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I am thinking that is finish wear- look around at the other edges- recoil shield, cylinder, rear sight. Good catch.
If everything checks out, $599 is a steal.
found this 1917 da45 what do y'all think of it?
- Thread starter trktwo
- Start date
I am thinking that is finish wear- look around at the other edges- recoil shield, cylinder, rear sight. Good catch.
If everything checks out, $599 is a steal.
Assuming that the frame is not cracked, any N frame S&W is worth $500 all day long IMHO unless it is an unshootable boat anchor. I see Airsoft guns at Wallyworld for $200 to $300.
If for nothing else it makes a good truck gun and in a caliber that even the most vehement CC proponent would deem acceptable for that purpose.
If for nothing else it makes a good truck gun and in a caliber that even the most vehement CC proponent would deem acceptable for that purpose.
just a quick update, "the crack" is not a crack. barrel sn matches the butt number. I was unable to take the grips off and look underneat, I do have a few more pictures I wiil post up when I get home. I tried to get pics of under ejector star, but they didn't really come out. thank you so much for all the help so far. really looking forward to getting this revolver home.
italiansport
Member
Her's a quick check to tell if the grips are ivory. Heat a needle up till it's red hot and push the point against one of the grips. If Ivory nothing will happen;If not and they're some kind of plastic you should get some penetration of the point into the grip.
Jim
Jim
I'd listen to Iggy and the other knowledgeable members about those stocks. Real ivory "ages" and the gentleman behind the counter may not be in "the know" about such things.
I'm almost as excited as if I were buying the gun!! Keep us in the loop...glad to hear that the crack was just a fluke of photography.
Best Regards, Les
Best Regards, Les
Wish I'd seen it first...course I dont live in Biloxi so dont know how ithat coulda happened.
Touch the hot needle to the BACK side of one of the grips. If it smells like burning hair, the grips are ivory.
Not sure what the large "O" means. However, there is no "B" stamped in front of the barrel SN. That usually indicates a factory nickel finish. It will be interesting to see if there is a "N" stamped on the grip frame....
A circle under the barrel can also indicate that the barrel was
replaced.
(Page 495 SCSW, 4th Ed.).
replaced.
(Page 495 SCSW, 4th Ed.).
handejector
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Interesting gun.
My take-
The grips are elephant ivory. They are almost certainly for a K frame.
The gun was rebarreled. The O is a service mark sometimes seen on replaced parts.
The ejector rod was replaced when the barrel was.
The gun has been refinished by the Factory.
Did any of you catch the matte finish on the sides of the front sight? That became normal when the Factory went to ramp sights. Half moons were normally polished like the rest of the gun. A VERY few half moons originally had matte sides on some very late assembled 5 Screw guns that were slow moving models.
It is sometimes seen on fixed sight guns refinished late in life.
The frame is not cracked- that is oxidation darkening where the nickel is worn. You can see the same darkening on other corners and sharp edges.
What really puzzles me is the way the butt is marked. I've never seen or heard of a commercial 1917 with a number below the 160,000s.
Eagle heads on the frame and cylinder do NOT help us know if it was a military or commercial because leftover parts used on commercial guns often have them.
My best guess is that was a military 1917 sent back to S&W for a new barrel and a nickel finish. The logo was added at that time. For reasons we will never know, the original butt markings were removed and the original serial number re-stamped. Maybe the guy was a Marine and did not want his gun to say U.S. Army.
I'll be very interested in the frame markings under the grips on the left (thumb latch) side. I suspect we will see a 1970s date, but maybe 60s.
That gun is definitely worth a letter just to see what it began life as!!!
My take-
The grips are elephant ivory. They are almost certainly for a K frame.
The gun was rebarreled. The O is a service mark sometimes seen on replaced parts.
The ejector rod was replaced when the barrel was.
The gun has been refinished by the Factory.
Did any of you catch the matte finish on the sides of the front sight? That became normal when the Factory went to ramp sights. Half moons were normally polished like the rest of the gun. A VERY few half moons originally had matte sides on some very late assembled 5 Screw guns that were slow moving models.
It is sometimes seen on fixed sight guns refinished late in life.
The frame is not cracked- that is oxidation darkening where the nickel is worn. You can see the same darkening on other corners and sharp edges.
What really puzzles me is the way the butt is marked. I've never seen or heard of a commercial 1917 with a number below the 160,000s.
Eagle heads on the frame and cylinder do NOT help us know if it was a military or commercial because leftover parts used on commercial guns often have them.
My best guess is that was a military 1917 sent back to S&W for a new barrel and a nickel finish. The logo was added at that time. For reasons we will never know, the original butt markings were removed and the original serial number re-stamped. Maybe the guy was a Marine and did not want his gun to say U.S. Army.
I'll be very interested in the frame markings under the grips on the left (thumb latch) side. I suspect we will see a 1970s date, but maybe 60s.
That gun is definitely worth a letter just to see what it began life as!!!
iskra
Member
A very nice 45 here. One I'd be proud to own! Interesting results.
Yet for me, perhaps more impressive than substantive 'yield', the nature of the process. What amounts to impressive forensics! Congratulations upon collective body of expert knowledge and methodology!
Last, just a question concerning the butt serial number application. The direction! Seems to be 'upside down' compared to a quick check of several of my prewar 44/early postwar 45 "N" frames. Latter early postwar 1917 commercial (SN 2099xx).
Derived question: Did serial orientation (for want of better term) vary on different models/submodels/eras of the "N" frame?
Thanks!
Yet for me, perhaps more impressive than substantive 'yield', the nature of the process. What amounts to impressive forensics! Congratulations upon collective body of expert knowledge and methodology!
Last, just a question concerning the butt serial number application. The direction! Seems to be 'upside down' compared to a quick check of several of my prewar 44/early postwar 45 "N" frames. Latter early postwar 1917 commercial (SN 2099xx).
Derived question: Did serial orientation (for want of better term) vary on different models/submodels/eras of the "N" frame?
Thanks!
AJ
US Veteran
Don't believe the dealer on the grips. I bought a decently priced M36 with what the dealer said were plastic grips. When I got them off at home discovered that they are Sambar Grips, worth about what I paid for the revolver.
Last edited:
DevilDog72
US Veteran
I like it..... 1917... nickel with ivory grip panels. Need a carved Heiser Texas Jockstrap holster to go with it.
"Maybe the guy was a Marine and did not want his gun to say U.S. Army."
Au contraire, the US Army has ALWAYS been a source of supply for us Marines. During the battle of Guadalcanal, when the Marines were reinforced by the Army, this was the first time the majority of Marines had ever seen the M1 Garand. Some of the jarheads "borrowed" the Garands from the doggies during the battle and it was said that it was a mite hard to retrieve them.
Au contraire, the US Army has ALWAYS been a source of supply for us Marines. During the battle of Guadalcanal, when the Marines were reinforced by the Army, this was the first time the majority of Marines had ever seen the M1 Garand. Some of the jarheads "borrowed" the Garands from the doggies during the battle and it was said that it was a mite hard to retrieve them.
According to the stampings on the grip frame, it was returned to the factory in January 1949. That was probably when the barrel was changed out.
Nice but newly made IMHO. The diamond is too big and the checking is curved at the bottom if I am seeing the photo correctly. They could be S&W but I think from their recent classic period.
Nice but newly made IMHO. The diamond is too big and the checking is curved at the bottom if I am seeing the photo correctly. They could be S&W but I think from their recent classic period.
yes, curved along the bottom. i'm very happy with them, they will have a forever home on this revolver.
