Brazilian 1917 Gun Show find

I made a fun show find here in Alaska yesterday. I stumbled upon a rather forlorn and neglected looking 1917. It had misfitting grips, a terrible action, and the single action did not work at all. It was barely in time with no end shake, and...well...hammer push was not judged.
The other fella clearly had no love for it, so I made as low an offer as my conscience could stand, and it came home with me.

Removal of the side plate revealed that the inside was caked with sticky old grease. It was not wanting to cock fully because the hammer was hitting against the hammer spring at full cock. (I'd never seen that before?)

A little bit of elbow grease...or de-grease as the case may be had things flowing smoothly. Swapping the spring out easily rectified the issue of the single action. I've temporarily replaced the ill fitting stag grips with an old set of Magnas I have laying around. It seems pretty shootable now, but we haven't made a range trip quite yet.

The ill fitting stag grips fit wonderfully on my nickel 10-5. I wish I knew who made them, but all I can see underneath is blurred illegible red lettering.

Details of the 1917....It is unquestionably a Brazilian. Has the marked side plate, serrated trigger, etc. I'm not sure whether it's from the first or second run. The SN# is 173XXX. I understand the 1937 run started in the 180s, but...173 is getting close? It's overall condition is pretty good as far as Brazilian 1917s are said to go. So...if I HAD to guess, I'd say 1946, but I'm clearly no authority on the matter.

I once had a 1917 that had been cut down to 3.5" many years ago that could have been an amazing carry gun. I kinda regret letting it go. I briefly considered doing a similar shortening of this one, but I think it's still just a bit too nice to alter, and even the Brazilians are getting more recognition these days as the great guns they are, so I think I'll put some repro grips on it and leave the hacksaw and JB Weld put for now. (That's a joke, I would have had it professionally done)

I just wanted to share my find with folks who might appreciate these neat old guns, and see if I might learn something about it.

I sure appreciate your thoughts!

<sigh…> Any show I’ve been at, that would be right up front with a $2000 price tag.

Nice snag. Fanning green smoke in your direction…

That one looks very nice. Glad you were able to put it back in working order. I think you're right that it was in the Second Group. I'm no expert either, so I will quote some experts.

Here are some notes on Brazilian Contract Serial Numbers:

First Group, 1938+, 25,000 units, serial number range
181,983 to 207,043

Second Group, 1946, 12,000 units, serial number ranges
166,000 to 175,150
207,196 to 209,878

Gleaned from The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica and Nahas and letters written by Roy Jinks.

The numbers of the Second Group (see above, bold text) are not hard and fast.

One other clue that the gun was in the Second Group is that it is in nice shape. The First Group went to Italy in WWII with the Brazilian Expeditionary Force. This wartime service, plus the extra shipping back and forth, accounts for many of the First Group being in "NRA Ratty" condition.

The first contract was mostly commercial 1917s. Square cut rear sight, small logo under the cylinder release, blue finish.

Thank you for that information! It pretty much confirms to my satisfaction that it was indeed the second run. I agree the condition is a bit of a giveaway. This one clearly has worked for a living, but it wasn't put away wet, hungry, and still saddled, so to speak

That's kinda the fun thing about these old revolvers.there's usually at least one hidden gem at darn near every gun show.

Shrek, second contract run had dimple rear sight like a 1917.

Your stag grips (K frame) are sambar stag worth about $250 if they are fitting a K frame well. Faded red lettering on the back may indicate "Ajax grips" as a manufacturer. They would be from the 50s or 60s by the look of them.

Your Brazilian looks a lot nicer than mine.
Was in the first shipment I believe.
I looks to have “seen the elephant.”

Wow! If them grips are worth $250, I guess I got that 1917 for $100.

This 1917 does indeed have the dimple rear sight. I don't think there is a modicum of doubt left that it is the 1946 run.

Thank y'all for your helpful info!

Shrek - can we see a pic of the inside of the grips ?

My Brazilian is from the first run with the flat top frame. Still in the original dark blue, almost black finish with lots of very light scratches. Grips are correct but don't match the serial number of the gun. Bought it some years ago for $295 and probably wouldn't have bought it back then if it had been parkerized like many others. The Brazilian is probably the best of the of the old .45s for a shooter.

My first .45 S&W revolver was a re-finished Brazilian, bought from a friend for $250 more than a few years ago. It started me on an interest in shooting .45 ACP/AR in a revolver, which is something that just went right over my head when I was in my twenties and a local gunshop had a wooden box of Brazilians you could pick through and choose for something like $25.
Since it was already molested I had a gunsmith friend of mine cut it down to 4" and install a Baughman style front sight at a height that would allow me plenty of adjustment with the Wondersight I installed. It holds it own on the range but unfortunately was the springboard that lead me down the road into Model of 1955's and was left in the dust as far as shooting range accuracy. I did carry it for awhile when messing around, but fell into a nicer shorter barrelled 1917 which has since relegated the Brazilian to the back of the shelf.

