1917 & the hunt for R October...

[Nicksterdemus]

Thanks Muley. I'll have to find the file, but I seem to recall learning that tidbit on this forum, but that's been a few years ago. Bear in mind that I'm basing that completely on my memory which is always suspect.

After snooping in the book it appears I've confused the 1917 heat treating w/.38 1905 4th change. Heat treating began approximately at SN 316648. Further peeking in my files shines light on my poor memory.

My 4th change is a 255XXX, so it's the one not heat treated, had a brl replacement from around 1946, complete w/different S SN, and it came w/Faux stocks that weren't Ajax, but Jay Scott's.

Not my pistola, not a S&W nor #14 JS stocks though otherwise the same. Maybe cheesy to some, yet on nickel looks good to me. My fit is tight and certainly not oversized on the K frame .38 be it the shiney refinished 1905 HE or 14-4 Combat.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/...DC00F71-6557-000006A28E4C1846_zps79130969.jpg

Thanks for pointing out my error as the only thing worse than being wrong/post disinformation is not realizing such!

Other than a S&W R stamp on the 1917 I'll run w/:
Rescript.

It would seem that the R was a S&W stamp or someone mimicking their style of the same three capital letters in the usual suspect/places. Whilst I speculate the R would've been stamped before bluing whether original blue or not. If sent in then repair/refurbish would appear to be the leading candidate.

Possibly a letter would reveal factory work at a later date.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

Republic, as in pictures from 1949, The Sands of Iwo Jima.

Probably belonged to René Arthur Gagnon.

 

[rct269]

Resurrected may very well be the proper term. As near as I recall, an 'R' on the grip frame (of a 1930's vintage gun) stands for "Repaired during manufacture"-----as in: "Somethin' ain't right----fix it!"

Ralph Tremaine

 

[JohnRippert]

Rat Patrol.

 

[nawilson]

This thread needs pictures.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

I like Rat Patrol. The only pic I have is the online auction pic. It's left profile low resolution w/ton of flash on a white background.

The R is 2/3 the size of the flaming ordinance cartouche. It's of healthy size and very noticeable. The key should lie in the R being on the frame, brl flat & cylinder face. The same spots already have a SN.

Repair is more than plausible. My main point in the little mystery is not finding anyone else w/same R in those three spots. Granted anyone could have taken a die and stamped the letter in before the reblue.

But, if it obviously wasn't common procedure, and we rule out some hammer swinging madman, then the R would represent something.

Maybe it was Representin' before representin' was kewl.

ETA: Unlike my nickle the frame R isn't under the stocks on the grip frame. That's what sticks out. Someone wanted to see a R under bluing on the top left side in a prominent position.Maybe it was a joke played on a southpaw. To yer right, to yer right.

 

[spad124]

As I recall (maybe recalled for retrofit airbags? ) S&W started production of the 1917s but was building to commercial standards which took to quite a bit of time. The Gummint stepped in and took over production to speed things up. Maybe a gun that was caught up in the switch from S&W production to Gov't production?

Too bad there isn't a "B" near the R- you'd have an R&B model.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

SN places it in the fall of '18 evah so roughly though w/o letter nothin is a given.

Revenue, infernal
Registrar, office of
Registration, motor vehicle
Registered pre-magnum
Regulated out of left field
Regulator see dry gulcher
Resume civilian production
Regular ole 1917
Rip-snorter
Radioactive
Ray gun
Ray's gun
Rackless
Reckless abandon
Regiment
Resistance is futile you will be assimilated
Reciprocated
Rimless
Retaliate
Remember the Alamo
Rock of Ages
Roll, let's
Ride-along
Rip, let 'er
Rein of terror
Regret, Monsieur The Comancheros
Reach for the skies
Reward your final
Release me
Rendezvous w/destiny
Rigoletto
Rake over
Rake bounder/cad/scoundrel
Reckoning day of
Reconnoiter
Rock the Casbah
Rub, aye there's the
Roughneck
Rustle little doggies; up the usual suspects
Redemption
Renaissance armement pistolet de guerre
Revenuer, gall durn
Reparations Treaty of Versailles

 

[Nicksterdemus]

Three more to add to the fray as I shamelessly bump my thread.

Rusty
Relic
Refund

Or perhaps riding steed for a gold watch this was awarded upon retirement of tenure in Readin', Ritin' & Rithmatic.

 

[highpower3006]

Sometimes the meaning of the extra markings are just doomed to being lost to history. I have a Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun that started life as a riot gun, was converted to the trench configuration and somewhere along the way ended up with the letters "RPH" stamped on the receiver.

The style of lettering and the execution of the markings is very similar to military stampings I have seen, but for the life of me I can't think of what it stands for. I won't loose any sleep over it, but I would like to find out someday.

 

[murphydog]

After 5 years and change, can we finally see photos of the stamping? Nice Bearcat but it doesn't look like a 1917 .

 

[highpower3006]

It's not the OP's '17. It's my '97 Winchester

 

[murphydog]

Nice '97, and I see the stamping too...probably an inspector's or armorer's stamp? Remember Pearl Harbor?

I was referring to the OP's R stamping...easier to give an opinion when you can see it, as you did.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

I suppose one of these days I'll take a few pics. I haven't even fired a round to date. The meaning of the Cap R is no big deal. I'm having fun w/it though I'm running out of R'ptions.

As previously stated the most interesting thing to me is stamping the frame, cylinder face and barrel flat when they already have their own unique SN. The factory would probably have stamped the extractor as well I suppose.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

Here's the R on the frame. The R on the cylinder face & barrel flat look the same.

ETA:Well, on original buy I was hoping more for a Red badge of courage though now it's listing unto the scaRlet letter.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[linde]

Resurrected may very well be the proper term. As near as I recall, an 'R' on the grip frame (of a 1930's vintage gun) stands for "Repaired during manufacture"-----as in: "Somethin' ain't right----fix it!"

Ralph Tremaine

I believe the factory used the R for Rework . . . meaning repaired during manufacture as Ralph suggested.

Russ

 

[JSR III]

The "R" means returned to private ownership after military use.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

The "R" means returned to private ownership after military use.

Really!? Allow me a wee bit further inquiry. I would think quite the number of 1917 were transferred/sold/decommissioned unto the private arena over the span of several decades.

However, I seem to read into your reply the implication that this one, as well as others, were privately owned prior to government use. The only time I'm familiar with is during WWI, though there maybe other instances, that the government solicited the private sector for personal firearms due to an initial shortage. I seem to recall an era also where soldiers, mostly officers, might equip themselves w/personal sidearm into a theater of battle
.
Now the pendulum swings towards MisteR Smith goes to Washington.
Regardless, I still find it odd that they would strike the cylinder face and barrel flat as well. Especially after using such an obvious location on the frame by the hammer on the opening side of the cylinder. Do you figure, in light of these parts sharing the same SN, that this was some type of stamp only approved in triplicate?
Thanks for sharing your input.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Did this Repetitive thread Really get Resurrected again? This Ridiculous thread could stand to be Retired!

 

[Nicksterdemus]

BeRieve it ahR Rot!