My Brazilian M1917

[msgdan]

Thought I would send you all the description of my Brazilian 1917. I bought this in 1989 from a local gun dealer for $169.00

Serial number 199XXX on butt, cylinder and barrel. Serial number on barrel is overstamped with import mark, looks like ICO SAC CA. Backstrap is numbered 17210(rack no?). Crane and frame is numbered 33068. Grips are wood checkered diamond with silver S&W medalion. Inside the right grip its stamped with the 199XXX serial number and what looks like the rack number in pencil. The hammer has the US patent mark. The trigger is serrated. The standard S&W mark on the left side and Brazilian stamp and 1937 date on right side.

The finish is somewhat worn as to be expected if carried daily by some sweaty Brazialian policeman in a leather holster. It also came with the usual dings and stratches as owned by someone who was NOT a collector.

It's still a good shooter and is my go to gun in the middle of the night with a full moon clip ready nearby. What is the difference in the 199XXX serial number and the 33068 number on the crane and frame? I believe the 199XXX number tells me it was in the first batch to go to Brazil but I defer to you S&W experts to clarify what I have and anything else you can tell me. I tried to send photos but I guess I don't have the needed permissions. Thanks.

 

[msgdan]

Thought I would send you all the description of my Brazilian 1917. I bought this in 1989 from a local gun dealer for $169.00

Serial number 199XXX on butt, cylinder and barrel. Serial number on barrel is overstamped with import mark, looks like ICO SAC CA. Backstrap is numbered 17210(rack no?). Crane and frame is numbered 33068. Grips are wood checkered diamond with silver S&W medalion. Inside the right grip its stamped with the 199XXX serial number and what looks like the rack number in pencil. The hammer has the US patent mark. The trigger is serrated. The standard S&W mark on the left side and Brazilian stamp and 1937 date on right side.

The finish is somewhat worn as to be expected if carried daily by some sweaty Brazialian policeman in a leather holster. It also came with the usual dings and stratches as owned by someone who was NOT a collector.

It's still a good shooter and is my go to gun in the middle of the night with a full moon clip ready nearby. What is the difference in the 199XXX serial number and the 33068 number on the crane and frame? I believe the 199XXX number tells me it was in the first batch to go to Brazil but I defer to you S&W experts to clarify what I have and anything else you can tell me. I tried to send photos but I guess I don't have the needed permissions. Thanks.

 

[mikepriwer]

You can't send photos to this site - period. You have to post them on a public hosting
site, like photobucket (no cost), and then place an image link to the photos in your
message. Its trivial to do.

The 33068 is the assembly number. Its not related to the serial number, but a number
that brings the crane and frame back together, for final assembly, after bluing. The serial
number on the barrel and cylinder serve the same purpose for those parts.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[msgdan]

Thanks Mike, thats good information to know.

I'm going to expirement with uploading some photos from the photobucket site. Here goes.

Dan

 

[msgdan]

The gun may be old and the finish worn but these pic's don't do it justice. It looks much better in person.

Dan

 

[Raider]

Veru nice Brazilian. I saw one in about the same condition at the gunshow over the weekend priced at $750.

 

[msgdan]

$750.00 seems pretty steep to me for a Brazilian. A genuine WW1 M1917 may be that much now but I personally don't think the Brazilians should be that much. Where was the gun show? east coast, westcoast, etc?

Dan

 

[dogngun]

Dan-Prices on the 1917's seem to have been rising out of sight over the last year or so, and the Brazilians are going right along with them.
I paid $450 for mine last August, and think I got a bargain. Have not seen ANY under $500.
Funny, they are obviously well used, all look like hell, and most of them still shoot just fine. Unbelievable quality- no one could make anything as good today.

FWIW, I still use mine as a 'house gun" from time and even carry it on occasion. I figure if it has worked this long, it won't let me down.
mark

 

[msgdan]

Mark,

No, they don't make 'em like they used to. Good old fashioned craftsmanship. I know everything is going up in price and its good to know our guns are increasing in value, until we want to buy another one!

Good chioce you made on your Brazilian. I'd rather lay down $450 on an old wood and steel model than the new plastic junk. Just my opinion.

Dan

 

[Jack Flash]

ICO SAC CA

Check again and see if it is
IA CO SAC CA
Which is the importer's company name and city -
International Arms Company, Sacramento, California

 

[m-1911]

I think this one was a steal at $300. I picked it up last year on one of the on line auctions for $300. No import stamp, all matching including grips, and about 95% original blue. Serial number is 151565

 

[msgdan]

Hey Jack Flash,

Yes it seems to be IA CO SAC CA. It also looks like it was stamped twice like the first time wasn't deep enough.

Hey M1911,

Nice looking M1917 you got there. Wanna trade? (only kidding). Enjoy it.

Dan

 

[msgdan]

Anyone know why I can't see the pic I posted? They were there the first couple of times I checked my post. Now they're gone and there is just the little box with a red 'X' in it?

 

[Chef]

Did you delete them from your photobucket account or rename them? Check your photos and make sure they are still there, if you change them into another album you have to "redo" your links. Regards, ~Chef

 

[Muley Gil]

The finish is somewhat worn as to be expected if carried daily by some sweaty Brazialian policeman in a leather holster.

If I remember corrctly, these were issued to the Brazilian Navy. But then again, I've been wrong before.

 

[msgdan]

Thanks Chef, I did delete them from photobucket. I'll put them back tonight and upload again.

Hey Muley, the dealer I bought it from said the revolvers were ordered from S&W by the Brazilian police but I don't know where he got his information from. Could very well have beem for the navy.

 

[msgdan]

Here's the pic I lost:

Dan

 

[tskunlimited]

Dan-
Nice looking Brazilian. I would have to say it is a steal at $169.00. I paid almost double that for mine. These are really solid firearms and make good shooters. I am looking for some checkered grips for mine like the furniture on yours. Have fun with your '37!