I went to a semi local gun show on Saturday and I found a few interesting guns. One that caught my eye was a Brazilian, never saw one in person before, 1917s show up more around here. It had most of its blue, but had loss ,freckles and a browning areas. The gun had some kind of glossy finish over the blue almost like varnish or shellac. It did have prewar stocks, they were hard to judge as they were slathered in, you guessed it, varnish or shellac very heavy multiple dippings?

It was serial matching, didnt pull the stocks. I didnt see any import markings, proof markings or any other stampings. I could have missed it but I was looking for them. It did have a number stamped into the back strap.

Mechanically it was OK, but had loose lock up. I felt the trigger was newer looked cleaner and it was striated, or grooved. I was expecting cross pattern (?) Like the hammer was

Seller said it was Brazilian Navy, no letter, no markings and I didnt care

He was asking $550 would have taken $500.

Like I said I never saw one before so its harder to judge. This one didnt pull me in so I walked...



Now I could go on about the guy with his 3 screw M42 for $1100 telling me its so rare being factory aluminum...

Worried about the war hurting his re-election chances, Obama asked his campaign manager how the NATO effort in Afghanistan was going. The manager replied that two Brazilian soldiers had been killed the previous day.

"Wow!" Obama said. "Just how many is a brazillion, anyway?"

I think that Dolly Parton has two brazillions....

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James Redfield
LM #497

My first thought after reading the headline was that you passed on a "Brazilian bikini wax -babe!"

A grooved trigger is correct for a 1930s S&W revolver.

A few of the imported Brazilians had the import stamp under the grips.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I remember when those brazilians came home in the late 80s. If anyone had told me then a borderline shooter would command $500 someday, I woulda said they were on crack.

I bought one for $60.00 in the mid 1990s at a local Gun Show.

Cosmetics were what one would call 'poor' ( blotchy-pitty-scruffy but never re-finished ), but Timing and Lock-up were excellent, Bore was excellent...I think the Stocks were like the m1917 - 'plain' Walnut.

Seller was a very nice older fellow, and he was apologetic about the cosmetic condition and he insisted $60.00 was a fair price. I offered him $150.00 and he would not take it. We haggled, ( Laughing, but true! ) but he was 'firm'.

Anyway, it was a great old S&W, and I really liked it. It was accurate, fun, snug and an all round sweetie...and, a year or so later, I ended up giving it to a friend.

Darn it, I have missed it since, too!

Now they are either pretty expensive and in only mediocre-plus condition, or in lousy mechanical shape with good cosmetics, and still expensive, or all three ( or is that 'two'? )

Oh well...

I have one with "NA" (Navy Arms) import markings on the butt frame, hidden when the stocks are in place. Or maybe the poor, underpaid guy stamping the import marks skipped a few that day to make his quota ...

If it was in good mechanical condition, it may have been worth the effort to remove all that varnish / shellac / whatever. But no one can say you walked away from the deal of the century, by any means.

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You're shy a few manners.

There is a Brazilian ending on GunBroker today that has replacement grips that may be worth $100 by themselves. Might be worth a look.

I saw one a while back which was an earlier Brazilian Model, having several WWI Inspection Stamps on it, and, which was still in high cosmetic condition with the really lovely original Factory Blueing sill mostly intact and vivid if a little thin here and there.

It was startling in fact, it was so nice.

Mechanical condition though was horrible, very very worn Timing, about no Rifeling left, worn beyond what I myself would even try shooting.

Price was $400.00 and Seller would likely have taken $350.00


I thought about getting it and having the Mechanism rebuilt, but, felt depressed by all the time expense and hassle that would likely involve.

Apparently, almost all the Brazilians I have seen, had been re-finished, I assume, in Brazil, and or as a matter of course for the hard use or poor care they seemed so reliably to get...so, seeing one which was still a vivid, aetherial thinning but still compelling Factory Blue, was pretty amazing to me.

It went for $461

Smith & Wesson Model 1917 Brazilian Contract 45acp : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

Actually, the first Brazillan revolvers from the 1937 contract were built on newly made N frames. These have the square notch rear sight and were the equal of any other standard large frame Smith (think 1926 .44 and the .38/44 Heavy Duty).

After WW II, some WW I 1917 frames were discovered and another group of Brazilians was assembled and sold.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

So did I. My wife was with me

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