question about 1917

[JSR III]

Frobee, welcome to the forum. Not to dodge your question, but if you do a search in the search function using 1917, you will probably pull up more threads about the 1917 than you will have time to read this year.

They are very neat old revolvers and can shoot either the .45 ACP round using moon clips or the .45 auto rim. Actually, they will shoot the .45 ACP without moon clips, however, since there is no rim on the case, they won't extract easily.

Price like anything S&W depends on condition. High condition guns are going over $1,000 with plain janes still grabbing $500 to $600 and up. There seems to be an uptick in interest lately.

They were produced to supply the war effort for WW1 in the military configuration and then later a commercial version was made to answer the demand from the general public. There is also a Brazillian version that was shipped circa 1937 that sports a Brazillian crest on the side plate.

Again, welcome aboard and enjoy the ride.

 

[shep854]

The suggested prices given here are a real surprise to me! I paid $300 for mine, as a consignment gun. The seller said that was what he found on the Internet.

 

[JSR III]

I will pay $300 cash money for any decent 1917 that you have for sale.

Go to a site like GunBroker.com and do a search using 1917. I would be very surprised if you find any with an asking price of $300 unless they come with a leash and a collar.

 

[shep854]

I will pay $300 cash money for any decent 1917 that you have for sale.

Go to a site like GunBroker.com and do a search using 1917. I would be very surprised if you find any with an asking price of $300 unless they come with a leash and a collar.

I sure didn't try to talk him UP on the price! For a moment, I was afraid I had after waxing eloquent on the history of the M1917. Fortunately, he's a really decent guy (whew!)
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Muley, there is absolutely no sign of a Brazilian crest on the sideplate. I suppose it's possible that the sideplate was replaced, but from the serial number (23xxx), it would likely have been part of the first batch, shipped in the '30s, but those should have had a flat topstrap--mine's rounded.
If only it could talk...

 

[shep854]

I finally got my computer working again, and am figuring out Imageshack...therefore, here are pics of my 1917:

 

[Gen.Eric Colt]

Even though I own a very nice 1917 of my own, I still drool every time I see a nice one on the forum. It seems as if S&W owners shoot their old guns more and worry about collecting less. I'm going to go look some more and then grab my revolver and go bust some caps the rest of the afternoon.

 

[A10]

That old 1917 looks pretty cool with those '80's targets on it Shep! I normally prefer the looks of the original grips, but I'll just bet that handles real nice!

 

[shep854]

That old 1917 looks pretty cool with those '80's targets on it Shep! I normally prefer the looks of the original grips, but I'll just bet that handles real nice!

.45ACP through a gun that big certainly makes for a very soft, pleasant shooter! Compared the more ergonomic "combat" grips, those big "target" grips feel too big (what's funny is that back when I first got into shooting, target grips looked normal, and combat grips looked plain weird!), so I'm going to put older, slim grips back on along with a grip adapter.