Another Round of 1917 Mystery Theatre

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

About a year and a half ago, I was in one of my gun groups yapping about revolvers and pretty much being ignored by most of the room. A young gentleman sent me a private message and said "Hey! I have something you need!" I face palmed and groaned. That's usually the pre-cursor to "I'm gonna show you some piece of **** that is uninteresting and ask two or three prices for it"

Then he sent me a picture of a 1917. It had rubberized grips and....a shortened barrel? Adjustable sights...? A different front sight? Blueing?

My eyes lit up, my tail started wagging and I told him..."Ya' know what...you may be right. Let's meet up!"

Well...clearly, I bought it. Otherwise this thread would probably be pointless. Very nice younger fella I stay in touch with to this day.

The work done on it seems to be very nicely performed. The front sight is a bit homely, but it's well regulated and provides a clean sight picture. It's well timed and very smooth. The blueing seems decent, but I suspect that a WW1 revolver surface could only have so much in the way of dings and pitting removed.

Now here's the mystery. At some point I did some research and deduced it was a 1917 made in...1917. This weekend, I looked again and had my doubts. It was looking more 1925ish. The butt is marked "U.S ARMY MODEL 1917" The SN# is "No 22804" there are no further markings.

The cylinder bears the same SN#. The left side of the bbl. Is simply marked "S&W. D.A.45". There is a symbol that I can't make heads nor tails of on the left side, just under the sight. Finally, under the barrel is a "Y" that I suspect is merely a gunsmiths stamp, but thought it was worth a mention.

If anyone could clue me in on what I've got and it's value, I'd sure appreciate it!

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

More identifying pics

 

[quinn]

Homely and well regulated are terms I don't often see together. However, the end product is great! I once had a shortened 1917. Unfortunately, it had been round butted to the point I couldn't hold onto it. Loved that gun but the web between my thumb and fore finger told me to never shoot it again. Another forum member didn't beleive me and had to havve the gun. I think he managed to get two round through it ...

 

[kscharlie]

No expert on these, but it started life as a Model 1917. The barrel has been cut and front sight added, along with an adjustable rear sight. The Y" shown on the bottom of the barrel is the tail end of the "U.S. PROPERTY" stamp that was removed when the barrel was cut.

Neat gun!

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Pffft! The "Y". Don't I feel like a dummy? Lol! Thanks!

 

[AJ]

OP, I like your 1917. A friend has a 1917 that has been shortened to 2", will try to get and post some pictures of it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Front sight looks like a Redfield Sourdough in a Williams Shorty ramp or similar from Redfield or Lyman.

 

[Borderboss]

I would have bought that in a heartbeat as well. Great looking gun. My 1917/1937 has a future appointment with a gunsmith to do the same thing.

I don't have my book with me, but I believe all the guns marked U.S. Property were made in 1917. There was another thread going on that earlier today or yesterday.

 

[lestert357]

I think wiregrassguy has a link for Model 1917 serial number shipment dates; hopefully he will post it. Serial number 22804 might have shipped in very late 1917 since it is a fairly early gun, but most of the S&W Model 1917 Army .45's were shipped in 1918.

 

[Heinz]

I like it It is WW1 production

 

[Hondo44]

The"symbol" below the sight is the inspector's initials. Definitely a WWI issue gun.

 

[Hondo44]

The"symbol" below the sight is the inspector's initials. Definitely a WWI issue gun.

 

[murphydog]

The"symbol" below the sight is the inspector's initials. Definitely a WWI issue gun.

Major Gilbert H Sullivan.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Awright. So...definitely between 1917 and 1919. I reckon I got myself mixed up with s chart on another group that indicated Pre War N frames. 22000-25000 are 1925 thrub1926. But...I think I'm learning 1917s are a little bit of their own genre as far as numbers go.

Any thoughts on the value of a critter like this?

Many thanks for the knowledge already shared!

 

[Artyldr01]

Oldguns.net puts it at February 1918.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[Muley Gil]

Awright. So...definitely between 1917 and 1919. I reckon I got myself mixed up with s chart on another group that indicated Pre War N frames. 22000-25000 are 1925 thrub1926. But...I think I'm learning 1917s are a little bit of their own genre as far as numbers go.

Any thoughts on the value of a critter like this?

Many thanks for the knowledge already shared!

As noted, the 1917s have their own serial number range. After WW I, civilian 1917s continued in this range. This also includes the Brazilian 1917s and the post WW II (long action) 1917s.

 

[Glashaus]

That is a great customized 1917, I bet in the 20's or 30's. Loved that they retained the lanyard ring, super gun, enjoy that at the range and would make a great carry piece!

 

[JohnRippert]

That is a darn nice hogleg the way it is setup. Is that a piece of brass inlet into the front sight?

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

That is a great customized 1917, I bet in the 20's or 30's. Loved that they retained the lanyard ring, super gun, enjoy that at the range and would make a great carry piece!

I have nothing to base it off of, but that's exactly what I like to imagine. It would have been an amazing gun back in the day. It's what I would have wanted as a peacekeeper back then.

Something I really love about this one inparticular, is that in the realm of self protection this thing can fling 230 grains of "Leave me alone!" Every bit as effectively as it's unobtainium rail bearing countpart, the TRR 325.

I've thought about using this one as a carry gun. Nostalgia and looks aside, it's reasonably lightweight, powerful, dependable, and a platform I spend alot of time with.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Well, the rear sights are post-WWII. And WWI 1917's did not have a trademark stamp. Yours has a large stamp on the side plate. It could have been replaced with a newer one at some point. Have you checked to see if it has the current hammer block safety? Are the serials on the barrel and cylinder the same as on the butt?