found this 1917 da45 what do y'all think of it?

[trktwo]

i found this at a local gunshop. these don't turn up very often around here. any idea if that's original nickel? the grips? seems to lock up tight and should be a good shooter. 5 digit serial number followed by star on butt?

any thoughts, comments, observations appreciated.

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun! It appears to be a 1917 Army that went back to the factory (it has a star after the numbers indicating factory work, possibly the refinish). The number is too low to be an original commercial 1917.

Have a look at the left lower side of the grip frame with the stock panel removed and you may see numbers separated by a dot, indicating the month.year the work was done, and possibly R-N stamped in a rectangle for the nickel finish. Enjoy!

 

[bulletslap]

I enjoy shooting my old Refinished 1917.

I just wish it had as good a finish as your does.

 

[les.b]

Well, I'm sure no expert on these, but the star indicates a trip back to the factory for some work. The Ivory stocks have either shrunk (not impossible), or were made for another gun. Don't know what the bore is like, or chambers. Was it originally nickle? The lanyard swivel is missing, and since it doesn't have a military butt stamping, I assume it is a post war version. $599 is the asking price? Or have you already bought it??

Personally, I kind of like it, but I'm a big softy.

Someone who knows a lot more than me will no doubt be along soon

Best Regards, Les

 

[Old_Cop]

Grips look like ivory, may have shrunk a bit, not factory but very nice. I think that it may have been nickeled at the factory. Welcome from NW PA.

 

[trktwo]

i'll be putting it on layaway Monday. I asked if the stocks were ivory, he said no, but they are a great imitation if fake. I will take the grip off Monday and get some pictures. $599 +tax for the layaway. could get it for $599 cash. I really like the gun. this is only the second 1917 I've seen down here on the gulf coast. the other was a colt and was priced the same as this one, but not even close in condition.

 

[Iggy]

Those sure do look like real ivories to me.

 

[beagleye]

Man that looks like a great knock around gun. I bet it will shoot well, looks well used and well loved, a good sign.

 

[trktwo]

1 more.

 

[Muley Gil]

Those sure do look like real ivories to me.

Me too! Also, the ejector rod has a barrel head, but there is no Made in USA stamp on the frame. The sideplate seam looks pretty good.

The SN on the butt looks like a commercial model's number.

I believe I would buy this one and have it lettered.

 

[OldSarge21]

Those look like real ivory to me too as indicated by the cracks and shrinking.

 

[lebomm]

Forgive me, but do I see a cracked frame at the upper right rear corner ? If that is indeed a crack, not only would I not shoot it, I wouldn't buy it for more than about $100. Hope I'm seeing it wrong.

Larry

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Forgive me, but do I see a cracked frame at the upper right rear corner ? If that is indeed a crack, not only would I not shoot it, I wouldn't buy it for more than about $100. Hope I'm seeing it wrong.
Oops, how do I delete a dupe ?

Larry

Click on edit then click "Go Advanced" . There will also be a box above the post that says" Delete Message" , there are two small boxes in that box . One says do not delete one says Delete , check delete and click on the larger box that says delete .

Optical Illusion caused by darkening of the plating on the side and corner .

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I'd buy it .

 

[lebomm]

Thanks, Eddie!
I zoomed up the images, and that still looks mighty like a crack to me in both the top shot and the right side shot.
What say you, trktwo ?

Larry

 

[merl67]

I think what you are seeing is the side plate seam. If those aren't ivory I don't know what is, buy the gun it is beautiful. The grips are a bit small I dont think Ivory shrinks that much. The could be for a K frame either way the price is right for what appears to be a commercial model made from left over 1917 frames.

 

[trktwo]

another pic i had, and a closeup of suspected crack. i don't know, i will sure take a close look at it on monday. thank you for pointing it out. i totally missed it.

 

[trktwo]

 

[BC38]

I don't see anything that looks like a crack in the photos - other than the sideplate seams.

I know I paid half that much for a shooter that was pitted on the sideplate, cylinder, and top strap, and then bumper chromed over the pits. And mine was wearing a set of Pachmayr Presentation rubber grips - not a set of antique ivory stocks.

I think that if you get it for $500 you'll be making out just fine trkto.

 

[JSR III]

I own 59602 and 55547 and both shipped in May of 1918. The gun was made before 1923 when the Made in USA stamping was ordered by Harold Wesson however, the smaller extractor rod knobs didn't show up until the late 20's. Also IIRC the military guns did not have a S&W logo.

Since the star indicates a return trip to the factory, it is possible that the gun had the rod changed and the S&W logo stamped at that time however I wonder then why not the Made in USA roll stamp?

The eagle/number stamping in the yoke cut is a military inspectors stamp so there are questions here.

 

[merl67]

That isn't a crack ! That is the seam for the side plate ! Buy the gun!

 

[lebomm]

The sideplate seam is lower down on the rear surface of the frame, and passes from the hammer slot, down the side, and under the "bug screw". What I'm seeing is right up at the top corner of the frame, just outboard of the rear sight and extends down, nearly parallel with the seam, to the upper corner of the recoil shield. Let's see what trktwo reports after he revisits the shop.

Larry

 

[JSR III]

The other interesting detail is that the barrel in not cut for the mushroom extractor rod knob either so if the extractor was changed then the barrel would have been too. As I said, there are questions here?????????

 

[steelslaver]

Those grips are ivory of some type, maybe hippo as it cracks kind of like that. The ivory grips even if shrunk are worth a good chunk of the asking price. The gun is a shooter not a collector.

Odd barrel and knob for era and the pictures do look like something is odd between recoil shield and rear site notch on side plate side.

 

[bigwagon]

There is something odd showing in the top shot but I don't see any evidence of it in the side shot. Worth a closer inspection, but I'd guess it's a shadow or other optical illusion.

 

[beagleye]

Everybody settle down, first get to a safe distance, now tell me where the gun is, I will check it for cracks, no charge.

 

[sigp220.45]

I'd be all over that. I agree those grips look like ivory of some sort. The refinish wouldn't bother me a bit.

 

[trktwo]

 

[Leslie Sapp]

Biloxi really isn't that far from me, would you like for me to go check it out for you?

 

[LLOYD17]

Looks great. I'm interested to hear about this one's trip to the factory. Is the barrel serialized and stamped by the service department for the nickel plating?

Got this one recently for $524. Went back to the factory in July 1928 for a 45 Colt cylinder, a refinish, and some 20's service stocks. I swapped in the Grashorns and then shot it yesterday for the first time. Definitely a great pre war N Frame.