S&W DA 45

[pinkerpv]

I have a S&W DA 45. It has Hogue grips but my Bro in law who actually owns it is searching for the wood. Not in bad shape. Probably 80%. But has several serial type numbers and I am having trouble identifying it in S&W Std Catalog. There are no "s" letters associated with the numbers. 18xxx is stamped on the frame just above the yoke. 185xxx is stamped on the hammer side of the cylinder. The same 185xxx is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. There are no rework marks on the grip frame. 198xxx is stamped on the bottom of the bbl above the ejector rod. A "B" is stamped in front of this number on the bbl.

S&W DA 45 is stamped on the left side of the bbl. Smith & Wesson is stamped on the rt side of the bbl. Std 4 lines are stamped in two lines on the top of the bbl. S&W patent mark is stamped on left side below cyl latch. Made in USA is stamped on lower rt front of frame.Large Star with 1937 under it is stamped on rt side on frame plate. 5 screw model N frame. Serrated trigger. Humpback hammer. Round blade frnt sight. Non recessed cylinder. Unshrouded ejector.

 

[bamabiker]

That looks like a M1917 Brazilian gun. The star on the side plate should be the Brazilian crest mark.

 

[cgt4570]

FYI,
That is not a humpback hammer. It's a standard pre-war service hammer.
Only magnum chamberings made before the early '80s (and rimfires) had recessed chambers.

 

[Jack Flash]

Bamabiker is right, that's a Brazillian Contract M1917. If you examine the crest, you should be able to read "Estados Unidos Do Brazil" (United States of Brazil) and the date 15th of November, 1889 (when Brazil became independent?). The serial number is what's on the butt frame and cylinder face: 185xxx. Per my notes, this one should have shipped to Brazil sometime in 1938.

Since the barrel has a different s/n, I'm assuming it's a replacement, probably due to shooting corrosive ammo through it. Otherwise, yours is in exceptionally good condition for a Brazillian. They are often badly pitted, especially under the stocks. By the way, try hard to find those stocks if original. They are worth a lot.

 

[pinkerpv]

Thanks to all.
cgt4570; Thanks for your correction. In the picture I had I just looked at the tip of the hammer and not the top. DUH!

Jack Flash; bamabiker; The seal on the right side cover plate is too worn to read although it looks to be a star and there is a date on it that might be 1889. The date 1937 is clearly seen under the seal. So this one was made here and shipped to Brazil in 38? Bro in law is looking for grips but actually got this one from his brother and they are probably long gone. The pin in the bbl is different than on my other smiths. It is recessed a little on the left side and flush on the right. There is a ding mark on the right side next to the pin which may be a mark to show the bbl has been changed? There is no mention of the contract to Brazil in the S&W catalog. Do you have any more info on numbers of revolvers in the contract, sn involved, etc.


Just found a sold ad for a Brazilian DA 45 on Gunbroker w/pictures. The Brazilian crest is clearly seen and that is what is on mine. The only difference is the lanyard ring, except for quality.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150313320

 

[bamabiker]

If you go to the Search funtion and type in 1917 you will get a lot of threads on them. You will have to sort through all of them to find the ones about Brazilians. Good luck.

 

[Jack Flash]

Somewhere along the line, someone removed the butt swivel (landyard loop) from your M1917. I do not see any import marks on yours. That is a plus especially as it is combined with its relatively good condition. The pin on the barrel may have not been re-installed as expertly as it could have been, thus the ding and not being perfectly centered. I once saw a S&W in a gun shop that looked like someone had tried to install the barrel pin with vice grips.

I'm looking at the third edition of the SCS&W - on page 164 he discusses the Brazilian Contract.

I have a couple of letters from Roy Jinks (the S&W Historian) on the Brazilian Contract M1917s. Here is some information gleaned from them:

First Brazilian Contract Group (25,000 units), shipped beginning in February, 1938:
serial number range
... 181983 to 207043

Second Brazilian Contract Group (12,000 units), shipped beginning in 1946:
two serial number ranges
... 166,000 to 175150
... 207,196 to 209878

The above is approximate; note that I have a Brazilian with the serial number 165xxx, which is outside the '38 and '46 ranges. Mr. Jink's letter says mine was shipped in 1946.

 

[pinkerpv]

Jack Flash; Thanks for the info. I went back to the catalog and read the part on the Brazilian contract. I didn't look at that page very thoroughly. Just glossed over it, I guess. The SN on my gun fits right in with the first 25,000 shipped. Yours is even earlier than the one mentioned in the book. I am going to shoot this one at the range in a few days and decide if I want to keep it. I will let you guys know how it shoots.

 

[Jack Flash]

You're very welcome.

If you do decide to sell it, you may want to list it in the Forum Classifieds. In the past, Brazilians have been the poor cousins of the M1917 Family. But now prices have gone so far out of sight for wartime M1917s that nice Brazilians are an attractive alternative, especially for someone interested in a shooter.