smith D.A. 45

[bbbelk]

Smith experts I need some answers.



I picked this up today and its killing me to know what I've got.

It's a Smith and Wesson D.A. 45 with about a 2.5" barrel.

I am aware this was originally an "N" model. This gun has been modified to a round butt. Whoever did the gunsmithing did an excellent job. It looks as if its almost from the factory this way except for where it has been tacked back together underneath the grips but, again it is some very nice work. My questions are:

Theres no model number or one that I can distinguish anyways. The numbers "55396" and what appears to be s22 with a stamp over it where the model number would be behind the ejector rod. Is this just an old model or something unique?

I've looked at the model 1917 and all that I have seen are stamped with some sort of U.S. Army markings along the barrel or butt which mine has none of these?

Underneath the barrel/ejector rod are the numbers "87401" along with an "S" and some sort of diamond stamp.

On the left side if the frame towards the top is from what I have gathered a "fireball" stamp?

And lastly the barrel is only about 2.5" and I havent seen one this short before. I know the butt has been modified but if this barrel has been cut someone did a fine job because I sure can't tell it. Looks very original to me.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Waidmann]

BBB, many post-WWI commercial 1917s were built with frames bearing Springfield inspector's stamps. These were of course left over when the military contracts were cancelled. Some were drilled for butt swivels and others not.

Yours sold commercial then got the treatment. I like it.

Waidmann

 

[pilgrim6a]

Nice first post!
It's a cut down 1917. MFG sometime before '46. Collector value is nil.
If you listen carefully you can hear the serious collectors grinding their teeth!
Don't pay any attention to 'em. Looks like a great shooter!
Enjoy!

Also, I'm glad to be your first 'Like'.

 

[DCWilson]

Definitely a much modified gun, but a cool one. The S22 and eagle stamp are a US Army inspector mark. The ejector rod knob has a profile that was abandoned in the late 1920s. The S84771 on the flat underside of the barrel may be the serial number of a donor .45 that was manufactured in the 1950s, but I'm not aware those were stamped S&W D.A. 45 on the right side of the barrel; need to check on that. The frame is for a long-action gun (prewar, and then postwar transitional up to 1950). The four line address suggests the frame was manufactured after 1948 or was refinished at the factory at a time when the policy was to use the current four-line rollmark on refinished guns rather than preserving the original single-line mark. The large logo on the sideplate seems to rule out manufacture in the WWI time frame, but the flaming bomb indicates contract production from that time. Maybe that was also added at the time the four-line address block was applied.

Lots of choices here. Is there a serial number on the butt of the gun? If not, look under the stocks on the left side of the grip frame to see if it was transferred there when the gun was modified. Is there a serial number on the back of the cylinder? On the underside of the ejector star? Can you see a serial number on the small face of the yoke when you look through the charge holes? Maybe the 55396 stamped on the frame indicates the original serial number that was relocated when the butt was reshaped.

Somebody wanted a compact .45 revolver and seems to have done a very good job of creating one. There may be pieces of two or three different guns in that package, but they were well adapted and assembled by somebody who knew what he was doing and what he wanted to see at the other end of the process.

I think I am talking myself into thinking that this is a factory reconfigured US Army 1917 that was reworked to customer specifications in the '60s or '70s.

AFTERTHOUGHT: Should have thought of this first. Is the sight notch on top of the frame round bottom or square bottom? Does the frame have a rounded top, or is there a narrow flat upper surface?

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum.
Someone made a nice concealed carry gun out of your 1917.
Also, the barrel looks longer than 2.5", did you measure from the front of the cylinder? Or front of the frame? The barrel should be measured from the forcing cone (right in front of the cylinder) out to the muzzle.
Congrats on getting someone nicely modified 1917.

 

[jack the toad]

Also, the barrel looks longer than 2.5".

+1
I'm guessing app. 3"+.
Maybe even 3-1/4"
Nice looking job though.

 

[10-12]

I can't add anything to what the others have said except to say that is exactly what I have been loking for. I envy you, I am glad for you but I envy you.

Good on ya.

Bill

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Does this revolver have any number on the butt? The main serial number should be located there. The "S87401" that is under the barrel sounds like the correct SN for a post WW II 1917. That number should also be on the rear of the cylinder.

Did you buy this one from a dealer or from an individual? If from a dealer, did he/she use the 55396 number as the SN?

The reason the members here are bringing this up is that Federal and state laws deem that it is illegal to remove the serial number from a firearm.

In the past, BATF rules said that before a serial number could be removed, it could be stamped somewhere else on the frame. Mostly, this was done on the side of the gripframe, under the grips.

Other than the SN issue, it is a neat gun.

 

[keith44spl]

Nice snubby...But guys, what's up with the four line address?

Maybe a trans HD converted with a 1917 cylinder and bobbed barrel?
Cyl. stop lug on the frame looks like it in the pic.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[STCM(SW)]

I like it! Neet revolver in a great caliber.

 

[Hondo44]

Nice snubby...But guys, what's up with the four line address?

Maybe a trans HD converted with a 1917 cylinder and bobbed barrel?
Cyl. stop lug on the frame looks like it in the pic.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Dave,
See David's post #4. Until Roy Jinks convinced the factory to knock it off, a factory refinished gun was restamped with stamps contemporary to the time the gun was reworked/refinished.

bbbelk,
Is there a date on the grip frame under the left grip? This would indicate if and when it was sent back to the factory for work.

 

[keith44spl]

Dave,
See David's post #4. Until Roy Jinks convinced the factory to knock it off,
a factory refinished gun was restamped with stamps contemporary to the time the gun was reworked/refinished.

Jim,
I just didn't allow that the factory would re-finish a revolver this heavily modified,
i.e. as the OP stated "it has been tacked back together underneath the grips"

I'd forgotten that the factory applied the four line address to re-finishes...

Thanks for the reminder, need to file that one closer to the top of the stack.

Anyhow, a neat ol revolver that bbbelk has right thar.


Su Amigo,

 

[lowhog]

Dave,
See David's post #4. Until Roy Jinks convinced the factory to knock it off,
a factory refinished gun was restamped with stamps contemporary to the time the gun was reworked/refinished.

Jim,
I just didn't allow that the factory would re-finish a revolver this heavily modified,
i.e. as the OP stated "it has been tacked back together underneath the grips"

I'd forgotten that the factory applied the four line address to re-finishes...

Thanks for the reminder, need to file that one closer to the top of the stack.

Anyhow, a neat ol revolver that bbbelk has right thar.


Su Amigo,

Dave,I had a factory refinished 5 inch triplelock that had the 4 line address stamped on it.What a dumb thing to do!

 

[Dave T]

You should sell that one to me as I obviously need it as a companion piece to this one:

Two different but similar results. Seriously, you have a dandy revolver there. Enjoy!

Dave

 

[bbbelk]

You should sell that one to me as I obviously need it as a companion piece to this one:

Two different but similar results. Seriously, you have a dandy revolver there. Enjoy!

Dave

Thanks Dave, everything I have is for sale. That's a beauty you have there as well.