Early M1917

1

1srelluc

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
256
Reaction score
992
Location
Virginia
I found this early M1917 today at a local pawn shop....Fair condition but OK for it's age I guess.

Serial # 9939.

GHS stamp....Concave grips....Circular mill marks on the hammer....All matching.....I could even still make-out the penciled serial on the right grip.

No rebuild evidence.

I gave $350.00 for it.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN5119.jpg
    DSCN5119.jpg
    81.8 KB · Views: 119
  • DSCN5120.jpg
    DSCN5120.jpg
    82.9 KB · Views: 100
  • DSCN5116.JPG
    DSCN5116.JPG
    126.1 KB · Views: 98
Register to hide this ad
gmborkovic said:
Mr. OP, great snag on an issued gun. How is the bore?
Click to expand...

Pretty darn good, there was some slight corrosion on the cylinder face but it cleaned-up OK.

I had to clean the area behind the yoke too so I could see the yoke serial number.

The main "wart" is some pitting on the cylinder but It's not all that bad.

BTW....What was the purpose of the circular milled hammer? I read where it was done away with later production.
 
Last edited:
1srelluc said:
BTW....What was the purpose of the circular milled hammer? I read where it was done away with later production.
Click to expand...

Some opined it was for oil retention on the sides of the hammer, but others thought it was just the factory showing off :). This hammer type was only seen on early 1917s and Registered Magnums, as far as I have seen.
 
murphydog said:
Some opined it was for oil retention on the sides of the hammer, but others thought it was just the factory showing off :). This hammer type was only seen on early 1917s and Registered Magnums, as far as I have seen.
Click to expand...

Till I read of it I just thought it was some sort of production shortcut.
 
1srelluc said:
Pretty darn good, there was some slight corrosion on the cylinder face but it cleaned-up OK.

I had to clean the area behind the yoke too so I could see the yoke serial number.

The main "wart" is some pitting on the cylinder but It's not all that bad.

BTW....What was the purpose of the circular milled hammer? I read where it was done away with later production.
Click to expand...

You found a real treasure!

By the way, the number in the yoke is not a serial number; it's a factory "work" number also known as an "assembly" number. It's stamped in three locations: on the yoke, on the frame in the yoke cut, and on the indside surface of the side plate.
 
murphydog said:
Some opined it was for oil retention on the sides of the hammer, but others thought it was just the factory showing off :). This hammer type was only seen on early 1917s and Registered Magnums, as far as I have seen.
Click to expand...
The Concentric grooves were still around in 1940. I had a 38-44 Outdoorsman lettered with a Humpback hammer, patent date, and Concentric Grooves. Big Larry
 
Hondo44 said:
You found a real treasure!

By the way, the number in the yoke is not a serial number; it's a factory "work" number also known as an "assembly" number. It's stamped in three locations: on the yoke, on the frame in the yoke cut, and on the indside surface of the side plate.
Click to expand...

Jim,

The OP may be describing the serial number stamped on the arm of the yoke, visible through a charge hole.

Kevin
 
1srelluc said:
…

I had to clean the area behind the yoke too so I could see the yoke serial number.
…
Click to expand...

Hondo44 said:
You found a real treasure!

By the way, the number in the yoke is not a serial number; it's a factory "work" number also known as an "assembly" number. It's stamped in three locations: on the yoke, on the frame in the yoke cut, and on the indside surface of the side plate.
Click to expand...

Jim,

The OP may be describing the serial number stamped on the arm of the yoke, visible through a charge hole.

Kevin
 
1srelluc said:
I found this early M1917 today at a local pawn shop....Fair condition but OK for it's age I guess.

Serial # 9939.

GHS stamp....Concave grips....Circular mill marks on the hammer....All matching.....I could even still make-out the penciled serial on the right grip.

No rebuild evidence.

I gave $350.00 for it.
Click to expand...

Very nice revolver and price. You could easily double you money.

That revolvers appears to have been accepted by the Army in January, 1918.

Kevin
 
You got a helluva deal, yes an early 1917 with the concave grips and concentric gooves on the hammer. As I recall this feature was to ensure lubrication of oil for hammer movement. But the rigors of trench warfare clogged up actions with mud and dirt and this extra machining feature was done away with as a result. That's my recollection, please correct me if I'm wrong.
In any event you did very well, gun is easily worth double what you paid.
After congratulating yourself, a range report and a picture of the Right side is necessary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mike4MSU
Very Early US 1917
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Mike4MSU
Mike4MSU
C
M1917 marking questions
Replies
11
Views
1K
alwslate
A
F
K frame stock question
Replies
6
Views
396
MelvinWalker
MelvinWalker
L
S&W M1917 # 6929
Replies
5
Views
495
larryofcc
L
1
K-22 Outdoorsman 1st Model Question
Replies
13
Views
1K
Gdogman
Gdogman

Latest posts

Back
Top