S&W 1917 US Military in .38 Special with Matching Numbers

[CJS57]

Saw it today at a gunshop. Military proofed on the left upper side. Matching numbers on cyl., barrel and frame. US Property on the bottom near the lanyard loop. .38 Special on the left barrel but no US Property on the bottom of the barrel. Sorry no pictures yet. I know there will be a chorus of made by bubba. But it is all original blue. My question is has anyone seen another 1917 in .38 Special?

 

[Muley Gil]

Does it have a shrouded barrel, like a .38/44 Heavy Duty?

I kinda remember a 1917 converted to .38 being shown here on the Forum a number of years ago.

 

[murphydog]

Photos would help here.

Several possibilities. A K frame model of 1902 with ".38 S & W Special and U.S. Service CTG" on the left barrel. A WW II era .38 Victory Model but also a K frame. Or as MG mentioned, an N frame conversion of a .45 1917 Army with a .38/44 barrel and cylinder.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Why are you calling it a 1917?

 

[Model19man]

Post pictures. Sounds like a K frame 38 to me.

 

[bigwagon]

Are you positive you know exactly what you're looking at? Without photos or a better description, there is no way for us to tell.

 

[StrawHat]

It may be a 1917 or it may be a 38 S&W Special but it is NOT a factory 1917 in 38 S&W Special.

Kevin

 

[CJS57]

Ok thanks for the info. I will take my own minty U.S. 1917 in .45 ACP with me for a second look at the 38. But it is not a K frame. Will update next week.

 

[Alk8944]

I would have to see a good, detailed photos of the questioned revolver before I would even consider it being a 1917, modified or not! I would bet that it was mis-identified by the LGS or other entity that has it for sale. The only other reasonable explanation is that it is a military 1917 converted to .38 Special by replacing the barrel and cylinder with those parts from a
.38-44 Heavy Duty. If that is the case bottom of the barrel definitely would not be marked United States Property as the 1917s were.

It is no trick to re-stamp an un-numbered replacement barrel and cylinder so the numbers match the frame. It is highly un-likely that the font would properly match the font that S&W would have used for those parts if this is the case.

 

[AJ]

I would have to see a good, detailed photos of the questioned revolver before I would even consider it being a 1917, modified or not! I would bet that it was mis-identified by the LGS or other entity that has it for sale. The only other reasonable explanation is that it is a military 1917 converted to .38 Special by replacing the barrel and cylinder with those parts from a
.38-44 Heavy Duty. If that is the case bottom of the barrel definitely would not be marked United States Property as the 1917s were.

It is no trick to re-stamp an un-numbered replacement barrel and cylinder so the numbers match the frame. It is highly un-likely that the font would properly match the font that S&W would have used for those parts if this is the case.

What he said!

 

[CJS57]

When I see it next week I will look closely at that replaced parts idea. Makes sense.

 

[red9]

Sleeved?

The description sounds like it may be similar to my British .455, which has the barrel and chambers sleeved to .38 Special. There is no serial number on the cylinder, indicting that the rear was slightly shaved. The work was very well done and it is difficult to see the sleeves. The change in caliber is not marked and there are no British commercial proofs to indicate that the conversion was done in England.

Bob

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I have a 4 inch NS .455 that was rebarreled/recylindered to 38 sp. A real sweatheart to shoot.

 

[CJS57]

The .38 special 1917 was re-examined today. It was in my opinion reworked at Smith. Factory workmanship, not bubba. The cylinder is matching with no rework and no sleeves. The barrel is matching too. Both look like hand numbered and no numbers ground off. The barrel is a commercial .38 Special 6.5" that is period correct style, font and original blue. No rework star or dates inside on the grip frame. Total blank there.
I suppose a decent gunsmith could also have done this work. But it would have have to have been back in the days when one could get an un-numbered and original Carbonia blue barrel and cylinder. About impossible to get nowadays.

 

[Truckman]

The barrel is a commercial .38 Special 6"

Not a 6 1/2"?......Ben

 

[CJS57]

I did not measure it so it must be 6.5"

 

[steelslaver]

Heavy duty barrel and cylinder fitted to a 1917 frame. Wouldn't be hard to do.

 

[CJS57]

Please expand on why it was hard to do. I do believe you! Just more details please.

 

[Muley Gil]

Please expand on why it was hard to do. I do believe you! Just more details please.

I think SS meant to type that it "wouldn't" be hard to do.

 

[CJS57]

Yes I agree, not too hard. Just get an original finish cylinder and get an original finish barrel that are un-numbered. Get some S&W font number punches and add the serial numbers. And then just drop them in.
Not sure if those cylinder and barrel parts are readily available now? Not sure if most people would go to the trouble of adding the serial numbers? But S&W would for sure?