Still a great find in my opinion...
...Ben
Help Identify Marking on Front Target Sight
- Thread starter bill-in-texas
- Start date
...BenWell, if'n ya don't like it, let us know and we'll take it off your hands.
Robert
SWCA #2906
Robert
SWCA #2906
Well your gun gets more and more interesting! At least we know the barrel has 45 ACP rifling.
We can only speculate how that barrel came about. I'll offer a couple of guesses:
1. It was sent back to S&W to refurbish and turn into a target gun with King target sights (which S&W would do back in the day), and a request for a longer barrel. S&W had the barrel in inventory already with a club gun # stamped on it already for what ever reason.
2. It was sent to King to refurbish and turn into a target gun with a request for a longer barrel. King ordered the barrel from S&W and installed it along with their King target sights. S&W had the barrel in inventory already stamped with a club gun # stamped on it already for what ever reason.
So the big question is, does it have a factory rework date stamped on the left side of the grip frame under the grip panel???
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Do a forum search using "0294" and some pretty interesting stuff shows up... Not sure if it adds to the knowledge or the confusion but it is what it is......
OP
Do a forum search using "0294" and some pretty interesting stuff shows up... Not sure if it adds to the knowledge or the confusion but it is what it is......
Okay, now I'm even more confused! Ha ha ha
-Bill
How Did This 6 1/2" Barrel Show Up on SN 66430?!
Click Link for Large Image
"https://i.ibb.co/Pt1dCrh/4228458-C-35-D5-4-F95-93-FB-8973-C4-AE02-DF.jpg"
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Okay, now I'm even more confused! Ha ha ha
-Bill
How Did This 6 1/2" Barrel Show Up on SN 66430?!
In reading this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ets-factory-lettes.html?398158=#post138160566
It's interesting to see in post 12 that 0252 started life with a 6 1/2" barrel but was changed to a 5 1/2" barrel. Perhaps 0294 suffered the same fate after mikepriwer sold it. It would be interesting to contact Mike and see if he knows the whereabouts of 0294 now and what length barrel it has on it.
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OP
The Plot Thickens
Not that I can see, Jim.
Of course, now we know this barrel comes from SN 0294, a lettered zero serial numbered gun; how it came to reside on SN 66430 is the new unfolding mystery!
Only this:
-Bill
Not that I can see, Jim.
Of course, now we know this barrel comes from SN 0294, a lettered zero serial numbered gun; how it came to reside on SN 66430 is the new unfolding mystery!
Only this:
-Bill
handejector
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I replied to the other thread- Serial numbers for two 1917 factory targets - With Factory Lettes
I am not knocking your gun here, but the installation of the rear sight is below the standards of BOTH S&W and King. Also, I've never seen a documented case of S&W installing a King rear sight leaf. They used King blades, but NOT King leafs as far as I know.
I can't get the pics from this ad to save in any way because they are somehow protected- Smith & Wesson M1917 Da45 - For Sale :: Guns.com
but if you scroll over the pics and magnify them, the way the front end of the leaf is fitted is rather crude.
I am not knocking your gun here, but the installation of the rear sight is below the standards of BOTH S&W and King. Also, I've never seen a documented case of S&W installing a King rear sight leaf. They used King blades, but NOT King leafs as far as I know.
I can't get the pics from this ad to save in any way because they are somehow protected- Smith & Wesson M1917 Da45 - For Sale :: Guns.com
but if you scroll over the pics and magnify them, the way the front end of the leaf is fitted is rather crude.
I tend to agree with what Lee said. As another thinking point, if you read the descriptions of the guns as posted in the notes from Bill Powell, it says that 0294 has a Paine bead front sight. I'm so confused now that I'm not sure if that means anything but just another piece of the puzzle.
OP
Lee
No offense taken. I tend to agree with your finely-tuned eye and with your assessment.
I'm here to learn, not because I'm full of knowledge.
But, as another esteemed member said in a recent post on this subject revolver:
"It is what it is."
Click Link for Large Image
"https://i.ibb.co/tYHt36G/D32-D82-FA-7-B38-4000-BC1-D-BB1-ADB41-C4-B7.jpg"
On a Good Note, Rear Outline Sight Cleaned Up Nicely!
In the end, it's a great oddball, in keeping with my taste in firearms. Lol!
-Bill
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Well as we get older, have you ever had a "DUH" moment? Well I have just had one. The serial number "0294" seemed familiar to me because I once owned a club gun. It now resides in the Club Gun Museum in Warren, MA where all club guns go to retire.
I thought it was maybe 0297 but it turns out that I once owned a club gun model of 1917 Army with serial number 0294. Hence my DUH moment.
It was given to the Chief ordinance officer for the Army that was in charge of overseeing the production of this model for the Army by S&W. IIRC, it is missing some of the normal 1917 model markings but since I suffer from CRS, the current owner will need to elaborate any further.
I thought it was maybe 0297 but it turns out that I once owned a club gun model of 1917 Army with serial number 0294. Hence my DUH moment.
It was given to the Chief ordinance officer for the Army that was in charge of overseeing the production of this model for the Army by S&W. IIRC, it is missing some of the normal 1917 model markings but since I suffer from CRS, the current owner will need to elaborate any further.
I thought it was maybe 0297 but it turns out that I once owned a club gun model of 1917 Army with serial number 0294. Hence my DUH moment.
James, my good friend. You suffered another senior moment. The serial number is 0274!
Don
Well I told everyone that I suffer from severe CRS. The drugs that my oncologist has me taking have only exacerbated the situation. Besides adding 30 pounds, my brain is only good for keeping my hat from falling off.....
To the OP Does the rear leaf say king on it ? I am struggling to see a good above pic of the leaf.
If not is it a S&W leaf?
At first glance it seems different than the other King rear leaf's I have.
If not is it a S&W leaf?
At first glance it seems different than the other King rear leaf's I have.
handejector
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Maybe this will help. To magnify in Windows, hold down the Windows key and press +. You can adjust the magnification window in settings.
Well, Duhhhh...........
Thanks, Guy. Those aren't the views that show what I meant, but you showed me those ad pics can be saved using the thumbnails on the left side. I was trying to save the big pics.
Here is what I was talking about- the front end of the leaf is just handled crudely---
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handejector
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To the OP Does the rear leaf say king on it ? I am struggling to see a good above pic of the leaf.
If not is it a S&W leaf?
At first glance it seems different than the other King rear leaf's I have.
Your sights are later King sights that were going to have micro clicks. Earlier King sights did not have micro clicks and used opposing screws like the Factory sights, but they have the divot on the rear to make the notch more visible.
