Another .455 Eley Model 1917. Sorry no pic, but description and some questions.

[Swissman]

I found a pretty nice Model 1917 Serial-# 11836 with two british proofmarks; on the frame and on the barrel. (crossed swords)
The frame, barrel and cylinder got the same serial-#. Blue has some wear on the left side from the muzzle ca. one inch long and on the top of the frame around the rear-sight. Some visible but not to ugly scratches both sides on the frame. No rust at all. The case-colored trigger and hammer are in great shape.

Timing, lockup and the lockwork are first-class. The barrel-inside is clean, like the chambers. The cylinder is not altered
to 45 Colt or something else. Its still .455 Eley.

The grips got the golden medaillon and are checkered. The wood got some nicks an minor missing chips. I don't have the time to look at the serial-# of the grips.

I had this gun layed away for me with the words: "I think we will talk over the price." I think he's ready for a dialog, because the .455 Eley is very expensive for the common people and the gun is not a showcase-beauty.

I need a permission to buy this gun, so i can make only one permission for the 1917 and the Mod. 31-1 that i got by another dealer reserved.


I know, it's hard to talk about a gun, without a picture, but...

What is the 1917-gun worth for you, if you got the chance to buy it from a dealer around you???

Thanks for answering.



Swissman

 

[Swissman]

I found a pretty nice Model 1917 Serial-# 11836 with two british proofmarks; on the frame and on the barrel. (crossed swords)
The frame, barrel and cylinder got the same serial-#. Blue has some wear on the left side from the muzzle ca. one inch long and on the top of the frame around the rear-sight. Some visible but not to ugly scratches both sides on the frame. No rust at all. The case-colored trigger and hammer are in great shape.

Timing, lockup and the lockwork are first-class. The barrel-inside is clean, like the chambers. The cylinder is not altered
to 45 Colt or something else. Its still .455 Eley.

The grips got the golden medaillon and are checkered. The wood got some nicks an minor missing chips. I don't have the time to look at the serial-# of the grips.

I had this gun layed away for me with the words: "I think we will talk over the price." I think he's ready for a dialog, because the .455 Eley is very expensive for the common people and the gun is not a showcase-beauty.

I need a permission to buy this gun, so i can make only one permission for the 1917 and the Mod. 31-1 that i got by another dealer reserved.


I know, it's hard to talk about a gun, without a picture, but...

What is the 1917-gun worth for you, if you got the chance to buy it from a dealer around you???

Thanks for answering.



Swissman

 

[cxm]

Roland,

These are nice guns, though it is not a 1917... what the gun is is a 2nd Model Hand ejector 45(the 1917 was a second model too.)

S&W made these guns at the request of the British government as a simplified version of the 1st. Model Hand ejector which the UK had been buying since 1914. They were made in .455 cal for use with British military ammo.

These are very well made guns, and unmodified examples are less common than modified ones in the U.S.

With only two Britishstyle markings, your gun may have been Canadian or it may have been a private purchase (British officers had to provide their own gun, which was sometimes bought through commercial source or sometimes from government stores (which would be generally be marked with a double WD arrow.)

Anyway, they are excellent guns... with photos of the markings there are people here who can tell you a lot about the gun... and of course a factory history letter would provide additional information.

Hope you enjoy the gun.

V/r

CHuck

Originally posted by Swissman:
I found a pretty nice Model 1917 Serial-# 11836 with two british proofmarks; on the frame and on the barrel. (crossed swords)
The frame, barrel and cylinder got the same serial-#. Blue has some wear on the left side from the muzzle ca. one inch long and on the top of the frame around the rear-sight. Some visible but not to ugly scratches both sides on the frame. No rust at all. The case-colored trigger and hammer are in great shape.

Timing, lockup and the lockwork are first-class. The barrel-inside is clean, like the chambers. The cylinder is not altered
to 45 Colt or something else. Its still .455 Eley.

The grips got the golden medaillon and are checkered. The wood got some nicks an minor missing chips. I don't have the time to look at the serial-# of the grips.

I had this gun layed away for me with the words: "I think we will talk over the price." I think he's ready for a dialog, because the .455 Eley is very expensive for the common people and the gun is not a showcase-beauty.