Man...the folks that keep showing the shortened barrels sure are tempting me to consider things I said I wouldn't do. It would make a super nice Winter daily carry with a 3.5"-4" bbl. And...not cost me something in the four digits price range.

In my mind's eye I'm less inclined to consider 1917s war time service than I am to imagine it on a Police Officer's duty belt, guarding the house, hanging out in the truck, at hunting camp, etc.

Anyways, here's some more detailed pics of the grips that came with it. They are gorgeous on the Model 10-5!

Shrek Of The Arctic said:

... a terrible action, and the single action did not work at all. It was barely in time with no end shake, and...well...hammer push was not judged.

Removal of the side plate revealed that the inside was caked with sticky old grease.

A little bit of elbow grease...or de-grease as the case may be had things flowing smoothly.

I sure appreciate your thoughts!

Click to expand...

I have had great luck with old revolvers because they have been inherited or passed on to people clueless on revolvers. Proper cleaning and lubrication is all some of this old timers need.

Thank you for sharing.

Kinman said:

... a local gunshop had a wooden box of Brazilians you could pick through and choose for something like $25.

Click to expand...

I remember those days. Unfortunately it was at the same time you could get great deals on USGI 1911s.

But I did get a mint 1937 that one of my Police Chiefs authorized for on duty carry.

Did someone say short barreled Brazilian Contract Model 1917?

Here is mine, complete with a gold beaded front sight.

Kevin

Don't do it!

Hello folks,

Well it has been a long time since I last posted here, but I got some time to jump in and save this little old fighter.
This is a second run (1946) Brazilian Contract SW 1917. If you look closely you probably will find WWI U.S. military marks (the Eagle Head) as most of the contract was fulfilled with leftover stocks from the Great War.
These guns have a lot of history and remained in service up till the 1970s.
Yours is in much better shape and condtition than the avarage ones, and, I would refrain to have his barrel shortened. Of course, it is YOUR gun and you can do whatever you want, but have in mind that the U.S. surplus market won't see another batch of these guns anymore. There no more of these old big boys down here.

In you place I would only replace the grips for the correct pattern (just like the U.S. WWI smooth wood panels) and keep it as it is. Mine, serial nr. 169948 is shown below with the orginal Brazilian 1942-pattern NCO web belt, holster and lanyard (and a Brazilian Army compass).

Take care, amigo.

Douglas S. Aguiar Jr.
Firearms Curator
São Paulo State Police Museum - Brazil

Douglas Jr. said:

Hello folks,

Well it has been a long time since I last posted here, but I got some time to jump in and save this little old fighter.
This is a second run (1946) Brazilian Contract SW 1917. If you look closely you probably will find WWI U.S. military marks (the Eagle Head) as most of the contract was fulfilled with leftover stocks from the Great War.
These guns have a lot of history and remained in service up till the 1970s.
Yours is in much better shape and condtition than the avarage ones, and, I would refrain to have his barrel shortened. Of course, it is YOUR gun and you can do whatever you want, but have in mind that the U.S. surplus market won't see another batch of these guns anymore. There no more of these old big boys down here.

In you place I would only replace the grips for the correct pattern (just like the U.S. WWI smooth wood panels) and keep it as it is. Mine, serial nr. 169948 is shown below with the orginal Brazilian 1942-pattern NCO web belt, holster and lanyard (and a Brazilian Army compass).

Take care, amigo.

Douglas S. Aguiar Jr.
Firearms Curator
São Paulo State Police Museum - Brazil…

Click to expand...

That is the correct holster and belt for revolver? I have never seen those items.

That image answers my question in this thread from a few years ago.

S&W 1917: remembering the Brazilian Expeditionary Force

Getting back to the holster and belt, is that leather or webbing?

Kevin

Shrek Of The Arctic, you have a really good-looking Brazilian.
Since most of us have never seen one up close, please post a few close-ups of the finish from multiple angles. It would help my getting better educated on this hard-to-find gun.
Thank you for sharing your great find!
-Bill

Here is one that I have fun with at the range. I have had several Brazilian contract pieces over the years. Condition is that of a well used shooter, nothing special there, but it provides the opportunity to enjoy it at the range. They come and they go, but this one stays in the safe due to my attraction to certain serial numbers. This one carries SN 191745. I kinda liked that. There is only one of the 1917's carrying that number!
(Look at the oil still oozing out of the stocks. I got a lot of it out over time with heat and paper towels.)

You'll never find a more fitting SN than 191745!!! That's great!