Manufacture date via serial number

[tobi1202]

I'm trying to find out the manufacture date of a S&W Model DA 45 N Frame. I believe it may be a .45 Long Colt model. It bears a serial number of 173264. It has a 5" barrel, fixed sights and is nickel plated with imitation bone grips.

Any help with this info and possible value with some extensive wear. Maybe at 70% level as far as wear.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! If the left barrel is stamped "D.A. .45" and the gun is original, it is probably a commercial 1917 Army .45 ACP revolver. You should see the number you quoted on the bottom of the grip frame (without "U.S. Army Model of 1917", as the military guns would have had), the rear cylinder face, and the barrel flat near the ejector rod. Not many of this model were converted to the rimmed .45 Colt, since .45 ACP was/is much more commonly available.

These were all originally blued, so a nickel one would have been refinished. Photos would be helpful here for a full ID. Hope this is helpful.

Edited to add - Skeetr57 is correct, the military 1917s ended in the 169000 SN range. My apologies for posting incorrect info previously.

 

[Skeetr57]

That serial number places the gun into the commercial Model of 1917 range, and so far as I can tell, all of those guns were chambered in .45 ACP. There were some .44 HE second models chambered in .45 Colt, but I believe that their SN's would be only 5 digits. A 1917 can't just have the chambers reamed to change it to .45 Colt because the excess headspace would cause many, if not all, cartridges to misfire. A change of cylinders would be required to make that caliber change.

 

[tinstar78]

Hello, I have a 1917 S&W. Check the ser# it was made in 1918. Ser# is 121xxx. My guestion is what does RX stand for, frame and cylinder match. Numbers inside yoke and frame also match is this standard. Thanks

 

[Wiregrassguy]

It might be better if you started your own thread for your question. NO idea what RX means as far as S&W handguns go. It means a prescription in pharmacy terms. Yes it is standard for the assembly numbers in the yoke and the cylinder, barrel and frame serial numbers to match.

 

[Bigboss6179]

New to the forum

Hi everyone.

I recently inherited a S&W D.A. 45 that belonged to my grandfather. Like tobi1202, mine is also nickel plated with the bone handles. In fact, mine sounds identical to his. The serial number is 160896. As far as condition, with the exception of some minor pitting here and there, it's in very good condition. I'm going to have it lettered. Murphydog stated that all 1917's were originally blued and that tobi's had to be refinished. I guess it's possible for two people to refinish their gun in an identical fashion. I'm an enthusiast and probably the farthest thing from an expert. And, I'm not questioning murphydog's knowledge. Just wondering if anyone may have knowledge of a limited number of nickel plated civilian models.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge.

 

[DWalt]

That serial number places the gun into the commercial Model of 1917 range, and so far as I can tell, all of those guns were chambered in .45 ACP. There were some .44 HE second models chambered in .45 Colt, but I believe that their SN's would be only 5 digits. A 1917 can't just have the chambers reamed to change it to .45 Colt because the excess headspace would cause many, if not all, cartridges to misfire. A change of cylinders would be required to make that caliber change.

That can be done by lengthening the chamber, but slightly short so the .45 Colt headspaces on the case mouth, not the rim. That eliminates the headspace problem.

 

[Muley Gil]

Hi everyone.

I recently inherited a S&W D.A. 45 that belonged to my grandfather. Like tobi1202, mine is also nickel plated with the bone handles. In fact, mine sounds identical to his. The serial number is 160896. As far as condition, with the exception of some minor pitting here and there, it's in very good condition. I'm going to have it lettered. Murphydog stated that all 1917's were originally blued and that tobi's had to be refinished. I guess it's possible for two people to refinish their gun in an identical fashion. I'm an enthusiast and probably the farthest thing from an expert. And, I'm not questioning murphydog's knowledge. Just wondering if anyone may have knowledge of a limited number of nickel plated civilian models.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge.

Welcome to the Forum.

It would be better to start your own thread. Please post pictures.

I presume (which is an iffy thing to do at times ) that # 160896 is stamped on the butt. Do the numbers read with the the barrel pointed to the side or with the barrel pointed straight up? Are there any other stampings, like US ARMY, MODEL OF 1917? Are the hammer and trigger nickel plated? If so, there is a 99.5% chance the plating is NOT factory.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Bigboss! Does it have a crest on the sideplate like this?

And does the serial number read like this?

 

[Bigboss6179]

Thanks for the info Muley Gil. The serial number on the butt reads with the barrel pointing down. The hammer and trigger is, in fact, nickel plated so I guess that answers that. There are no US ARMY stamps on it. Also, I goofed on the serial number. It's actually 160859.

 

[Bigboss6179]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Bigboss! Does it have a crest on the sideplate like this?

And does the serial number read like this?

Thanks Wiregrass. No stampings on the gun. Please see pictures posted above.