Need ID on a DA 45 UPDATE #11

[paplinker]

I have been trying to figure out a N frame for sale I saw a couple months ago that I cannot be sure of. I was not allowed to open the cylinder as it was zip tied. Had target grips on it.

N frame serial 210746
Prewar
fixed sight
I believe 5" bbl
I believe made in the USA on frame
DA 45 on side of bbl
no obvious proof marks I could find
I believe it had the smaller barrel shaped ejector rod

Finish was not a real deep blue but it did seem a bit better than the matte finish.

I really am a target guy but this gun had me curious. At a grand it was too high for me to roll the dice.

Is this likely a Brazillion or a 1917 leftover frame?

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

I’m not going to be any help on this one. However from your description the thing that stands out to me is the “smaller barrel shaped ejector rod.” Any 1917s or Brazilians will have the larger mushroom knob. Hopefully someone will come along who knows a lot more. Assuming everything is original, perhaps it one of the less common commercial model DA 45s which could be the reason for the higher asking price.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

It sounds like a rare 1917 Army transitional. It falls in the serial number range and some are reported to not have the 'S' prefix.

Believed that fewer than 1000 commercial versions
were made in a serial number range of S209792-S210782
with an S serial prefi x to indicate the new postwar
hammer block, and continued within the 1917 serial
number range. One knowledgeable collector reports that
these guns are sometimes encountered without the “S”
serial number prefix. These commercial versions had the
S&W trademark on the sideplate and may or may not have
a lanyard ring. Produced circa 1946-1950.

Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition, page 194

 

[StrawHat]

Pictures?

Kevin

 

[weatherby]

That's a very high serial number Richard and falls into Guy's range.

With unrelieved targets may be a real bargain.

 

[22hipower]

I think Wiregrassguy nailed it. It should look a lot like this one which is one of the very last of them, S210775. If it hasn't been refinished or otherwise modified I'd think $1k was a pretty good price, and the target stocks might be a bonus although the correct post war magnas might not be easy to find.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2qhYtdx https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[paplinker]

It sounds like a rare 1917 Army transitional. It falls in the serial number range and some are reported to not have the 'S' prefix.



Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition, page 194

Thanks for the info Guy!

I just looked it up and it seems everything I read corresponds with what I saw. I might consider giving an offer but he is not in my state and would be a bit of a drive.

Is there any past sales you know of?
Curious what a fair offer might be.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Rich, this is not a model that I pursue and I haven't seen many posted in the last 10 years. I believe one was posted here a few months ago and that is the first I can remember seeing recently. I don't have a feel for market value but my sense is that one is underpriced at $1000...perhaps significantly.

 

[StrawHat]

I have been trying to figure out a N frame for sale I saw a couple months ago that I cannot be sure of. I was not allowed to open the cylinder as it was zip tied. Had target grips on it.

N frame serial 210746
Prewar
fixed sight
I believe 5" bbl
I believe made in the USA on frame
DA 45 on side of bbl
no obvious proof marks I could find
I believe it had the smaller barrel shaped ejector rod

Finish was not a real deep blue but it did seem a bit better than the matte finish.

I really am a target guy but this gun had me curious. At a grand it was too high for me to roll the dice.

Is this likely a Brazillion or a 1917 leftover frame?

Any update?

Kevin

 

[raljr1]

Rich,

If you step on that banana peel of these fixed sighted old work horses, you realize there is no turning back. Sounds like a good buy to me. How far is the drive?

Robert

 

[paplinker]

Well it took awhile but I finally came in contact with this gun in question with all the fresh insight given to me on the forum.

We came to a agreeable number and I bought my first fixed sight S&W

Going to be a first for me buying this ammo and figuring out moonclips. The bbl length does seem to balance very nice for me in the hand. I believe it's 5 1/2"

 

[mh51]

Guy had nailed it for you. I have 210353 that was shipped 11/03/47. Mine still has about 90% original satin finish, and also still has the lanyard ring.
I bought it several years ago at an auction where it didn't draw much attention. By the time I finished with fees and taxes it was about $900. Sounds like you did good!!

(P.S.) Mine does not have the "S" prefix on the butt, but does have the prefix on the barrel flat and the rear of the cylinder.

 

[paplinker]

Guy had nailed it for you. I have 210353 that was shipped 11/03/47. Mine still has about 90% original satin finish, and also still has the lanyard ring.
I bought it several years ago at an auction where it didn't draw much attention. By the time I finished with fees and taxes it was about $900. Sounds like you did good!!

(P.S.) Mine does not have the "S" prefix on the butt, but does have the prefix on the barrel flat and the rear of the cylinder.

Did yours ship anywhere interesting? Not sure if I will get a letter yet.

 

[StrawHat]

Rich,

You are going to hate the fixed sights! Stick with the King stuff! LOL!

Kevin