1917 cylinder endplay

[wvron]

New to the forum, so I will say I asked this question over in the "show your 1917" but I got no response.
What is the acceptable end play and rotational play in a S&W mod. 1917 revolver? I'd like to shoot it but the cylinder seems a little loose. The gun is 93 years old so some play is to be expected. Enjoying the forum.

 

[john traveler]

Acceptable cylinder end play is aoub 0.002"-0.004".

Surprisingly, there is no cylinder rotational play specification. If a range rod can enter the bore and chambers, it is within specification.

 

[DCWilson]

Make sure that part of the end play is not a loose yoke. If the yoke moves fore and aft by any amount at all when closed, that is part of your problem. After you make the original yoke fit more tightly (or replace it if you can't), then you can assess your true end shake and add an end shake bearing or two to reduce the play. Even though a smaller B/C gap is preferable, I wouldn't worry too much about a gap of .006" or even slightly more on a shooter-grade 1917.

I have a second contract Brazilian that was shot loose before I got it, and I had to do what I described above to restore it to serviceability.

If the rotational play is so bad that you can't get the chambers and barrel to line up properly, you may be in for some gunsmithing; if you are lucky a replacement cylinder stop may be enough to reduce the play.

 

[wvron]

Thanks for the info. I'll do some measurements and see what I got. Barrel and cylinder alignment looks good just little rotational
play. Yoke is good and tight.