My 1917. Anybody got any ideas on this?

[merrkat]

I picked up this pistol in a trade about two years ago. It has become my favorite wheel gun. It shoots like a dream and functions perfectly. I have no idea how old the work is. Does anyone know what dates the serial number falls in. It came out of the collection of a gentleman who passed away. Everything was 1960's era. Does this look like any work that someone recognizes.
It came with some really ugly rubber grips. I need to find some period grips to put on it

The serial number is 114604

 

[DCWilson]

That serial number should be from 1918 . Those chopped and bobbed 1917s are a collectible subclass all their own. The colored insert on the front sight suggests postwar modification to me, but I could be wrong.

Check out the other thread now going about a chopped 1917 with target sights. Your guns have some things in common.

 

[merrkat]

someone told me that this was a "bowling pin" gun used for some kind of shooting contest back in the day. I would love to have a matched pair. I just have to find some grips now. Would love to put a set of ivory on her.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Merrkat,

There were several (many?) folks doing similar modifications in the 50's-80's. So it is hard to say who did the work. These guns (1917s) were inexpensive military surplus.

Your gun was "round butted" meaning that they reshaped the bottom of the grip from a S&W "N-Frame Square Butt" to a "K-Frame Round Butt". There really are not any period correct grips for a round butt 1917. It probably had pachmayr rubber grips, which were the fashion when these guns were remade.

Other things i note, the trigger was smoothed and rounded, the hammer bobbed. I have another 1917 that has those characteristics. You might swing open the cylinder and see if they added any ball detents in the crane area, another common modification.

It would be nice to see a top view so we could see how well they machined the rear sight into place.

I have a bit of a collection of these growing, if you ever decide to sell it, please keep me in mind. If you check the photo albums listed by clicking on my name there are a couple of albums dedicated to similar guns.

Dave

 

[merrkat]

I dont think Ill ever sell it, but if I do Ill post it on here first. What would this gun be worth anyway. I dont have anything to compare it too.

So i should look for a set of round butt K frame grips, instead of N frame