1917 model 1937 Brazilian Contract .45

[Hedrin]

Today I picked up my new toy. A 1917 model 1937 Brazilian Contract .45 revolver with over a dozen full moon clips. Saw this advertised on another board and after dealer fees, I've got a little over $300 in it.

This gun has "been in the wars" as it were, but I've been wanting a bigger Smith wheelgun than my .22. Any recommendations on where I can find some replacement grips? Vintage would be nice, but modern copies would probably be cheaper.

 

[Hondo44]

There's tons of grips available on this forum, ebay and gunbroker.
Which grips do you want, factory original type? Your serial number will determine which of the two factory varieties for the Brazilian models that yours came with.

 

[Muley Gil]

I see a square notch rear sight in picture # 5. Should be a pre WW II Brazilian from the late 1930s.

As the condition is lacking for a collector's piece, I would go with some Magnas. If the bore is good, should be a great shooter.

 

[DWalt]

You did OK for $300 if it's in shooting condition. You shouldn't have any problem in picking up at least a pair of replica grips if you do some searching on the internet. In 1937 S&W made around 25,000 1917s for Brazil, serial range is reportedly 181983-207043. In 1946, there was a second group of Brazilian 1917s, SN 166,000 to 175,150 and 207,196 to 209,878.

 

[DocB]

Looks like you did pretty good. That one could have been carried in Europe during WWII. Brazil was the only South American country to send troops to the European theater to help us out. I got a pair of grips to go on mine on EBAY about a year ago. Just plain old smooth wood. They are actually hard to tell from the originals.

 

[Muley Gil]

This revolver would have shipped with checkered medallion service grips.

 

[Jack Flash]

I had one of these First Group revolvers (shipped circa 1938) with the square notch. It was in much worse shape than yours, but it did have the original stocks (at least I believe they were original). They were checkered with S&W medallions (gold, IIRC), not smooth like the book says. I suppose it is always possible that they were replaced somewhere along the line.

From a purely functional perspective, you may want to try shooting it with the rubber grips (Pachmayrs?) that are now on it. You may be able to shoot it much more accurately and comfortably than you could using the "correct" stocks.

 

[damienph]

OP, I think that you did great for $300! I bought my 1937 Brazilian in the late '80s when a bunch of them were imported, I don't remember what I paid but it was around $200. I still have the original grips somewhere but mine have been fitted with factory targets since the mid '90s because they are most comfortable to me.

Enjoy your Smith, mine is surprising accurate with 230gr LRN handloads in R-P Auto Rim brass.

 

[DWalt]

I'd second leaving the Pach rubber grips on it for shooting purposes.

 

[reddog81]

The wood grips look better but if your going to shoot it I'd leave it as is.
I got one earlier this year from a fellow forum member and shoot it regularly. I'd take one of these over most new guns being made.

 

[Hondo44]

Hedrin,

I agree, you probably don't want either of the original stocks to shoot with.

As some posted, yours is most likely from the 1937 contract with the sq notch rear sight and would have the then current 1930s checkered Magnas with chrome plated medallions.

However, there was also a smaller quantity of sq notch shipped 1946 contract guns. Both the U notch and sq notch '46 guns were shipped with 1917 war surplus plain smooth stocks.

 

[edwardm.warrick]

You did OK for $300 if it's in shooting condition. You shouldn't have any problem in picking up at least a pair of replica grips if you do some searching on the internet. In 1937 S&W made around 25,000 1917s for Brazil, serial range is reportedly 181983-207043. In 1946, there was a second group of Brazilian 1917s, SN 166,000 to 175,150 and 207,196 to 209,878.

nice information

 

[Hedrin]

I agree the Pachmayr grips may be more comfy, but there is just something soooo appealing about the look of the checkered medallion grips.

Bore is not perfect, but still very shootable.

As for serial, the cylinder, under barrel and butt says 2031XX, the crane says 370XX and the backstrap says 215XX very faintly in a different font.

Someone mentioned the rear sight.

 

[Hondo44]

I agree the Pachmayr grips may be more comfy, but there is just something soooo appealing about the look of the checkered medallion grips.

Bore is not perfect, but still very shootable.

As for serial, the cylinder, under barrel and butt says 2031XX, the crane says 370XX and the backstrap says 215XX very faintly in a different font.

Someone mentioned the rear sight.