I need a permission to buy this gun, so i can make only one permission for the 1917 and the Mod. 31-1 that i got by another dealer reserved.


I know, it's hard to talk about a gun, without a picture, but...

What is the 1917-gun worth for you, if you got the chance to buy it from a dealer around you???

Thanks for answering.



Swissman

 

[handejector]

Swissman,
In the U.S., it sounds like it would go around $700-850.
Good Luck.

 

[Swissman]

Good day HE and Chuck

I am now back from a two-day businesstrip in Vienna. I got a 60 minute transfer and waiting-period from one customer to
the next. So i took the chance to call the dealer. We had a serious and deep discussion with no results. So i said thanks but CHF 950.-- is to much. Five minutes later the dealer called me back and says: "OK, CHF 850.--, all tax included."
I made the deal, because the tech. condition of the gun is it worth, only the blue-wear put the worth in my eyes to CHF 800.--. But believe me. The face of the taxidriver who had to listen to my conversation with the dealer was more worth than the CHF 50.--

Swissman

 

[handejector]

Good for you. They are beautiful old guns.
My ignorance- what is CHF?

 

[Kamerer]

"CHF" is the Swiss Franc - their currency. "CH" is "Confoederatorio Helvetica," proper name for what we call Switzerland. It's about par these days (vs. 1.5:1 about 10 years ago when I did business there. Low, how the dollar has fallen!). So he paid about $835 for it.

Swissman, sounds nice. Unconverted, original grips, not all scarred-up with export proof marks - sounds like a fair deal on this side of the ocean. Like CHM and Lee said, these are beautiful guns - really well made "2nd generation" (e.g., post triple-lock) N frames - lots of beautiful fit and finish that will really impress you.

I think the SCSW calls them ".455 Mk. II Hand Ejector, 2nd Model." The first model (0001 to 6000 or so) had an ejector shroud and triple lock. The rest (6000 to, um, about 75,000 I think) had neither. I have one of these, too, but altered to .45LC (not "proofed" up and defaced, though, thankfully) and it is a joy to shoot. The exact details are in the SCSW.

Lee has probably handled quite a few of these over the years so will know more details. I have heard from others that getting .455 Eley in Europe is not as hard as over here.

Didn't you look at one of these a few months back but a cylinder was bulged or something?

 

[handejector]

"CHF" is the Swiss Franc

Thanks, Kam. I did not know there was such a formal designation for it- we always just used F.

 

[Kamerer]

Yep, you gotta keep your Francs straight! - there's French (FrF), Belgian (BeF), Luxembourg (dunno, I'm guessing LuF). I can't think of any others but their may well be!

 

[cxm]

Lets see... that would make Swissman a Confederate too....

V/r

Chuck

Originally posted by Kamerer:
"CHF" is the Swiss Franc - their currency. "CH" is "Confoederatorio Helvetica," proper name for what we call Switzerland. It's about par these days (vs. 1.5:1 about 10 years ago when I did business there. Low, how the dollar has fallen!). So he paid about $835 for it.

Swissman, sounds nice. Unconverted, original grips, not all scarred-up with export proof marks - sounds like a fair deal on this side of the ocean. Like CHM and Lee said, these are beautiful guns - really well made "2nd generation" (e.g., post triple-lock) N frames - lots of beautiful fit and finish that will really impress you.

I think the SCSW calls them ".455 Mk. II Hand Ejector, 2nd Model." The first model (0001 to 6000 or so) had an ejector shroud and triple lock. The rest (6000 to, um, about 75,000 I think) had neither. I have one of these, too, but altered to .45LC (not "proofed" up and defaced, though, thankfully) and it is a joy to shoot. The exact details are in the SCSW.

Lee has probably handled quite a few of these over the years so will know more details. I have heard from others that getting .455 Eley in Europe is not as hard as over here.

Didn't you look at one of these a few months back but a cylinder was bulged or something?

 

[Swissman]

Good day together

Kamerer, i am impressed about the "money-knowledge" you got. Is it possible that your real name is Greenspan ?

The 455 Eley from Fiocchi cost about US$ 75.-- for 50 rounds. But my buddy got reloading-dies. This reduces the ammoprice
greatly. But i'm afraid that he wants the rent-fee for the dies in beer or wine.

Swissman