Let's see your U.S. Model 1917 S&Ws!

[Muley Gil]

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.

 

[Fire_Inspector]

Mine is well worn but still the best shooting firearm I own.

 

[artu44]

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.

 

[Snuffy2]

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!

 

[tdmoparguy]

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]

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.

 

[Muley Gil]

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?

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]

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]

Here's one that has been to England and back. Somehow ended up with the OSS issued to my friends father.

 

[putneyswope]

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...

 

[lkelly]

Picked up 6 years ago from WWI vet owner when visiting a retirement community in Vero Beach, Florida. It was his issue gun as a 1st lt. in the artillery. He felt the time to have it around had passed. My plan would be to play it forward eventually in like manner. In the meantime it holds a respected place in my collection.

Larry, .45 H. E. serial number 47411 was shipped in April 1918. Hope that this helps.
Roy
Roy G. Jinks
Historian, Smith & Wesson

 

[AirCommando]

There probably isn't too much history about this one, it's in too nice of shape to have acquired any!

I just bought it recently from a LGS. Must have been in safe keeping for a long time.

 

[shep854]

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.

I'd like to find a beater in mechanically good condition to cut down to a 3". From the pics I've seen, it looks very nicely balanced and handy--a nice packing pistol.

 

[fotografer]

Shot this at age 7, which my Grandfather carried in France, as an Army machine-gunner in WWI, and I was the one who he willed it to when he passed in '74. My best friend, an LEO armor for his dept., took it to Springfield when he went thru the "Smith" school, and had it all checked out and tuned at that time (he has since passed), so this will never leave our family !
I still shoot it sometimes when I go to the range, although not as much as I once did.
Although this in only my second post, I've been around awhile, only lurking, until I saw this thread on the 1917. Funny how a lot of other folks, this was one of their first pistols to shoot at a young age, as well as how they were able to buy these once they mustered out of the Army after the war.
It's sitting on my Dad's flight jacket, along with my Gunsite and a couple of Bark River blades (something else I collect) This is one of four other S&W's in our home, and this one has a very special place in my heart, for sure. It is about 85%, but shoots like it came out of the factory a few months ago, so they tell me in Springfield after they went through it completely. Love to shoot it, and have become quite fond of full-moon clips as well.

 

[Union Mack]

Hi Gary, I have questions about what I would call a S&W Model 1917 in .22 with target sights. This is my 82 year old neighbor's gun that belonged to her father. Would you be willing to contact me via email? [email protected] Thank you.

 

[Union Mack]

Model 1917 Military? .22 Target sights. Info Please

This revolver belongs to my good neighbor who is 82 yrs young. Her mind is sharp and she says this gun belonged to her father who wore it in the Army. I don't see any US markings, and it is .22 Long Rifle. I doubted this info, but she also has the original leather holster. It does not say US on it, but is tapered (Slim Jim?) brown leather, has flap, and does have the wire hanger that would insert into the holes of the old Army pistol belt.
This gun is in amazing condition. Not a scratch. Only some holster wear near muzzle.
Note the target sights.

Could I get some feedback as to when it was made, and if the military connection is possible? While I'm at it, if those of you could give us an estimate of value (with holster), that would be great.
I may be able to get her to sell it.
Thank you for your time and effort.

 

[Union Mack]

Fishing for info on this 1917 in .22


This nice gun belongs to my 82 year young neighbor. She tells me her father carried it in the Army in WWI. I doubted that as it is a .22 and there are no military markings. The original holster is leather with flap and no "US" but there is the old wire hook which would hang from the old style pistol belt.
She also has what she said is the original box. But the box says it is for a "32 Winchester". Now I read there is a 22/32! What the heck is that?
I welcome any information from the experts out there. Condition is fantastic. Not even a scratch. Very little holster wear on muzzle of barrel. Let's get the discussion going. Thank You!

 

[Muley Gil]

Union Mack,

Your neighbor's revolver is indeed a .22/.32 Heavy Frame Target revolver. It is a .22 rimfire built on the .32 Long frame. I doubt that is a military gun, though it was not uncommon for servicemen to carry all sorts of handguns that were NOT official issue. General Patton carried a Colt Woodsman .22 pistol while on maneuvers in the US Southwestern desert before leaving for Europe.

A box marked .32 Winchester once contained a K frame Military & Police revolver chambered for the .32-20 cartridge.

The 1917 patent date on the grips refers to the shape of the grips, which basically modify a round butt frame to a square butt.

 

[rebel0994]

I don't have mine anymore, but I'm looking for another one. But here's what it looked like

 

[theHairyOne]

Model 1917 s/n 8530

I purchased this in 1966 for less than $50. I haven't fired it for many years, but am confident it's ready if I ever need it (let's hear it for revolvers!).

The serial number indicates it was made in 1917.

I used it with magna grips, as I have large hands. Now I need help re-attaching the lanyard ring.