1917 w/xtra grips? help needed

[Stranglehold]

A friend just stopped by for my opinion on a 1917 he's considering buying from the son of a deceased neighbor. The gun itself is a mess, nickeled over heavy pitting, cylinder binds, action rough, but the original grips are exceptional, numbered to the gun, with large gold-colored medallions, diamonds surrounding the screw.

Also in the box was a set of N-frame diamond magnas, these with large silver medallions, apparently unused, stored in a drawstring bag stamped with the Smith & Wesson name and address and a heavy paper shipping lable adressed to the deceased with a three cent stamp!

This is beyond my field of expertise, all I could tell him was the grips probably out-value the gun. He's asking what a fair price would be, he doesn't want to take advantage of the son.

Any help would be appreciated.

Roe

 

[Stranglehold]

A friend just stopped by for my opinion on a 1917 he's considering buying from the son of a deceased neighbor. The gun itself is a mess, nickeled over heavy pitting, cylinder binds, action rough, but the original grips are exceptional, numbered to the gun, with large gold-colored medallions, diamonds surrounding the screw.

Also in the box was a set of N-frame diamond magnas, these with large silver medallions, apparently unused, stored in a drawstring bag stamped with the Smith & Wesson name and address and a heavy paper shipping lable adressed to the deceased with a three cent stamp!

This is beyond my field of expertise, all I could tell him was the grips probably out-value the gun. He's asking what a fair price would be, he doesn't want to take advantage of the son.

Any help would be appreciated.

Roe

 

[cgt4570]

Pre-war magnas usually sell for between $300-600+ on Ebay. A pair that's NOS (new old stock) like you describe could possibly aproach a grand.
The gun itself wouldn't be a military 1917 if it came with gold medallion grips. It was most likely a British .455 2nd Model, but could possibly be a post-WW1 commercial gun (not as likely). In the condition you describe, it's probably worth around $200 as a parts gun or someone's pet project. I've picked up a couple early N frames that had no collector value left and made them into fun guns that Smith never produced, but should have. One is a snub nose ground down to a K frame grip, and the other is a heavy barrel target.

For what it's worth, I picked up a 1917 a while back at a gun show that was wearing Pre-war Magnas. Given the value of the grips, the gun was basically free.

Hope this helps,
Chris

 

[opoefc]

What you have here is a classic case of "The sum of the Parts is Worth More Than the Whole" -- Tell the son to put both pair of grips on Ebay and net about $1800 to $2K. the pay him $200 for the gun w/o the grips. By youself some after market grips for the gun and make it into a project gun to shoot.

 

[Muley Gil]

Is it marked "U S Army Model 1917" on the butt?

 

[Stranglehold]

Muley, Yes to the 1917, but no U.S. Property markings under barrel. Unfortunately I have no shot at this deal, only trying to garner info for the two parties involved.

Roe