S&W M1917 Pawn Shop Find

[mcpilot]

Picked this up today...

I was wondering if I got a decent deal.. $445.00

US Property Marked and this is a re-blue

 

[S&W Fan]

My uneducated guess is YES, you got a good deal if it's mechanically sound. That is a great shooter if so. Original finish guns in good shape are commanding much higher prices. I'd be taking that along on every range trip.

 

[mcpilot]

Next question.. Is it a must to use the moon clips? Or can I eject individual spent shells with an instrument?

 

[Sebago Son]

You should be able to shoot rounds individually without clips.

 

[DWalt]

Many might feel they got a good deal at nearly double that price. Moon clips are not essential, but they speed up loading and spent case ejection. They are cheap - look on eBay.

 

[thadheth]

You can take DWalt's assessment to the bank. $445 for a .45? Yep, unless there is something radically wrong with the gun, you got a very good deal.

 

[billwill]

I would say heck yeah, you done really good on this one for sure. Good score.

 

[greg_r]

Great deal. Look at Starline Brass or Remington. They make auto rim cases. Eliminates the moon clips for you.

 

[Chukar60]

Nice acquisition!!! Look into the RIMZ clips. Unless you are competing or using for SD, they work great. Very easy to load and unload with just fingers. No tools required.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Agree with all the posts!
My Brazil 1937 was only a few bucks less then you paid and I think it was good at todays prices.

 

[one eye joe]

THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL REVOLVER. I THINK THAT YOU GOT A GREAT DEAL. I WOULD HAVE JUMPED ON IT, MYSELF…..

YOU SHOULD NOT NEED MOON CLIPS--ESPECIALLY AT THE RANGE. IF YOU DO, I SECOND THE ENDORSEMENT OF RIMZ, MADE ABOVE. THEY ARE FINGER FRIENDLY, LOAD AND UNLOAD W/O TOOLS, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU MAY READ, THEY HOLD THE ROUNDS VERY SECURELY. I HAVE DROPPED THEM ONTO THE CEMENT RANGE FLOOR, AND INADVERTENTLY LAUNCHED ONE INTO A CINDER BLOCK WALL AND THEN ONTO THE CEMENT FLOOR. I NEVER LOST A ROUND. THIS IS ALL BEFORE I REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T NEED MOON CLIPS AT ALL….

 

[mcpilot]

Hey. Thanks guys. The revolver shoots great. I got full moon clips from amazon. I appreciate all of the input!!

 

[weatherby]

I didn't see it mentioned but you can also shoot 45 auto rim in it.

 

[mcpilot]

Thanks. I have another question. The gent at the shop told me that post WW I surplus US Property marked models went directly from factory to civilian stores. I dont believe that to be true.

I ordered a Jinks letter..

 

[Muley Gil]

Thanks. I have another question. The gent at the shop told me that post WW I surplus US Property marked models went directly from factory to civilian stores. I dont believe that to be true.

I ordered a Jinks letter..

I believe all of the US marked 1917s were delivered to the the federal government. Since these, and the Colt 1917s, were secondary standards, a large number were placed into storage. 1917s were issued to the US Post Office and to the Border Patrol. Some were reissued during WW II.

They were declared surplus after War 2 and sold to the public.

S&W continued to manufacture 1917s after WW I. These did not have government markings. Production was resumed after WW II and they received the short action around 1950, as did all S&W revolvers.

Colt continued to chamber the .45 ACP in their New Service models, post WW I. Colt 1917s were, of course, just wartime production New Services.

 

[22shtur]

I have one made by the other manufacturer. I bought some older expended ballon head Auto Rim cases. The old ballon head cases can handle medium pressures easily for many reloads. Don't pass up these older cases if you're going to shoot light loads, just a suggestion.

 

[A10]

Great score, congratulations!

 

[bananaman]

Not that it matters, but I would have been all over that myself! I shoot a .45ACP, 625JM. Do use moon clips. It does not bother me. Got a big brother for it Sun at gun show. 25-13 45 long colt. Love 45's! Enjoy your piece of history! Bob

 

[JSR III]

I saw one at the Plymouth, MA gun show yesterday at $625 or thereabouts and thought that it was a bargain at that price. To me $445 for a decent N frame S&W in todays world is a steal.

Really nice ones can go over $1,000 so you done good pilgrim...

 

[fat tom]

Yep,good decision on your part. Unwilling to pay the price for a high-condition example,I bought this one a couple of years ago. Seller told me it was a re-blue,but you couldn't prove it by me. It also has a replacement lanyard ring and the bbl is un-numbered. I bought it for a shooter,and shoot it does! I smile every time I pull the trigger. FWIW,I paid about the same as you did ($450 OTD). I don't use moon clips,a PITA! I can guarantee with some degree of certainty that you WILL enjoy it!



f.t.