1917 Snub Nose Project

Shtf45acp

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Well I finally got my first S&W 1917. It's the perfect candidate for a snubby project I've been wanting to do. It has already been shortened and is parkerized as well. I feels ok and timing is good but the cylinder is a little looser on the yolk then my 625 but I guess being a older gun its probably normal. I'm not quite sure if there is anything I can do to fix it.

Anyway I plan on shortening it to the ejector rod lug or possibly even shorter.

I've been talking to another member on here, his name is deyomatic and he has one of the shortest 1917 revolvers I've ever seen. He has a detent in the yolk to take care of the lock up since there is no ejector rod lug.

After taking to my machinest buddy he said we could easily replicate that and possibly even do two detents to make a even more positive lock up.

Just looking for ideas and suggestions on what some others have done with these old 1917 snub nose guns and possible ideas for a front sights as well. I can wait to start on this and show off the final results.

Here is a few pictures of what it looks like now.
 

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Can you make that into a round butt? Those square butt stocks ruin the concealability if you ask me.

TheShootist1894 did this one for me - it was a 4" M64.

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I didn't want a "Fitz Special" so he relieved the trigger guard instead - it's hard to see due to the "stand" supporting the gun. Also, he checkered the backstrap. I have square butt snubby K frames but I prefer them round.
 
Very nice find.

Two thoughts:

1. Since your making a very snubbed snubbie, a ramp or 1/2 round front sight will be friendlier to a fast draw from concealment.

2. Unless you want to maintain the ergonomics and authenticity of the original 'mushroom' knob, you may want a post war knobless extractor rod style with the knurled tip which provides about 5/16" extra length for ejection of shells. If so You need the right handed N frame version used post war until ~ 1959.
 
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A worthy project and will likely garnish some likes as lotsa big-bore snubby fans around here.
Someone mentioned round-butting it. I'll post a pic (been posted before) after I find it of one with some RB K's.
 
My original idea was to do a round butt conversion but I'm not sure how to get around the serial number. I don't want to commit a federal crime by defacing it. The barrel is a matching number but I don't think that matters as it's a replaceable part. Concealabilty is what I really want but I'm not sure how to get around the serial number dilemma.

IGGY your snubby is what first got my gears turning on wanting to do this little cannon project. I have your pictures and posts saved for reference. Yours turned out really nice!

As far as the ejector rod I'm not sure yet because I'm having problems finding parts just to replace and try and tighten up the cylinder. Deyomatics barrel also doesn't conform around the ejector like mine or a 1917 does so I'm not sure how he did that. I'd like to keep the original mushroom knob but doesn't really matter to be honest. Depending on how short I go I thought about just making the barrel round like deyomatics or a colt 1917.

As for the front sight I've seen it done many ways. In my opinion the half moon sight fits the styling of the era of the gun the best. I'll probably carve one out of mild steel and either solder or tig weld it to the barrel.

Also I believe this was the perfect candidate for what I was doing and I didn't want to cut down a original 1917 even if it was a Brazilian.

Any ideas or tips to tighten up the cylinder or am I just over worrying about it? Thanks guys!
 
I like Iggy's the best! I would go for that if I was redoing one of mine. A barrel that is too short is just no good to me. You might as well hold the cartridge between your thumb and forefinger and hit the primer with a hammer.
 
You can see in the shadow in both photos that the serial # pad under the barrel has been removed making the barrel round; likely turned off in a lathe. I wouldn't do it that way, I just reproduced the 2 step notch further back in the barrel pad. Protects the rod from getting bent somewhat.

I agree, a 1/2 rd sight would be period correct and look the best.

How is the cyl loose? Front to back end play? There's shims made for that. If it's loose side to side, 'stretching' the hand or an oversize cyl bolt fitted. Or much more easily, just peening the ratchet teeth will tighten it up.
 
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Front to back is probably a little out of spec. I haven't measured it but I'd say .010" to .015". Its enough to feel it. All my 625's have end play that is barely noticeable.

It also can be rotated just a bit more when locked like you're going to shoot it so clockwise counter clockwise.

Then it is quite noticeable when unlocked the cylinder is loose on the shaft off the yolk. Almost like its worn out maybe? I'm not sure maybe I can take a video and post it.
 
SHTF,
I had to file the front site down because it was shooting about a foot low at 20'. It's right on now elevation wise. It is much more accurate in my buddy's hand, though.

Want me to get some pics of the detent?

I love the aesthetics of mine. It looks like an M&P snub- until you pick it up!
 

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Just to give you something to look at and compare.
If I had one I would do it just like Iggy's . To me they look so much better with the ejector rod catch and the full length rod is easier to unload the empties.
Cutting off another inch barrel doesn't gain anything.
I like the front sight on yours ...I would keep it , slide it back and do a little rounding of the butt .
Awesome !
Gary
Big bore belly guns rock
 
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Front to back is probably a little out of spec. I haven't measured it but I'd say .010" to .015". Its enough to feel it. All my 625's have end play that is barely noticeable.

It also can be rotated just a bit more when locked like you're going to shoot it so clockwise counter clockwise.

Then it is quite noticeable when unlocked the cylinder is loose on the shaft off the yolk. Almost like its worn out maybe? I'm not sure maybe I can take a video and post it.

The bottom line: is the accuracy off? And are you getting any spitting at bar/cyl gap? If not, It's within normal wear for a gun of that age.
 
I may try to use the front sight again and see how it looks.

As far as accuracy I'm not sure yet as I've only owned it a few hours. I'll definitely try shooting it the next few weeks to see what it's like before I start working on it.

As far as the model it's a Brazilian contract 1917. So the serial number is on the back of the bottom. It doesn't say US Army so there isn't enough room I don't think to round the butt off to make it a official round butt. Other wise I'd have to make custom grips.

I may just cut it down to the ejector lug and try it like that for awhile and see how I like it. Then I can look for another barrel in the mean time and see what happens from there before I cut it extremely short.
 
Put a set of round butt Magna grips on it and then trace around them. If the cut interferes with SN, well of course you shouldn't cut unless you do make a set of custom grips that allows for the full SN to not be altered.
 
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