Let's see your U.S. Model 1917 S&Ws!
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blockislander
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jtcarm
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Granddad's 1917.
I never heard any stories behind it. He was a WWI vet who served in France, but given he was postmaster of Iraan, Texas for over 20 years, I'd say it was almost certainly acquired when USPS was selling both makes of 1917s for something like $16 apiece.
I also have the certificate signed by FDR appointing him Postmaster.
I never heard any stories behind it. He was a WWI vet who served in France, but given he was postmaster of Iraan, Texas for over 20 years, I'd say it was almost certainly acquired when USPS was selling both makes of 1917s for something like $16 apiece.
I also have the certificate signed by FDR appointing him Postmaster.
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Tough decision, to refinish or not?
I was recently given a SW 1917 by my father-in-law. It was one he found on the third day of the battle of Iwo Jima (he was a marine) and was used during the whole battle. The finish is 100% gone but there is no rust and the action is tight and smooth. It has plexiglass grips with tin foil underneath that my father-in-law says was on it the day he found it. He says it was blue when he found it but the volcanic ash on the island took the finish off. In his platoon the night sentry would get the revolver for using against infiltrators, he said it saved their bacon a dozen times. No rust because they cleaned and lubed it every night. He was wounded late in the third week and when he returned to his platoon after the battle they had taken care of his revolver and gave it back to him. Because of the plexiglass grips I wonder if it was lost by a pilot, and anyway what are the groups thoughts on getting it reblued? I'm not worried about collector value, its going to stay in the family, but I would like to use it. And if I go ahead, where do I send it to?
Many thanks,
JJ
I was recently given a SW 1917 by my father-in-law. It was one he found on the third day of the battle of Iwo Jima (he was a marine) and was used during the whole battle. The finish is 100% gone but there is no rust and the action is tight and smooth. It has plexiglass grips with tin foil underneath that my father-in-law says was on it the day he found it. He says it was blue when he found it but the volcanic ash on the island took the finish off. In his platoon the night sentry would get the revolver for using against infiltrators, he said it saved their bacon a dozen times. No rust because they cleaned and lubed it every night. He was wounded late in the third week and when he returned to his platoon after the battle they had taken care of his revolver and gave it back to him. Because of the plexiglass grips I wonder if it was lost by a pilot, and anyway what are the groups thoughts on getting it reblued? I'm not worried about collector value, its going to stay in the family, but I would like to use it. And if I go ahead, where do I send it to?
Many thanks,
JJ
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James if it were mine I would leave it as is it is part of its history and as such has a value on its own merits. I would write down what he told you about its history. I for one am grateful for the sacrifices his generation went through so that we still live in a free country.
james56
US Veteran
Hi James,
Please post some images of this one!
I would say "Leave it be."
Keep it well Lubed, shoot it now and then, and do not change a thing on it...is it precious being just what it is, and just as it is.
James.
Leave that gun be! To me, that revolver is better than any mint in the box 1917 you could find. It's earned every scratch, nick or dent it has. Just think of the Marines came home because of your 1917.
How many may have thought of it when reliving the hell that was Iwo Jima. If you shoot it do it on Nov 10, VJ day and Memorial Day, but, leave it as it is. I have had and have seen fighting knives with plexiglass handles. I was told they were a form of WWII trench art, supposedly the plexi was from shot down Jap windshields. I have a friend whose Uncle was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Iwo. He never made it home. I think it belongs in a museum. I would be proud to own a piece of history like that.
Photos of Iwo Jima SW 1917
OK, everyone has convinced me not modify it, but I am going to have a gunsmith check it out before I try firing it as its been in storage since 1946.
The grips are lucite or plexiglass, with some kind of wrinkled foil underneath. They were well done as the holes look to be milled or drilled with a drill press, and are well fitted to the frame.
My father-in-law was surprised and pleased that so many liked it and valued the role it played in the battle.
Many thanks to everyone,
JJ
OK, everyone has convinced me not modify it, but I am going to have a gunsmith check it out before I try firing it as its been in storage since 1946.
