1917 questions with pics.

[Object]

HEllo,
I'm a new member here, and i have a 1917 that somehow ended up in my collection. I don't know much history on it, other than it was bought at a show or an auction a while back and my family ended up with it.

i don't know much about these and i'm thinking about selling it because i never shoot it...and it has no personal value to me or my family.

however, before i sell it, i wanted to get some information about it. I've been lurking these forums for a while and you guys seem pretty knowledgeable on the subject.

The nickel plating is flaking off on the cylinder. and i was wondering if these guns came with nickel plating or if this is something that was done after the fact and weather or not i should try to repair it, and if you guys knew anyone that was good at that.

also, anyone have any idea how old it is?

thanks for your help!

i also have a S+W .38 bodyguard as my carry weapon that will NEVER sell.

 

[Object]

HEllo,
I'm a new member here, and i have a 1917 that somehow ended up in my collection. I don't know much history on it, other than it was bought at a show or an auction a while back and my family ended up with it.

i don't know much about these and i'm thinking about selling it because i never shoot it...and it has no personal value to me or my family.

however, before i sell it, i wanted to get some information about it. I've been lurking these forums for a while and you guys seem pretty knowledgeable on the subject.

The nickel plating is flaking off on the cylinder. and i was wondering if these guns came with nickel plating or if this is something that was done after the fact and weather or not i should try to repair it, and if you guys knew anyone that was good at that.

also, anyone have any idea how old it is?

thanks for your help!

i also have a S+W .38 bodyguard as my carry weapon that will NEVER sell.

 

[Deacon KC]

That would originally been a blued gun with a lanyard loop and walnut grips. They use .45 acp cartridges in "moon clips" or .45 Autorim ammo. Very good shooters but the collector's value on yours is severely lessened by being nickeled. It might be worth the $30 it would cost to have it factory lettered to see if the S&W factory did the re-finish. I will leave it to more knowledgeable folks here to estimate a price.

 

[handejector]

That is an aftermarket nickel job- S&W would not nickel 1917's. A letter is not worth the trouble- they all went to the Gov on some day or other. The letter would NOT tell you about service work, even if they had nickeled it, which they didn't.
My advice is sell it as is.

 

[Object]

ok, thanks for the info about the nickeling. What would this gun be worth as is?

 

[cgt4570]

The value is purely as a shooter, or maybe the basis for someone's pet project. Depending on bore and mechanical condition, it's worth about $200-$300.
Chris

 

[opoefc]

The above info is right on target. It's poor aftermarket nickel job and value is only as a shooter. For Lee's benefit, and others wondering about nickel 1917s - If you see one and wonder if it's worth the $30 to letter to see if it is an original factory nickel gun, save your money. The factory only nickeled one Model 1917, at least according to the factory letter that was ordered for the gun, and the gun won an NRA Silver medal for that fact, when it was displayed as part of the S&WCA NRA display in Florida a few years ago.

 

[bettis1]

Well, lets just think of the gun as it is and what it might represent.

The nickel obviously isn't factory, but that being said, it isn't all that bad for an old, non factory refinish. The gun hasn't been over polished, the markings haven't been obliterated, the screw holes haven't been badly pulled, the hammer, trigger and ejector star haven't been nickeled. We see all of those things way too often in non-professional refinishes. Unfortunately, the peeling that we see is pretty common and it's just something you have to live with if you like old nickel guns.

We tend to look down our noses at faux stag plastic grips but there is probably a story there also. Remember that when plastic was first on the market, it was highly prized. It has become so common in modern life that we take it for granted, but that wasn't always the case.

Maybe I've just got an uncontrolled imagination, but I can easily visualize that old timer in the holster of some southwestern lawman. Soneone who liked big, effective, impressive and showy handguns. I'd leave it just as it is and try to find a nice old leather rig of the correct vintage to show it off in.

It's too bad that this is one of those times when a letter won't help. The modifications obviously occurred well after it left the armed services.

Bob

 

[arfmel]

I like it too.

 

[Deacon KC]

The more I look at it, the more I like that old warhorse! If you ever decide to part with it, I would give it a very good home!