Brazil 1937 found

[awo425]

Hello,

I am new, here, normaly I am more a rifle collector and shooter, but found thar nice M1917 Revolver made for the 1937 brazilian contract.
Barrel and chambers all nice and clean, as described by the seller.
All numbers match, 184880.
The trigger is a dream, 770g, like glass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now to get some clips and load some ammo.

Is the 1934 on the backstrap a inventory number????

Can anyone recommend special handloads for this revolver?
Chambermouth are at .456", barrel groove is .451".

Chris

 

[awo425]

Hello,

I am new, here, normaly I am more a rifle collector and shooter, but found thar nice M1917 Revolver made for the 1937 brazilian contract.
Barrel and chambers all nice and clean, as described by the seller.
All numbers match, 184880.
The trigger is a dream, 770g, like glass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now to get some clips and load some ammo.

Is the 1934 on the backstrap a inventory number????

Can anyone recommend special handloads for this revolver?
Chambermouth are at .456", barrel groove is .451".

Chris

 

[BruceHMX]

Congrats on finding it. More importantly it has the proper grips which are a bear to find now days. One of the other members can tell you how and what to soak them in to get the grease/oil out of them.

Yes, the 1934 stamp is a rack/inventory number.

Looks like it still has some case color left too.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[VonFatman]

awo425,Wonderful find. Congratulations. If I came upon a Brazilian 1917 like that, I'd break a thumb getting my wallet out of my pocket...it's got what I like in older guns...charactor! It's dripping out the cylinders and barrel and off the butt.

Way to go!

AND...Welcome to the Forum!!

We want to hear your range report on that gun...WITH pics!

Here's an easy load that can be used in Auto Rim or ACP:

230gr. Rainier Plated RN Bullet
5.2gr. Win-231
Starline Brass
Win Primers
OAL: 1.278
FPS: 676


Bob

 

[The Virginian]

Nice find to leave as is since it has so much finish remaining.

 

[awo425]

Thanks!

It will exacly stay, as it is, did a full inspection/disassembling/reassembling/lubing according to the book of Mr. Kuhnhausen.
I am more a shooting collector, every gun gets its ragetime from me from time to time.

Bob, what diameter are those bullets?
I van get .451", .452" and .454" swadges and copper plus "plastic" coated bullets form Haendler& Natermann over here in Germany.

Will post a range report, ASAP, but still wait for the dies(will have to make some fodder for my 1943 M1911A1 too)

Chris

 

[tskunlimited]

That is a beautiful looking Brazil contract. I just picked one up myself and am awaiting the full moon clips for a trip to the range. Have fun with your 1937. They are such classic looking revolvers.

 

[Pisgah]

Originally posted by awo425:
Bob, what diameter are those bullets?
I van get .451", .452" and .454" swadges and copper plus "plastic" coated bullets form Haendler& Natermann over here in Germany.

Chris

Mine works great with 200 and 255 gr. cast semiwadcutter bullets sized .452"

 

[Catshooter]

Mine also likes .452 as the bore is just over .451.

Welcome to the forum!


Cat

 

[Deacon KC]

Just take an old toothbrush and some mineral spirits to those grips. It will really clean them up!

 

[VonFatman]

awo425,
Rainier lists the bullets at .451

Good luck.

Bob

 

[handejector]

Chris,
Welcome to the forum. Nice old Brazilian. I like those guns- I believe it was a significant contract in S&W history, coming at the height of The Great Depression.

I just picked one up myself and am awaiting the full moon clips for a trip to the range.

You can shoot the S&W 1917's without clips- that's why the chambers have such square shoulders. I find clips annoying, and don't even fool with them. Most empties will fall out, thumbnails will pull most resisters, and a pencil in your pocket will get the rest.

 

[The Virginian]

If you handload get some .45 Auto-Rim brass and supporting accessories for reloading it and the moon clips are history. Kind of like having a short .45 Colt if you load it with heavy .45 Colt bullets. If loaded on the light side it is like having a .455 Webley too. You can also use .45 ACP ballistics in the .45 AR case too. I have had good luck with cast bullets if they are sized to .452" and .454" as they seem to really grip the shallow rifling of the 1917s.