The grips are lucite or plexiglass, with some kind of wrinkled foil underneath. They were well done as the holes look to be milled or drilled with a drill press, and are well fitted to the frame.
My father-in-law was surprised and pleased that so many liked it and valued the role it played in the battle.
Many thanks to everyone,
JJ
I just lubed my 1917 up with my Skilsaw Oil, and, I must say, the Revolver REALLY seemed to like it.
In a truely Cold clime, this might be a little too viscous, but in a mild or warmer clime, should be fine...
I mention this as a round-about way of making sure you ( or your designated Gunsmith ) Lube the Daylights out of it, especially as it has been sitting so long.
Just about every old Revolver I have gotten, was dry as a proverbial Bone inside...or, what old Lube there was, had turned to Wax and was not Lubing anything no mo'.
Anyway, Yup! Love your old 1917, that is a real Gem..!
In a truely Cold clime, this might be a little too viscous, but in a mild or warmer clime, should be fine...
I mention this as a round-about way of making sure you ( or your designated Gunsmith ) Lube the Daylights out of it, especially as it has been sitting so long.
Just about every old Revolver I have gotten, was dry as a proverbial Bone inside...or, what old Lube there was, had turned to Wax and was not Lubing anything no mo'.
Anyway, Yup! Love your old 1917, that is a real Gem..!
gregintenn
Member
This is the one my older son, current Army E5, 68WF, was gifted from the wife of my dear departed good friend & forum member Sandy Jacobs (IBSandy), I've posted about it before (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/278621-1917-questions-pics-2nd-post.htmlbut) hope you don't mind me adding it to this thread. The first 2 pics is how it looked when Sandy got it a few years ago, the second 2 after he had it refinished by a local 'smith that did a very nice job with it. It would've been cool if he hadn't refinished it but it means the world to my son as it used to be "Uncle Sandy's", & by the way the action is beautiful & lock up is very good to excellent:
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shep854
Member
Simply, wow. I'm awed just looking at those pics. I've often wondered, "If only that gun could talk", but most likely even if this old gun could, it would not--like many of the veterans of the day...some things just could not be talked about, except with others who Were There.
HardShell
Member
I have one of the Brazilians as well, but no handy pics of it.
I had been searching for years for an approaching-reasonably priced Model 1917, then came across a M37 (?), Brazilian Navy contract gun - so I grabbed it. Metal is in real nice shape, but the checkered grips were pretty beat up. I assume that's because it spent its life rattling around in the small arms locker in a Brazilian Navy destroyer or patrol boat, and was hardly ever fired.
So I could use it as a shooter, I got a set of Packy rubber ones, and when I took the wood grips off I discovered that the lanyard ring came off really easy by removing a retaining pin from the grip frame. I saved the grips and lanyard together, of course.
It shoots fine, but my middle-aged eyes don't care for the milled groove fixed rear sight.
Does anybody know if there are any mechanical difference between those later contract guns and the US Model 1917's?
So I could use it as a shooter, I got a set of Packy rubber ones, and when I took the wood grips off I discovered that the lanyard ring came off really easy by removing a retaining pin from the grip frame. I saved the grips and lanyard together, of course.
It shoots fine, but my middle-aged eyes don't care for the milled groove fixed rear sight.
Does anybody know if there are any mechanical difference between those later contract guns and the US Model 1917's?
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Welcome to the Forum, didactic.
There were two contracts for the 1917 Brazilian revolvers. The first ones were built in the late 1930s and have the square notch rear sight. There was a later shipment of Brazilians in the late 1940s that was built on surplus WW I 1917 frames.
Collectors prefer the US Army marked 1917s.
Are the grips matched to the revolver, with the serial number stamped on the inside?
When these revolvers came back into the US, most often they were just dumped in crates and shipped. It is rare to find a Brazilian that has a good finish.
