Need help pricing a 1917 S&W

[BullseyeJC]

I have found a model 1917 with a 5 digit serial number. The numbers match on the cylinder and frame but there is no serial on the underside of the barrel but it has "United States Property" on it.

The gun also has what looks like British proof marks on the right side of the barrel. I can make out "45" and "7 tons". Could it be that the gun had the original barrel shot out of it during WWI and before we shipped it over to the Brits we replaced the barrel? Is it still the usual .45 ACP caliber?

The bluing is about 75% with no pitting but a fair amount of dings. Original grips are on it without cracks or chips.

What's a ballpark price for this thing? I'm not up on these older guns.

 

[BullseyeJC]

I have found a model 1917 with a 5 digit serial number. The numbers match on the cylinder and frame but there is no serial on the underside of the barrel but it has "United States Property" on it.

The gun also has what looks like British proof marks on the right side of the barrel. I can make out "45" and "7 tons". Could it be that the gun had the original barrel shot out of it during WWI and before we shipped it over to the Brits we replaced the barrel? Is it still the usual .45 ACP caliber?

The bluing is about 75% with no pitting but a fair amount of dings. Original grips are on it without cracks or chips.

What's a ballpark price for this thing? I'm not up on these older guns.

 

[mikepriwer]

I would say that the barrel has been replaced, at some point in its life.

The barrels were numbered to the frame during production, so that after
bluing the fitted parts would come back together. I don't have any ideas
as to how the barrel came to be replaced.

As to pricing, I can only repeat what I have read here. Seems like gun in this
condition go for something around $400, plus or minus. I think that is what I have seen.

Later, Mike Priwer