S&W 1917 - Finally Got One!

[Plutonius]

Been looking for one for a long time. This is apparently an early model with the dished grips, the GHS inspector mark but does not have the radially cut serrated hammer. Serial Number is 16XXX which I believe puts it in the early 1918 manufacturing date. There are S number on the yoke, under the barrel and on the back of the cylinder. All numbers are matching too.

Got the 1917, holster, lanyard, belt and half moon clip pouch all for less than 850 which really tickled me. Guess it is better to be lucky

 

[weatherby]

Great deal that had to be worth waiting on congratulations.

Now go get some ammo.....That is where I started

 

[Jack Flash]

Very good deal indeed. Just the holster and other accoutrements should be worth a couple of hundred. Not that you would want to separate the group, but just sayin'.

Oh, by the way, the website below says January, 1918.
U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture

 

[Hondo44]

Wow, That's a gorgeous gun and 'package'. We don't see too many left handed holsters. Although concentric grooved hammers are seen in your serial # range and higher, transistioning from them took place in this period.

 

[Plutonius]

Very good deal indeed. Just the holster and other accoutrements should be worth a couple of hundred. Not that you would want to separate the group, but just sayin'.

Oh, by the way, the website below says January, 1918.
U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture

That is one of the reasons I took the gamble. The seller didn`t have the best pictures in the world but I knew the accouterments were worth a decent bit of money.

Also, the revolver shoots wonderfully. Much more accurate than me. I have been using Powder River 45ACP loaded with lead bullets and a FPS of around 750. I use the same rounds in my Webley Mark VI shaved for 45 ACP.

 

[625-10scc]

The holster is a cross draw for the left hand as the saber held in the right hand was considered the primary cavalry weapon .

 

[Plutonius]

Wow, That's a gorgeous gun and 'package'. We don't see too many left handed holsters. Although concentric grooved hammers are seen in your serial # range and higher, transistioning from them took place in this period.

My understanding, at least from what I read, is that most if not all holsters for the 1917 from WW1 were like this. They were made to be cross drawn with the saber being used in the right hand. Obviously such Calvary carryovers were obsolete after WW1.

 

[Jack Flash]

I don't know when the US Army considered the cavalry obsolete, but certainly in the 1917 time-frame they had a lot of pull. Their influence lingered on. As late as WWII at least one general was noted for wearing a cavalry-type uniform:

 

[KEN L]

Been looking for one for a long time. This is apparently an early model with the dished grips, the GHS inspector mark but does not have the radially cut serrated hammer. Serial Number is 16XXX which I believe puts it in the early 1918 manufacturing date. There are S number on the yoke, under the barrel and on the back of the cylinder. All numbers are matching too.

Got the 1917, holster, lanyard, belt and half moon clip pouch all for less than 850 which really tickled me. Guess it is better to be lucky

Very nice! Are the stocks numbered to the gun? The serial number will be written in pencil inside the right stock. Sometimes very difficult to see without the aid of a light. Hammer could have been replaced. We will never know for sure.

 

[Plutonius]

Very nice! Are the stocks numbered to the gun? The serial number will be written in pencil inside the right stock. Sometimes very difficult to see without the aid of a light. Hammer could have been replaced. We will never know for sure.

I couldn`t tell, must be very faint on the grips. They fit very well on the gun though.

Who knows about the hammer. Looks original to me as the corrosion on the trigger and hammer are very similar. I have read conflicting reports on when the hammer was upgraded. Some say around 15,000, some say around 25,000. Who knows.

 

[Hondo44]

The holster is a cross draw for the left hand as the saber held in the right hand was considered the primary cavalry weapon .

My understanding, at least from what I read, is that most if not all holsters for the 1917 from WW1 were like this. They were made to be cross drawn with the saber being used in the right hand. Obviously such Calvary carryovers were obsolete after WW1.

You are both correct of course: I would have been more clear if I had said we don't see too many WW I, the left handed holsters.

Yes the Model 1909 WW I holsters were all left handed. The Model 1909 M2 identical but mirror image right hand holsters were not introduced until 1941. They were superseded by the similar M4 in 1942.

 

[Iggy]

That was a heck of a deal. Enjoy it.

 

[Hondo44]

I couldn`t tell, must be very faint on the grips. They fit very well on the gun though.

Who knows about the hammer. Looks original to me as the corrosion on the trigger and hammer are very similar. I have read conflicting reports on when the hammer was upgraded. Some say around 15,000, some say around 25,000. Who knows.

Your grip # is 98 years old and not usually seen w/o magnification and bright light, but likely there. A photo will usually help its visibility as shown below at the bottom of the grip in the upper half:

We do know when the hammer was changed as mentioned in my above post #4, and like most all S&W changes, it was transistioned over a period, there is no change date or serial number. The change period observed is between ~ #15000 to ~20000.

 

[ameridaddy]

I think you did very well! That old thing has just the right amount and right kind of character marks, IMHO.
It looks like it might be 20 years old, not the 98 years it is. It's a beauty.

 

[deyomatic]

I would love to know where you found it... I have been combing GB for about a year now and nothing as nice unless it was double your price. Very well done, indeed.

 

[Muley Gil]

Very, very nice package. Back when I first became interested in handguns, you could supposedly get a 1917 Smith for $50, but I never saw one. Wound up with a Old Model .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk as my first centerfire handgun.

My first big bore DA revolver was a 1917 S&W, bought to carry as a reserve deputy sheriff. The chief deputy had allowed me to carry my 1911 pattern .45, but didn't like semi-autos. I think it had something to do with the bullet hole in the top of his desk. Funny thing is that the deputy that shot the desk in the mid '70s is now the high sheriff of his county!

That 1917 has lead me to a life time of shooting and collecting S&Ws.

 

[S&W Fan]

Outstanding! That is a great gun with all the extras.

I don't have one but my older son was gifted a refinished 1917 (he's an Army E6) a bit over 3 years ago from the widow of good friend and forum member IBSandy.

The 1917 is one S&W every fan of the brand should own. Thankfully I have plenty of opportunity run some rounds through it, very fun. One of these days I hope to have my own.

 

[Plutonius]

I would love to know where you found it... I have been combing GB for about a year now and nothing as nice unless it was double your price. Very well done, indeed.

Found it on Gunbroker. I count myself lucky. I have been looking out for two things for ages. A Webley Mark VI and a 1917. Found both and couldn`t be happier.

 

[deyomatic]

Nice score...I had all but given up and have been researching Hi Powers lately...or else I would have snagged it!!!

Congrats!

 

[sodacan]

The S&W 1917 was my first 45acp revolver. The Colt 1917 followed next. Three more Smiths followed them. It is really cool to shoot a piece of history. Enjoy it.