?

The gun photographs better than it looks in hand. The side plate looks new and is a different color, compared to the patina and wear on the rest of the gun.

 

[Muley Gil]

I see a slight misfit at the "corners", below the front and middle side plate screws.

Since the OP has the revolver in hand, I'm sure he can detect a replaced side plate better than we can, looking at pictures.

 

[Engine49guy]

Been to the Lakeland show twice but years ago,
The first time shocked me how much great stuff was there, the 2nd time not so much.

Ps, I live in SE Fl , my ggg gf settled in the Tampa area late 1700's , fought the indians and the yankees so we are a Fl pioneer family.

 

[rincar]

The seam on the side plate does not appear to have been disturbed. The Chemicals in a leather holster might cause the discoloration of the side plate. Although I do not see a problem with the S&W 1917.

 

[AJ]

Ps, I live in SE Fl , my ggg gf settled in the Tampa area late 1700's , fought the indians and the yankees so we are a Fl pioneer family.

Not many can say that!

 

[AJ]

Been to the Lakeland show twice but years ago,
The first time shocked me how much great stuff was there, the 2nd time not so much.

Since the move from downtown, to the airport the shows have lost quite a bit. For us from central east coast to Lakeland and back is a five hour drive. Better to stay home and go to the local shows in Vero Beach and Melbourne.

 

[alwslate]

The radius cuts on the hammer suggest a very early 1917 model. The sideplate is probably a Brazilian replacement. The serial number of the gun would likely provide the answer.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Since the move from downtown, to the airport the shows have lost quite a bit. For us from central east coast to Lakeland and back is a five hour drive. Better to stay home and go to the local shows in Vero Beach and Melbourne.

+1. It's usually a good show with lots to see, but it makes for a long day in the car. And a lot of "sellers" are actually just showing off their collections and their asking prices are sometimes ridiculous.

 

[handejector]

What leads you to believe the sideplate has been replaced?

There appears to be an Ordnance mark here-

Is there?
Also- that is not an S&W swivel.
Can you show a pic of the Butt?

 

[Ruger 13]

Looks good to me!

 

[Skyhunter]

I'd have bought it for sure, but then again, I've always had a soft spot for N-frame Smith's with a 4? calibre! LOL!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[moosedog]

Nice gun and it sounds like a great time.
God bless your daughter for her service.

 

[Hondo44]

Unless the hammer is a replacement that's an early gun, likely with a serial number below 20,000.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I'd buy that for $400 all day long.