1917 questions

[The Kid]

Thinking of making a trade for a 1917 but have a couple questions. Any help would be appreciated.

Commercial gun, no US property stamps. Missing the lanyard ring but has the pin. Finish is original at about 50%. Non original diamond magnas that have been sanded and have a pretty good chip.

My question is about the model changes. This gun has the smaller ejector rod knob, still larger than the rod but not the big mushroom knob. The sights are fixed of course but not the narrow "pinched" topstrap like I see on other 1917s. It has the same square notch as my 1947 production HD. All numbers match aside from the grips obviously. Serial is 210XXX.
I'm not sure how late they produced these guns. Any ideas as to vintage?

 

[Muley Gil]

Yours sounds like late 1940s production. Does it have the hammer block? You should be able to see it when the hammer is cocked.

Not all of the post WW II 1917s have a "S" prefix to the serial number.

I presume the Magnas are not numbered to this revolver? They may be the correct vintage though.

 

[murphydog]

You are describing a fairly scarce post-war (WW II) 1917 Transitional, which had SNs in the number range of the one you saw. Some in this range had the S prefix and some not. Hard to judge value without photos but it sounds pretty worn.

 

[chrisbroz]

I have a 1917 the w*fe bought at a gunshow from one of the 'hangers on' - it was presented to her as a 'trick' gun - one that had a smooth bore and was used to shoot shot shells at clay/glass targets rather than bullets...make the audience believe the shooter was more skilled than he/she was....I was livid when I saw this...first off it would've been an illegal SBS - but she had no idea...second - it HAD rifling (luckily)...mostly worn, but enough to prevent it from being an SBS, but not enough to make it useful for anything but contact or contact 'close' shooting (basically worthless.)...I'd like at some point to get it rebarreled or to make it a car gun with a shorter barrel..S&W has already declined to work on it...is there anyone who can do this?? it will be some time before I can afford to get this done...I'm a disabled vet living on a disability and SS...

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a 1917 the w*fe bought at a gunshow from one of the 'hangers on' - it was presented to her as a 'trick' gun - one that had a smooth bore and was used to shoot shot shells at clay/glass targets rather than bullets...make the audience believe the shooter was more skilled than he/she was....I was livid when I saw this...first off it would've been an illegal SBS - but she had no idea...second - it HAD rifling (luckily)...mostly worn, but enough to prevent it from being an SBS, but not enough to make it useful for anything but contact or contact 'close' shooting (basically worthless.)...I'd like at some point to get it rebarreled or to make it a car gun with a shorter barrel..S&W has already declined to work on it...is there anyone who can do this?? it will be some time before I can afford to get this done...I'm a disabled vet living on a disability and SS...

Welcome to the Forum.

Have you shot it? The 1917s were designed to be shot with FMJ bullets.

If you do decide to rebarrel it, post a Want to Buy in our classifieds. There are a number of 'smiths who can rebarrel it. However, you're talking around $100 for a decent barrel and another $100 to do the rebarrel. Depends on how much you want to put into this gun.

 

[murphydog]

I have a 1917 the w*fe bought at a gunshow from one of the 'hangers on' - it was presented to her as a 'trick' gun - one that had a smooth bore and was used to shoot shot shells at clay/glass targets rather than bullets...make the audience believe the shooter was more skilled than he/she was....I was livid when I saw this...first off it would've been an illegal SBS - but she had no idea...second - it HAD rifling (luckily)...mostly worn, but enough to prevent it from being an SBS, but not enough to make it useful for anything but contact or contact 'close' shooting (basically worthless.)...I'd like at some point to get it rebarreled or to make it a car gun with a shorter barrel..S&W has already declined to work on it...is there anyone who can do this?? it will be some time before I can afford to get this done...I'm a disabled vet living on a disability and SS...

Yes, spare 1917 barrels are out there, and changing it out is fairly simple but most would recommend a gunsmith to do it - easy to bend the frame without the proper fixtures, setting barrel/cylinder gap, etc. Posting a Wanted to Buy ad here might find you one (the barrel, not the gunsmith ). Hope this is helpful.

 

[DWalt]

I'm no expert on the late commercial 1917s, but the information I do have says that SNs 207,196 to 209,878 were put together in 1946. Maybe they actually got to 210xxx.

 

[stu1ritter]

According to the SCS&W the post war commercials were from 209792 up to 210782. I own 210151.

 

[JSR III]

Unless I missed it, you haven't mentioned what you are willing to trade for the 1917. If it is a boxed registered magnum, I would suggest not doing it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Chris! Considering the scarcity of that gun, you might want to have it restored. Ford's Gunsmithing in Crystal River is known for this type of work. However, it's not cheap.

 

[The Kid]

No I'm not considering trading a RM or anything like that for it. Was considering swapping a Ruger 44 carbine for it.

Sounds like it's kinda a scarce item and even though it needs some work I think I'd like to have it. Only thing that bothers me about the potential deal is the bore condition. I shoot almost exclusively cast bullets and don't really want to have to start buying jacketed. Of course I do have around 500 rounds of JHP 45 ammo lying around.