1917 Trade Question

[merl67]

A man on our local gun board has a 1917 for sale or trade I have a nickel 29-3 with 4 inch barrel my gun is in good shape it has a few spots of nickle loss about the size of a pin head each here is his description and photo wanted get some input Marked "U.S.Army 1917"on bottom of the butt "U.S. Properity" under the barrel. Has the semi circles milled into the sides of the hammer. Overall condition is around 60% with a fair bore.

 

[murphydog]

It's an early 1917, with the milled hammer and flat topped stocks. I'd guess its value at about $150-200 less than your model 29, and they are certainly two different guns for either shooting or collecting purposes. Hope this is helpful.

 

[merl67]

Thanks for the reply I have $425.00 in the 29-3 and I have a blued 29-2 4 inch model as well I got the nickel one last week because it was a good deal even if i did not decide to keep it now I have some thinking to do.

 

[11e40]

i would not go for it. hth.

 

[Masterpiece]

merl67,

Any chance of some Better Photos & the Full Serial No. of the 1917?? Reason being, given the fact of what you have invested in your 4" 29-3, you might want to give some thought to this trade if there is no evidence of a Refinish on the 1917!! These Very Early 1917's with Milled Hammers & Concave Top Grips generally bring a fair amount more than your 29 investment if they are in respectable condition & are "Correct"!! In my opinion, the Hammer & Grips alone are worth nearly half what you paid for the 29 if they have reasonable condition to them, but that's very hard to evaluate by the photo you posted!!!! Although in the end all this is going to depend on what he feels his 1917 is worth for this trade to work to your advantage!! Let us know!!

 

[Hondo44]

I agree with Masterpiece. The 1917 is missing the lanyard ring from the butt however that's minor and an easy find and looks very original otherwise.

 

[alwslate]

The 1917 seems to be a bit rough as a shooter with only a fair bore
and not really in nice collectable condition. Your 29-3 sounds like a great shooter at a bargain price. Keep the 29 I say.

 

[merl67]

Made the trade

I would imagine I will get mixed reviews but that is ok I am happy I have now got $325.00 in this serial number is 6501 all numbers match CDH stamp hammer with circles fuction and lockup is great.

 

[Masterpiece]

I have now got $325.00 in this.

merl67,

I'm sure there are others that will disagree with me as well, but I believe you did just fine!!

I'm also assuming when you say you have $325 in this that included your 29-3 in trade.... Correct?? I would certainly have to think so!!

Do the Grips match the Revolver as well?? Just curious!!

 

[merl67]

Yes you understood correct I got the 1917 and $100.00 the grip has the same serial number penciled on it. Just got done ordering lanyard ring and a few more moon clips. I am guessing made in 1917 or early 1918 this is my oldest Smith to date and since I already had a 29-2 4 inch I didn't need the need 29-3. I wanted one of these for a while but all the ones I have seen at gun shows have been north of $650-700 so glad to have this one

 

[Hondo44]

Yes you understood correct I got the 1917 and $100.00 the grip has the same serial number penciled on it. Just got done ordering lanyard ring and a few more moon clips. I am guessing made in 1917 or early 1918 this is my oldest Smith to date and since I already had a 29-2 4 inch I didn't need the need 29-3. I wanted one of these for a while but all the ones I have seen at gun shows have been north of $650-700 so glad to have this one

Great deal IMHO. So one could say that you got $750 to $800 for your 29-3!

 

[Masterpiece]

Yes you understood correct I got the 1917 and $100.00

merl67,

Wait a minute!! Are you saying that you traded your 29-3 & "He" gave you the Revolver & $100 to boot?? Boy if that's the case the deal was even better than I thought!!

As far as the Shipping Date, I believe you can be most assured it shipped in 1917!!

Also nice to hear the Grips are Correct to the Revolver as well!!

 

[merl67]

That's right he got my 29-3 and I got his 1917 and $100.00 to boot

 

[Masterpiece]

merl67,

Like I said earlier, I'm sure there are some who won't agree, but I think you did excellent!! I'm sure you'd have made a couple bucks on the 29 if you'd have sold it outright, but you only had $425 in it & got boot money when you traded so I figure you ended up with a Decent Early "Original" 1917 at a bargain price no matter what!! Don't get me wrong, I love 29's, but I'd have done the same in a NY Minute!!

 

[Geno44]

This is not to be taken as a judgement on your trade! If I bought a gun "under the money" or several years ago and it has appreciated, it doesn't seem to me that I can still value it at the lower price. I have to look at what it is really worth in today's market. A strange example: I grow and bale my own horse hay. I can delude myself into thinking it doesn't cost me anything to feed my two horses since I have my own hay but right now hay is bringing $8 a bale so I could sell it for cash. I bought an old Ithaca shotgun many years ago for $60. Several years ago I noticed some flaming bombs stamped on it. Turns out to be a WWII trench gun, very rare. if I had traded a guy even for a used mini 14, I'd only have $60 bucks in it. Cheap for a mini 14 but the shotgun was worth $1500. Older guys on this forum are going to have a ton of stuff like clean model 19's they bought for $75 and Pythons they bought for $100 years ago. Again, I'm not knocking your deal at all, just pointing another way of looking at it.

 

[merl67]

Geno44 I agree I already had a 29-2 4 inch one. I bought the 29-3 a few weeks ago knowing I might not keep it now I suppose I could have sold it and came out better but I am happy with the trade and the other guy was too.

 

[125JHP]

... I am happy with the trade and the other guy was too.

Now there is the real value in both of the guns.

 

[samandglove1]

I think you did great. Really early gun with many nice features. I would have made that trade also.