Dad's 1917 Where has it been?

[Oldiron]

Drug my dad's 1917 out of the safe today and was wondering if some one could help me id the proofs. S/N is 305xx, reblued sometime before 1960 when dad got it and has gold medallion checked walnut grips. Lanyard loop cut off before reblue.
Pics aren't too good but will give you some idea of what I'm talking about.









Barrel has BV BP and NP in circles with a crown above them and what apears to be remainder of a British commercial proof.
Cylinder has the circled BV BP and NP with crowns alternating between holes. Frame has commercial and what appears to be a hummingbird (?) below barrel pin and between trigger guard and grip, and a circled BV with a crown with the others at the barrel pin.
Found BV BP and NP as Birmingham proofs but no mention of circled ones. Any ideas?
Larry

 

[Mack]

That looks like a 2nd model hand ejector not a 1917 to me, a 1917 will have a 5" barrel. Is it .455 or has it been converted to .45 ACP?

 

[sigp220.45]

I agree - not a 1917. Its a very nice .455 Hand Ejector Second Model that was sent to our British pals.

There's some nice info in this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/184426-s-w-455-hand-ejector-2nd-model.html

 

[DCWilson]

Other .455 HE/Seconds in the vicinity of this serial number were being shipped in December 1915. These .455s were often converted to .45 Colt or .45 ACP/AR for the American market after they were released from British military service.

 

[mkk41]

Obviously been refinished , markings are somewhat buffed away. But was it purchased by the Brit Gov't? Or sent over and sold commercially? I'd say it's worth getting 'lettered'.

 

[Oldiron]

It's .45, took a magnifing glass to the barrel and the proofs haven't overstamped another 5. You are correct on the barrel length. Looked back at my book and it says 17s would have a 5.5" barrel, Mark II 2nd change would have a 6.5"and this is a 6.5". Would they have to shave the rear of the cylinder to convert from .455 to .45? I can't find the s/n on the back of the cylinder.
This is one of the reasons I pulled it out of the safe today, I wanted to see what the marking actually said. Have only had it out once since dad died. Whichever it is, it going to stay in the family and is still a great shooter.
Larry

 

[Oldiron]

Thanks guys. Learned a lot today. And David, there is an AR stamped in the jumble of proofs behind the .45.
Thanks again,
Larry

 

[Muley Gil]

"It's .45, took a magnifing glass to the barrel and the proofs haven't overstamped another 5."

Many of these revolvers did NOT have a ".455" stamping on the barrel.

Check on the inside of the right grip for a pencilled serial number that should match the SN of the revolver.