US Army M1917

[rdfact]

Here's the latest, and certainly oldest, member of my small S&W family. SN 132422 puts this as made in November 1918? The SN is also on the side of the crane - visible with the cylinder open through an empty chamber. I haven't done any disassembly and cleaning yet. Wondering if the side plate is a replacement since the finish doesn't quite look the same as the rest of the gun.

What can you guys tell me about this from the pics? The finish is blued but has a brownish patina. Does it look refinished?

No discernible number or markings on flat underside of barrel.

No discernible flaming bomb or arsenal stamp.

Eagle proof:

SN and Eagle proof:

 

[crsides]

I'm going with refinish. Sideplate where it meets the frame has a larger than expected gap, and some sharp corners are rounded.

 

[Muley Gil]

Generally, an unnumbered barrel means that it was replaced outside of the factory.

 

[Hondo44]

That looks like a nice shooter.

1. The gun's barrel and frame have been re-finished but not completely; you can still see original blue in the crevices and behind the left side recoil shield. The cyl hasn't been re-finished.

2. The left side frame inspector stamp appears to have been removed from in front of the top of the hammer.

3. The barrel is a surplus barrel replacement.

4. To confirm the originality of the side plate, check the Assembly (factory work) #s: These multi-digit numbers of 3 to 5 digits, are on the yoke at the hinge, in the 'yoke cut' on frame opposite the yoke near the hinge, and inside of the sideplate, for the pre war and early post war period.

You know they are assembly (factory work) #s because of those 3 locations that always match on guns that are original, and that's the only usefulness for them after guns leave the factory: still used to this day, long after serial number locations decreased.

5. Here are the 6 fixed sight frame hand ejector serial # locations until ~1956:

1. Gun butt - or forestrap on I frames/single shots with grips that cover the butt

2. Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud

3. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight

4. Extractor star - backside

5. Cylinder - rear face

6. Right stock only - on back; stamped, scratched or penciled depending on vintage and stock material. (except most target grips because individual fitting not required.)

 

[rdfact]

Thanks for the info Hondo/Jim.
I was sure I was going to find that the side plate assembly numbers did not match the crane but they do match.

The crane has 5817 stamped in 2 places, and the side of the crane has the same SN as the bottom of the frame. The side plate also has 5817.

I can't find anything on the back of the grip panels.

Gut shot. It was over-oiled and the oil looked old and brown-ish. I ran some cleaning patches through the bore and cylinder chambers and there was zero powder fouling/residue. Somebody cleaned the heck out of this.

 

[rdfact]

What does the screw in front of the trigger guard do? I have not removed that screw but....when I took the side plate off, the forward most screw was very loose. When I reassembled it I tightened that screw so it was snug but not overly tight. Then I could not open the cylinder. I thought I broke my new toy. After loosening that side screw I was able to open the cylinder, but it's very loose to the point where I would be concerned it could fall out under repeated recoil.

 

[BUFF]

There is a small spring and pin under there and they put pressure on the cylinder locking bolt, the little thing that pops up and down from underneath the cylinder.

The front sideplate screw is fitted. Often times, folks mix up the sideplate screws. Try swapping the three lower sideplate screws around.