1917 Brazilain Contract information

Oscarflytyer · Oct 21, 2018

Picked this up yesterday at the show - $350. Def a good shooter – stopped by the range on the way home and put 30 rds of 45 AR thru it.

Did some research, and it does not match the listed serial # ranges for the Brazilian contract from what I found. But also sounds like the second installment on the contract were using some old parts… Any help is appreciated.

Serial # is 95231. Cylinder and bbl #s match. Sight ramp above the cylinder is rounded over, not flat. 5 screw. Doea have strain screw. Missing butt swivel. Has import info on the L side of the grip frame, under grip – Century Arms Albany VT. 5 ½" bbl. Brazilian Crest 1937 on R side of plate. S&W DA 45 on bbl. Front edges of cylinder are slightly chamfered (not square).
Also, what would the correct grips be for this gun? Thanx

Oscarflytyer · Oct 21, 2018

and as soon as I posted this, post popped up with info below. So, sounds like mine is a part of the 1946 shipment with the old WWI frame/parts. And the serial # does show as a 1918 serial #.

All the model 1937s shipped to Brazil before WWII had the then current flat top frames with square notch sights. A large portion, maybe a majority, of the model 1937s shipped in 1946 utilized left over WWI round top frames with U notch sights. (Mine!)

The forum administrator, Handejector, recently posted about one with a five digit s/n, 8xxxx IIRC. mine is 9xxxx

H Richard · Oct 21, 2018

I have one of the 1946 batch also, s/n 17072x, which was shipped April 1946. Same round top, U notch.

Muley Gil · Oct 21, 2018

You done good.

Smooth service grips (WW I issue) would probably be correct.

MG34/bar · Oct 21, 2018

Something I found surprising over my 59 years of collecting/shooting the 1917 variations (bought my first one in 1959) is that S&W didn't bother to have even the old side-swing hammer block safety on many (maybe all?) of the 1946 shipment to Brazil. Didn't they think that the people of Brazil might drop a handgun? Anyway, if you are somewhat clumsy like I am (I have dropped more than one handgun) please load up with an empty chamber under the hammer if you use/carry one of this type of 1917.

Hondo44 · Oct 21, 2018

I don't even see the proper WWI tiny U rear sight notch:

Your frame with such an early # may have been set aside during WWI production because of that.

The 2nd Brazilian contract run was in 1946 of about 11,800, most using surplus WW I produced frames in the 166,000 – 175,150 range with many exceptions as usual that have serial #s far out of this range, most with older style round top strap and small U notch rear sight. Some were the newer flat top frames generally in the 207,196 – 209,878 range, with a few round tops also reported in that range. These '46 contract guns had WW I surplus 1917 smooth grips. These are also stamped "MADE IN U.S.A.". Butt serial #s read with barrel to the left like all post war hand ejectors.

"The first .45 H. E. Model of 1917 finished after World War I were made from frames and parts that had been completed and ready to be used for the military if the war had not ended. That is why you see a lot of post World War I "N" frames both .44 and .45 with the Springfield Armory inspection mark on the inside of the frame. Once these frames were used up the factory then began making new frames. However, to fill orders for Brazil after World War II the factory had to shake the crates and started to use up parts that had been made in World War I. You can usually tell these revolvers as the serial numbers are in the serial range of production handguns that were shipped during World War I such as serial number 168177 where most of the guns in this serial range were shipped to the military in January 1919." Roy Jinks

handejector · Oct 21, 2018

Oscarflytyer said:
Did some research, and it does not match the listed serial # ranges for the Brazilian contract from what I found. But also sounds like the second installment on the contract were using some old parts… Any help is appreciated.

The serial number ranges in books are not entirely correct.
There are MANY round top guns from the 1946 contract in the serial # range for WW I guns. They can have 6 digit, 5 digit, or 4 digit serial numbers, and I have heard solid evidence of a 3 digit.
Apparently, the Factory used any serial number that had not been sold to the Gov't in the WW I contract.
I have never seen a flat top frame in the 1946 contract, but they may have made some to make up the full 12000 gun contract. If anyone has one they positively know shipped in 1946 contract, I'd like to hear about it.

Hondo44 · Oct 21, 2018

MG34/bar said:
Something I found surprising over my 59 years of collecting/shooting the 1917 variations (bought my first one in 1959) is that S&W didn't bother to have even the old side-swing hammer block safety on many (maybe all?) of the 1946 shipment to Brazil. Didn't they think that the people of Brazil might drop a handgun? Anyway, if you are somewhat clumsy like I am (I have dropped more than one handgun) please load up with an empty chamber under the hammer if you use/carry one of this type of 1917.

Some did, some didn't. Seems like a particular gun would have whatever safety hammer block it cam with depending on it's vintage; for example a pre war side plate mounted safety block if made after #185,000.

I know of no '46 contract guns fitted with the post war sliding bar hammer block safety. But then very few commercial models did by '46.

1917 Brazilain Contract information

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