Model 1917 Army DA 45 ACP Winning Streak

lestert357

US Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Messages
1,675
Reaction score
12,250
Location
Old Dominion
Lately I seem to be riding a fairly nice winning streak of purchasing very nice Model 1917 Army DA 45's at very reasonable prices off of GB. In both cases at hand the descriptions and auction pictures left much to be desired, but I studied the pictures as best I could and took a chance on both guns. It paid off!

Last December a couple of weeks before Christmas I won a very early Model 1917 Army from a GB auction for $1214 shipped including M1917 holster and M1917 Web Belt (Serial# 1514 that rates near 97% and lettered as being in the very first shipment of Model 1917 revolvers to the Springfield Armory). You can read more about that revolver in the thread at Meet Model 1917 Army DA 45 ACP Serial# 1514 if you are interested.

This month I won another auction for a Model 1917 Army from a GB auction - this time a Buy Now for $920 shipped! (Sold Auction link is at Smith & Wesson 1917 U.S. Army .45 Caliber Revolver - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 811452281). This gun, Serial# 136103 pictured below, is almost too nice to shoot. I rate it at 98%+ with just a touch of edge wear at the muzzle and lower front of the frame, a couple of tiny handling marks on the bottom of the trigger guard, and a small amount of patina on the backstrap. The grips are flawless and numbered to the gun. To add a little frosting on the cake, when I sent my ship date request to Roy for this gun, I got the following reply:

"Terry, .45 H.E. Model 1917 was shipped in November 1918. It is interesting as it was shipped to a Military Camp and not to the Springfield Armory. May have some history. Hope that this helps. Roy"

Needless to say, my factory letter request has already been submitted and I will provide an update when I receive the letter from Roy. Anyway, I hope this streak continues for a long time to come!

Click on the pictures for a closer look.

Serial# 136103 Left Side
c91b3b784fc22f7704239f419bf4a414.jpg


Serial# 136103 Right Side
fde7cddd29d9812d5d8e57088bb6462c.jpg


Serial# 1514 (nearest) and Serial# 136103
6fe5f2ba707e09b8526008e1043acb0e.jpg
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Very nice pair Terry and I think that you got a screaming deal on those two pistols. Are you planning on shooting them?
 
Very nice pair Terry and I think that you got a screaming deal on those two pistols. Are you planning on shooting them?


Bob, I have taken #1514 to the range a couple times. I haven't mastered that heavy trigger yet and seem to pull most of my shots to the left. But I'll keep working on it from time to time. I'm not sure I'm going to shoot #136103; it is right at that condition level where you don't want to degrade it in any way. The two guns look very comparable condition wise in photos, but #1514 is one of those guns that photographs a little better than it really is - which is 96%+ to 97%. #136103 is about 2% better on the grading scale and I give it a 98%+ to possibly 99%. Here is two more pictures of the pair together. #136103 is on top in both photos. If you look closely you can see a little more wear on #1514 on the edge of the trigger guard, handling marks on the grips, a little light holster wear near the muzzle, and the case colors on the trigger and hammer are not quite as vibrant as on #136103. #1514 also has some patina spots on the side plate that do not appear in the photos. The two white streaks on the side plate of #136103 was just something I did not get completely wiped off; there is no defect there.
4018f85d5ba68fac6bcd280f056f45dc.jpg

02d712e5fe0b50a2208218e9cb4e2743.jpg
 
Quite a nice pair! Thanks for sharing.
It's been a good period for 1917's, as I picked up two of them within the last month. I will post pictures after vacation.
 
Bob, I have taken #1514 to the range a couple times. I haven't mastered that heavy trigger yet and seem to pull most of my shots to the left. But I'll keep working on it from time to time. I'm not sure I'm going to shoot #136103; it is right at that condition level where you don't want to degrade it in any way. The two guns look very comparable condition wise in photos, but #1514 is one of those guns that photographs a little better than it really is - which is 96%+ to 97%. #136103 is about 2% better on the grading scale and I give it a 98%+ to possibly 99%. Here is two more pictures of the pair together. #136103 is on top in both photos. If you look closely you can see a little more wear on #1514 on the edge of the trigger guard, handling marks on the grips, a little light holster wear near the muzzle, and the case colors on the trigger and hammer are not quite as vibrant as on #136103. #1514 also has some patina spots on the side plate that do not appear in the photos. The two white streaks on the side plate of #136103 was just something I did not get completely wiped off; there is no defect there.
4018f85d5ba68fac6bcd280f056f45dc.jpg

02d712e5fe0b50a2208218e9cb4e2743.jpg

I installed a reduced main spring and #12 rebound spring from Wilson Combat. My 1917 trigger pull measures 4lbs, hammer is 4.5lbs. Smooth crisp no flinching.
 

Attachments

  • 1917 - 6.jpg
    1917 - 6.jpg
    176.7 KB · Views: 28
It looks as though she's been very well cared for, and I really like the color case hardening on the trigger.

Thanks for sharing the additional pics!

Dale
 
I think you were swindled! There's no way those guns are 100 years old...

Congrats on those pick ups.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top