|
|
 |
04-17-2013, 09:43 AM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,413 Times in 545 Posts
|
|
Rare 1917 Commercial Target less than 5 known
Hi
Here is one of about 5 known 1917 Targets that were made. This one shipped in 1937 to Canada. It is in 99% condition and it shipped with an Humpback Hammer and Magna,s and a McGivern gold bead front sight. I would guess this is the only one made in this configuration.
How it got back from Canada is not Known but it was in the collections of a couple of Big S&W Collectors before it came to me.
Enjoy the Pictures
Jim Fisher
Last edited by bmg60; 04-17-2013 at 09:48 AM.
|
|
The Following 59 Users Like Post:
|
-db-, 0le, 1blindref, 22hipower, 29aholic, bill skebeck, Bob L, clang444, Combat, CptCurl, crsides, D R Greysun, Davwingman, DCWilson, ddixie884, DGT, donadler, Frank46, frankynohankypanky, GJH77, gripper, gunfish, H Richard, Hondo44, Hoosier45, Iggy, Jack Flash, jackpearl, JayCeeNC, Jebus35745, jrs70, keith44spl, LEO918, linde, lowhog, LTC, max, Muley Gil, Nedroe, opoefc, Pig Hunter, quinn, rboineau, RILEY31, RKmesa, Russell Cottle, Scotter260, shawn mccarver, shouldazagged, Silver Dollar, Snakeshift, sophie, TACC1, tango-papa, Thinnes, tom32, turnerriver, Watchdog, wetdog |
04-17-2013, 09:48 AM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St Augustine
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 2,314
Liked 5,696 Times in 848 Posts
|
|
I didn't know those existed. Thanks for posting!
__________________
Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435
|
04-17-2013, 09:50 AM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 11,173
Liked 12,136 Times in 1,942 Posts
|
|
Awome! The best of all worlds... It would be wonderful to know the whole story.
__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd
|
04-17-2013, 12:28 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Near Birmingham
Posts: 7,185
Likes: 4,881
Liked 8,236 Times in 2,168 Posts
|
|
"less than 5 known" Now that's what I call rare and in great condition.
Thanks for showing it.
|
04-17-2013, 12:32 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 437
Likes: 297
Liked 325 Times in 119 Posts
|
|
I enjoyed the pictures very much. Five built and maybe all different. Nice.
__________________
Dennis
|
04-17-2013, 12:52 PM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 73
Liked 670 Times in 281 Posts
|
|
A veritable unicorn! And in such magnificent shape! Thanks for posting that.
__________________
Peter
S&WCA #2620
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-17-2013, 01:27 PM
|
 |
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 181
Liked 2,719 Times in 724 Posts
|
|
Jim,
Have you checked to see if the SWHF has any additional info on it?
On the front sight, was the half moon just milled off and the boss slotted and the target blade just pinned in?
Bob
|
04-17-2013, 02:58 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Pawnee, Oklahoma
Posts: 286
Likes: 16,851
Liked 621 Times in 139 Posts
|
|
Now that's a find! Congrats!
__________________
Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret
|
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-17-2013, 03:10 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 76
Likes: 110
Liked 11 Times in 5 Posts
|
|
That is perhaps the handsomest N frame configuration to come from S&W! You must be very proud to have ownership if only for the duration. :-)
D R
|
04-17-2013, 05:06 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Jacksonville, NC, USA
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 120
Liked 413 Times in 193 Posts
|
|
Jim, Many thanks for sharing these magnificent pieces from your collection with all of us!
medxam
__________________
Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor
|
04-17-2013, 05:18 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 323
Likes: 20
Liked 54 Times in 19 Posts
|
|
And once again Jim makes me feel inadequate as a S&W collector.
|
04-17-2013, 05:29 PM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: North Central Illinois
Posts: 677
Likes: 590
Liked 1,266 Times in 138 Posts
|
|
Jim, You have a lot of really good guns. This is one of my favorites..........Along with the Calkins gun of coarse.
