S & W D.A. 45 Revolver - Looking for some Info & Value

VTPatriot said:

I have in my possession a S & W .45 Revolver.
On the left side of the barrel it is stamped "S.&W. D.A. 45"
On the top of the barrel it is stamped "Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A Patented Dec. 17. 1901 Feb. 6 1906. Sep. 14 1909"
It has a D ring on the butt of the handle and the butt is also stamped "178089", This number is also stamped on bottom of the barrel under the ejector rod.
It has the number "79265" stamped on the frame inside where the cylinder closes. There are two smaller characters stamped after the "5" that I believe are "S2".
It is stamped "Made in U.S.A" on the right side of the frame.
It is blued steel with wood grips that are checkered and has the S & W Medallion imbedded on each side.
I do not see "U.S. ARMY" stamped on it anywhere.

Click to expand...

DWalt said:

Is there a SN on the rear face of the cylinder? Something is strange about this one. Are you absolutely certain about the SN on the butt? Patent dates on the barrel are also strange. Can you provide a picture of the butt showing the SN? From what I see and what you say, it is from between 1922-27, but that SN would not be correct for a Second Model. Grips are from much later. There should also be a SN stamped inside the right grip panel which would date them.

Click to expand...

Hondo44 said:

Welcome to the forum.


That's a fine looking revolver especially if the finish is original. Either the grips have been updated or it sold and shipped very late and after ~1930.

You have as Muley Gil posted, a Commercial (Civilian) version of the Model 1917 .45 U.S. Army Hand Ejector.

It's serial # is almost 10,000 numbers after the last one made for the US government during WW I, therefore not marked 'US Army'. The frame was produced during the war as evidenced by the S2 military assistant inspector stamp and lanyard swivel on the butt. You may see an eagle head as well and the same S@ and eagle on the front face of the cylinder. But the gun was assembled and completed, several years later as DWalt indicated, then sold on the Civilian market .

The number "79265" is stamped on the gun in 3 places and is just the factory assembly work #. Have you ever shot it and is it chambered in .45 ACP?

Click to expand...

DWalt said:

Is there a SN on the rear face of the cylinder? Something is strange about this one. Are you absolutely certain about the SN on the butt? Patent dates on the barrel are also strange. Can you provide a picture of the butt showing the SN? From what I see and what you say, it is from between 1922-27, but that SN would not be correct for a Second Model. Grips are from much later. There should also be a SN stamped inside the right grip panel which would date them.

Click to expand...

VTPatriot said:

I will check the rear face of the cylinder and try to get a close-up of the butt. I will also look inside the right grip for numbers.

Click to expand...