Mod 1917 .45ACP

[jonnyrotten]

I ran across a pair of mod 1917 .45 acp service revolvers today and was hoping somebody might be able to offer some insight about them. First, let me describe the guns. The owner tells me he bought them 23 years ago and that the previous owner explained three major changes to both guns. 1. both were refinished from original blue to polished nickle.
2. The trigger, hammer and pushrod are "Navy Brass."
3. The original walnut grips were replaced with pearl grips.
I inspected these guns and noted a few things.
the two guns appear to be finished differently. One seems to have a more silvery high polish, while the other seems to have a goldish tint to it. One has a lanyard loop, one dosen't. and one seems to have been either over finished or over buffed, due to the stamping on the bottom of the barrel "United States Property" being almost completly gone.
On the butt of the first gun is stamped No.137811, the second, No. 149870.
On both guns, the left side of the barrel is stamped Smith & Wesson DA 45.
The top straps on both guns are stamped with patent numbers, Dec 17,1901, Feb 6, 1906 & Sep 14,1909.
Both of these guns are in remarkable condition
for there age, one almost impeccable, the other with very slight rust spots, (two or three) that I feel can be removed with little to no damage to the gun.
As a beginner collector, I personally like the look of these guns, and would like to add them to my small collection. Any insight as to the value of these guns? Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Jonny

yrotten07/SmithWessonPix060.jpg[/IMG]

 

[jonnyrotten]

I ran across a pair of mod 1917 .45 acp service revolvers today and was hoping somebody might be able to offer some insight about them. First, let me describe the guns. The owner tells me he bought them 23 years ago and that the previous owner explained three major changes to both guns. 1. both were refinished from original blue to polished nickle.
2. The trigger, hammer and pushrod are "Navy Brass."
3. The original walnut grips were replaced with pearl grips.
I inspected these guns and noted a few things.
the two guns appear to be finished differently. One seems to have a more silvery high polish, while the other seems to have a goldish tint to it. One has a lanyard loop, one dosen't. and one seems to have been either over finished or over buffed, due to the stamping on the bottom of the barrel "United States Property" being almost completly gone.
On the butt of the first gun is stamped No.137811, the second, No. 149870.
On both guns, the left side of the barrel is stamped Smith & Wesson DA 45.
The top straps on both guns are stamped with patent numbers, Dec 17,1901, Feb 6, 1906 & Sep 14,1909.
Both of these guns are in remarkable condition
for there age, one almost impeccable, the other with very slight rust spots, (two or three) that I feel can be removed with little to no damage to the gun.
As a beginner collector, I personally like the look of these guns, and would like to add them to my small collection. Any insight as to the value of these guns? Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Jonny

yrotten07/SmithWessonPix060.jpg[/IMG]

 

[feralmerril]

Both sound like nice flashy guns to own if they strike your personnal tastes. Depends on how much they are asking. Actually I imagine the true collector value would bring more than the asking price should be if they hadnt been overhauled to a collector. All now depends on the price and your desire to own them.

 

[feralmerril]

Let me add, sounds like one was done first and the other was a attempt to match up and make a identical pair. Also sounds that it could be a attempt to make up a pair for movies or something similar, but that is peer speculation. As to the value as to what asking price would be fairly I am not sure without pictures and even then not that sure due to value of grips etc. My wild guess would be maybe $900 to $1,300 for the condition described for the pair. Others here probley have a better more accurate guess than me.

 

[chuck17]

Sounds like some nice "barbeque" guns. Based on the different descriptions of the color, maybe one is chromed and the other nickel-plated? I'd like to see some pictures.

 

[feralmerril]

Check the history best you can. Maybe tom mix had them made up! My estimate has raised some since prior post now that you posted pictures.

 

[handejector]

As a beginner collector, I personally like the look of these guns, and would like to add them to my small collection. Any insight as to the value of these guns? Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Jonny

My advice is to stay OFF of them. Being refinished as they are, they have NO collector value without some kind of historical significance. I mean, what are you trying to collect- poorly refinished guns? Your money would be better placed in ONE original 1917.

 

[jonnyrotten]

Thanks for the advice, while they looked nice at first the more I thought about them, the less interesting they became, so I passed on them. Thanks to all for the insight.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Since I'm not a collector, I'd want them if they were cheap enough.

They would go good with mine

 

[dogngun]

Just a guess, but by the SN'n both guns were made in the late 1930's. The 14xxxx number is close to SN of my 1937.
If you want to collect them, look elsewhere- they have no value as such.
If you want shooters, and the mechanical condition is good, I'd bargain for both.
Good luck.
Mark