Chad
|
04-17-2013, 05:40 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: North Central Illinois
Posts: 677
Likes: 590
Liked 1,266 Times in 138 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bettis1
Jim,
Have you checked to see if the SWHF has any additional info on it?
On the front sight, was the half moon just milled off and the boss slotted and the target blade just pinned in?
Bob
|
Bob, You may very well be correct. Would the front sight be made the same way a 5 inch McGivern Outdoorsman would be made? It looks a lot like Russ's gun.
38/44 McGivern Model a.k.a. 5” Outdoorsman
Chad
|
04-18-2013, 01:10 AM
|
|
US Veteran
SWCA Founding Member
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,532
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
|
|
I have a 1917 Military Target model, with non-adjustable rear target sight. I believe it was modified by the Springfield Armory for possible use by an Army pistol team in the Service matches at Camp Perry, where service revolvers were not allowed to have adjustable rear sights. Ed.
|
04-28-2013, 12:17 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Avery,Tx
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 3,812
Liked 1,863 Times in 938 Posts
|
|
Thank you sir, for sharing. I am a low grade accumulator, but really enjoy seeing the rare pieces of your fine collection........
__________________
dd884
JMHO-YMMV
|
04-28-2013, 01:54 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wautoma, WI 54982
Posts: 4,118
Likes: 6,564
Liked 799 Times in 499 Posts
|
|
Great find! Thanks for sharing. Glad you got it.
TACC1
|
04-28-2013, 04:10 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 31
Likes: 173
Liked 160 Times in 16 Posts
|
|
How superlative is that.........! Thanks for sharing Jim.
|
04-28-2013, 04:26 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IL
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 1,024
Liked 3,606 Times in 958 Posts
|
|
What a nice revolver, Wouldn't it have been great if S&W made something like this a regular production gun back before WWII.
__________________
My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs
|
04-29-2013, 03:57 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times in 11 Posts
|
|
Jim I also would love to hear the story how your lovely 5"er made it out of Canada!
I always wonder sometimes how my REG MAG made it out of Boston, to my little town here on Lake Superior? I do know how my Rem Jet with extra cylinder made it into Canada, it was brought up by a wealthy American to thank the fellow who arraged his fly in fishing trips! I dought any paperwork was done at thew time to do it legally, ha!
Jim since we are talking rare, do you know where the commercial target 455 made for some military officer ever went? It was made as retirement present and shipped somewhere in Ontario Canada?
Thanks for sharing!
cheers Dale Z in Canada!
|
10-30-2014, 10:07 AM
|
 |
S&W Historian
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 5,965
Likes: 3,400
Liked 11,336 Times in 2,894 Posts
|
|
Jim
You mentioned 5 1917 Targets made. Does that include at least one Club Gun? It is sn 0294, dated May 6 1917 .45 HE Government Target.
__________________
Don Mundell
|
10-30-2014, 11:09 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,413 Times in 545 Posts
|
|
Hi
to answer all the questions.
Don. the club gun is one of the 5. We know of two that still exist. this one and the Nickel one in Calf that has been refinished.
Bob. I believe it was made from a unfinished barrel because there is a small step between the base and the front sight so the ramp was not milled off flush.
As to how it got out of Canada my guess it was a gift to somebody in the US.
It has been in only two collections before mine. A texas oil man and one other it has never been carried or shot, it only has handling marks from 75 years of people looking at it. It is a true 99% gun a one of a kind because of what it letters with, Hump back, McGivern gold bead and Magns.
And it is not going to be up for sale, I have two sons and two Grand sons it will go to one of them.
Jim
Last edited by bmg60; 10-30-2014 at 11:10 AM.
|
10-30-2014, 12:42 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 181
Liked 2,719 Times in 724 Posts
|
|
Jim,
That gun belongs back in Texas! If you won't sell it, the least you can do is to require your heir to move back here to qualify for it. 
Bob
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