There were two contracts for the 1917 Brazilian revolvers. The first ones were built in the late 1930s and have the square notch rear sight. There was a later shipment of Brazilians in the late 1940s that was built on surplus WW I 1917 frames.
Collectors prefer the US Army marked 1917s.
Are the grips matched to the revolver, with the serial number stamped on the inside?
When these revolvers came back into the US, most often they were just dumped in crates and shipped. It is rare to find a Brazilian that has a good finish.
Mine is well worn but still the best shooting firearm I own.
I've already posted my 1917. I have it since 1973 and it was the cause I started in 2004 a collection of WWI&WWII field gears. At the first I wanted only accessorize my gun with period stuff. Here all three holsters issued for the venerable: M1909, M2 and a cherry mint M4.
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1917 Goodness
I lucked into an early 1917 a few years back at a local hockshop. Dirtiest gun I ever saw, and I got it for $200. However, it cleaned up nicely and has about 70% original blue. Bore very lightly frosted, but it still shoots nicely with jacketed bullets. As is common, not quite so well with cast bullets, but still OK for most purposes.
GHD inspector's mark, early s/n range, and apparently transferred to another federal agency after the war. The "US Army Model 1917" has been ground off the butt and replaced with a hand-stamped number, but the "United States Property" rollmark under the barrel is intact. I've been told that this may indicate transfer to the Post Office Department. Does anyone know if this is accurate?
FUN gun to shoot!
I lucked into an early 1917 a few years back at a local hockshop. Dirtiest gun I ever saw, and I got it for $200. However, it cleaned up nicely and has about 70% original blue. Bore very lightly frosted, but it still shoots nicely with jacketed bullets. As is common, not quite so well with cast bullets, but still OK for most purposes.
GHD inspector's mark, early s/n range, and apparently transferred to another federal agency after the war. The "US Army Model 1917" has been ground off the butt and replaced with a hand-stamped number, but the "United States Property" rollmark under the barrel is intact. I've been told that this may indicate transfer to the Post Office Department. Does anyone know if this is accurate?
FUN gun to shoot!
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Don't have any pictures right now but I have what I believe is a M1917 it has been nickel plated and the barrel cut down to about 3in and the lanyard has been removed. It is SN118567. What year would that make it?
Valman
Member
Like a few others here, I well remember the 1950s, when 1917 revolvers were sold by Ye Olde Hunter and others for $35. As a high schooler in NJ, I scraped together then dough and ordered a Colt by mail, no questions asked. It arrived Parkerized and pristine in Cosmoline, and I shot it a lot, but because I have fairly small hands I never liked the feel, so I sold it. Bad decision. Years later though, I was lucky enough to find a 1917 S&W, like new, taken as a trade-in by a dealer at a gun show. He let it go for well under Blue-Book "value" (don't get me started on that subject!). Oddly enough, the S&W looks like all the others here, dished stocks and all. I have also owned for years a really nice 1911 GM Colt made in 1917, so I'm the fortunate owner of two WWI sidearms, as well as some original .45 ACP rounds from 1916 in the original half-moon clips. As both these classics approach their century mark, I can still appreciate the quality of American design and manufacture of a bygone era. Lucky me.
Welcome to the Forum.
Is your 1917 marked on the butt "US ARMY" above the lanyard loop (or it's hole; some have been removed), with the serial number underneath, in two lines? If so, it would have been built in 1918.
hotrod150
Member
I'm kinda disappointed-- 6 long pages of discussion and lots of beautiful photo's, but only about a half-dozen cut-down 1917 S&W's! I guess maybe it's sacrilegious, but I really like the looks of a 1917 S&W snubby-- ditto for a Colt 1917 or New Service. Don't care for a fitz-style trigger guard, but a big old 45 caliber revolver with a short barrel is just plain cool.
putneyswope
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Here's one that has been to England and back. Somehow ended up with the OSS issued to my friends father.
putneyswope
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If anyone has an idea where I can find a set of original grips for less than a small fortune I'm all ears. I've been flirting with having a restoration completed by Turnbull or the like...
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