Oh yeah, the original grips are part of its panache! Your serial # 2031XX indicates likely shipment in the 1937 contract meaning the checkered Magnas with chrome medallions would be the correct vintage for your Brazilian model.

The serial # is not "in" the yoke before the late 1950s, it's on the rear face of the Yoke visible thru a chamber with a flashlight.

The remainder of fixed sight frame serial # locations pre war and locations remaining after WW II until 1957 to look for (not including pre war target sight stamped serial #s) are as follows:

Gun butt - or forestrap on I frames with grips that cover the butt
Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud
Extractor star - backside
Cylinder - rear face
Right stock – depending on vintage, stamped, scratched or penciled on backside of original grip
Mid-lock cam plate –.44 HE 1st Models only (up to all 5 digits).

The # 370XX is a factory assembly # of little use.
The # 215XX is not a factory # but rather a rack # or inventory # of the end user and of no importance.

 

[Jack Flash]

Just from the condition it is in, (and the rear sight) I would guess that it was part of the First Group. As DocB said, these actually went to war and they show it!

For $300, you did very well. I paid $200 for the one I bought, and that was almost 30 years ago. I traded it away about 15 years ago, so I can't remember the stocks real well. It was in really rough shape. The grip frame was not just pitted, it was cratered like the surface of the moon. Since then, I have picked up several that have the rounded rear sight and, per the serial numbers, shipped circa 1946. They are all in much better condition.

Edited to add:
The more I think about it, the more it seems that the medallions were gold. It is possible that someone varnished the stocks, medallions and all, and over the years the varnish yellowed, giving a false impression of the color of the medallions. Anyways, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[DWalt]

It's unusual to find any Brazilian 1917 in much better condition than "Well Used." I think most have also been through some crude refinishing process, probably done in Brazil. Not long ago at the local gun show I ran across a Brazilian in quite good (maybe 80%), and apparently original, condition. I think the seller had a $895 price tag on it, and that was probably a good deal for someone who wanted one.

 

[Kinman]

Congrats...I've also got an early issue Brazilian model, it was my first revolver chambered in .45acp. I immediately found a new pistol to shoot. If you like to mess around with cast bullets you can have alot of fun with these little .45's. I've become so addicted to shooting mine that it sent me off on a quest for a serious revolver in the same caliber and ended up with a terrific pre-number model of 1955 from a forum member. Find the grips that suit you best and enjoy shooting it. My hand completely swallows magnas, I've got them on an Outdoorsman and even with the T-grip its not comfortable to shoot, if it ain't comfortable your not going to shoot it as good as you could if it was. I had a pair of rosewood target stocks intended for the Outdoorsman, they ended up on the Brazilian and thats the end of that problem. If you don't already know what fits your hand, go to a local gunshop and try a few on, you can usually find a bit of everything if you look around. For me its always been N-frame square butt presentation target stocks, I even had John whip me a pair for a round butt framed 629...perfection. I don't care for rubber grips, I ain't saying they don't work....just don't care for them. Find what fits your hand and feels good to you, forget the rest, its a shooter...unless your going to use it in a WWII reenactment and dress up like Juan Valdez.
You will find that it will shoot factory hardball 230 gr bullets real well, thats what it was basically designed to do. They have real shallow rifling. I use a 200 grn SWC with Lyman #2 alloy over 4.5grn of Bullseye, I'm also experimenting with Titegroup and 185 grn Hornady XTP's. The trick is to find the right load that shoots to your chosen point of aim. I'm finding I need to beef up my cast bullet load or maybe switch to a heavier bullet...thats half the fun of a new pistol is figuring out what it likes.

 

[Frank46]

I too have one of the 1937 Brazilian contract 45 acp revolvers. Came with reproduction grips. Had a set of N frame no checkering smooth targets. Stuck them on and they fit great. Frank

 

[k22fan]

My 1946 contract Brazilian is wearing rubber Hogues. No one at the range has ever said anything about them looking out of place. In case I ever want to take a picture of it its original walnut stocks are squirreled away. If it hadn’t come with them I would not have spent the money for original type stocks for a revolver that is not in collector condition.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Hey! You have a good shooter. I was able to latch on to this one from another forum member earlier this year. She has 'seen the elephant' ', but the bore is great, and she shoots quite well. As the stocks didn't match, 'of course' I installed these Walrus Ivories I had laying around. Since this photo was taken I have added a Tyler I found around the shop and she is set to go. I am in the process of making some shot shells out of 308 brass just because I can. Great catch and ENJOY!!