Rare 1917 factory Target

[bmg60]

Hi.
I was recently able to purchase a Very rare 1917 Factory Target.
It was shipped from the factory on December 8 1937 and delivered to Lions Sporting Goods Toronto, Canada. It was shipped with Target front and Rear sights, Bright blue finish, McGivern gold bead, Humpback Hammer and Magna stocks. It was a special order Gun.
In my all my years of collecting I have never seen another 1917 Target in this configuration that lettered. This gun is in 99% condition it only looks like it was fired at the factory. It was shipped with grooved back strap,fore strap and grooved trigger which is how the Target guns of this time frame were shipped.
Enjoy the pictures
Jim

 

[Dan M]

WoW!!! that is one cool gun Jim. Thanks for sharing it with us

Dan

 

[Camster]

Wow! That's a fabulous find!

 

[gjamison]

how do you come up with these.

WoW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[geotech]

Absolute stunner! Color me *blued* with envy! Exceptional find!

 

[phenson]

Jim,
I sure do like looking at revolvers like this.

 

[s&wchad]

Wonderful gun! Thank you for posting it.

 

[dacoontz]

Jim,
Hey that's really cool. I'd also like to know where you find all these one of kinders but I bet your not going to tell us. Thanks for sharing it with us, it's an outstanding piece.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Rare of rare of custom rare... Old world Smith's are just a fine looking thing to see.

EDIT:

There sure are some real time capsule type guns being unearthed. I love that they are seeing the light and getting some photo sharing, but it does twist my guts some to think about what must have happened for these to be unveiled... Hard times... Death in family... But life happens and I'm sure they got good money for these specimens...

 

[sw44spl]

great find, thanks for showing us.

 

[DCWilson]

Jim, absolutely stunning. I love learning about rare configurations like this one. Congratulations.

I see it has the 1920s-style ejector knob and round-top strap. I guess that makes it a gun built on a left-over pre-1926 frame.

I wonder if there is any way to determine the customer who placed the special order in Toronto? The design is so particular that I think it must have been intended as a competition revolver in .45 ACP.

Be sure to give us a range report.

 

[pace40]

That is a helluva gun Jim. Congratulations!

 

[linde]

Jim,

Outstanding! Since acquiring a 1949 factory re-work to target many years ago, I've wanted to see what an original factory 1917 target looks like. Thanks for sharing.

Russ

 

[Smithhound]

I want to re-ask the question:

How do you find these fabulous old revolvers? I'm just as interested in the story of the acquisition as I am in the pictures. I've been lucky enough to come up with some pretty nice guns, but nothing that compares to some that you, or others have shown.
So, how did it come about?
RD

 

[gripper]

Jim, That is a outstanding gun. Good for you.

Chad Gripp
SWCA #2323

 

[Chuck Jones]

Wow! That's a great revolver, how does it shoot?

/c

 

[Joe in SC]

Sir, That is one fine shootin' iron. Someone certainly had trendsetting taste back in the mid thirties. There must be a back story for that gun to be so well preserved all these years. I can't imagine it surviving so well without some extraordinary circumstances.

 

[1Aspenhill]

If everyone wants to know how Jim finds these, he had an operation years ago and had a horseshoe inserted!
Nice one Jim, be sure to bring it to Tulsa and I'll bring the ammo!
Bill

 

[Allen-frame]

Holy Cats. Now, if it was only chambered in 45 COLT!?

Jim, what is it chambered in 45 a.c.p. or 455 ??

Good on you.

Regards
Allen

 

[bmg60]

hi
its 45 ACP
jim