WWI S&W 1917 en route.....what do you think? **It has arrived...w/ more photos**

[Robinett_11B]

I've been wanting a 1917 for a little while now. I've never handled one, never even fired a .45 revolver before, but the old WWI S&W 1917's really appeal to me...maybe because of my affiliation with the Army. I wanted one, but I didn't really expect to spend this much! Just happened that way I 'spose.

These are the only photos I have of it, as it wont be in my possession for another week or two. There's a 3-day inspection period on the gun, so I can always return it if it turns out not to be as described.

It looks clean to me, maybe a little too clean? Indicative of a refinish? Seller said all numbers match, made no mention of the grips though...they look like they could be reproductions to me, but I'm no expert on these guns.

So, just judging from the photo and the seller's description of this being an "excellent condition" example...what do you guys think? It wouldn't be hard to figure out what I paid, though I'm a little "embarrassed" to of paid as much as I did for a gun! I like to think, if I did in fact pay more than I should of, that I might of just bought a little soon was all I'll be sure to post more photos and another writeup when the gun comes to it's new home.

*Oh, and should I feel bad for wanting to fire it regularly??*



Thanks for looking and any input,
-Rob

 

[peyton]

My opinion is that it has the original finish and it is worth was you spent on it!!

 

[feralmerril]

That looks next to new and straight! No matter what you paid, no need to look back!

 

[Oyeboteb]

It sure looks good! Virtually brand 'new'!

Far as shooting it regularly - my own way of faith, is to stay with nice, soft Lead Bullets for anything and everything, since they are much kinder to the arm than Hardball.

Make sure all is well Oiled and have fun!

 

[Class III]

WOW, just WOW.

If it wasn't for the turn ring, the few SMALL dings in the bottom of the grips and the maybe loss of blue at the muzzle i'd call it NNIB. As it stands it's no lower than a 96% gun unless it's been refinished. But, it shows none of the typical signs of being refinished.

Class III

 

[Speedo2]

removed PC

 

[M2MikeGolf]

Wow, it that's a reblue, it's one of the best polish jobs I think I've ever seen. If that is an original blue, I don't think I'd shoot it. I looked carefully at the stampings on mine and compared them with your pictures, and I can tell a slight difference in a few areas, but I suspect that is the stamping and not polishing effects. I would get an expert in person to examine it, maybe you can ask the seller to remove those grips and verify the matching numbers. Even if it's a reblue, that is one beautiful 1917. Unless the price is outrageous, I would snap that up in a minute.

 

[mkk41]

Very nice! Sideplate screws don't even look like they've had screwdrivers , or at least the wrong screwdrivers in them. Always a good sign.
Enjoy!

 

[DCWilson]

A couple of years ago I paid top dollar for an almost new 1917, and I don't regret it for a moment. Military issue 1917s are hard to find in 97-98% condition or better, and they don't last long when collectors learn about them. The best Army 1917s have been at $1500-1800 for a couple of years now. If you paid less than that, you did just fine. If you paid in that vicinity or even a little more, you are at the market. Even if you are a little ahead of the market, so what? One of the ways collectors build fine collections is by being willing to pay next year's price while others are worrying about the fair price today.

That's a fine revolver. I would shoot it a little, but maybe not a lot unless I stuck with lead bullets and cleaned it carefully after each range trip. In order to have the .45 shooting experience, I bought a beater Brazilian and tuned it up a bit with a couple of fresh parts and some major cleanup. You might want to do that to.

Funny thing about 1917s -- if you get a S&W, you may want a Colt as well. It's interesting to compare the handling of two different guns that were different solutions to the same set of general design standards. You are correct in your anticipation: these things are great fun to shoot.

 

[beagleye]

the big N in 45

is awful fun to shoot. I think I'd shoot it and let my heirs worry about the loss of value, cause I would never sell it. Good score!

 

[delta-419]

1917

A rightous gun. As they say in the Army, hooah!!! Great catch whatever the price, you did good!

 

[M2MikeGolf]

I think I'd shoot it and let my heirs worry about the loss of value, cause I would never sell it

That's a valid point. I have to sort of go back on myself for earlier comments about not shooting it. Those 1917s are too much fun to shoot. Even if it damaged the collectors value, I'd probably shoot it anyway, just like I shoot my current one!

 

[handejector]

Looks righteous to me.
The recoil slide stud looks a little flat in the pics, but that could be glare.
The grips are not repops.
My opin is that they are original because they fit absolutely perfectly. They would have been numbered in pencil, and I bet it is still visible.

Since you say we could figure it out, save us the trouble, and tell us the price, please.

 

[tango-papa]

I'll second the request regarding the price paid.

May I also add a request for the story behind the gun?
How did you happen upon it?
Based on your post regarding the ease with which we could figure out the cost, it must have been an auction purchase?
Gun Broker? Auction Arms? Guns America? ANother source?
Were you provided any historical information regarding the gun?

That's a beautiful piece of history.

tp

 

[JSR III]

That is a beautiful 1917. From looking at the photos, I would say that the gun is not refinished. It appears to have a small amount of muzzle wear and there is a good turn line. I would say that this was shot very little and cared for very well.

I recently paid $1,200 for a like specimen with a "0" serial number and would have paid more. Do let us know about what you paid as a frame of reference.

I also paid $600 for one in 2000 and $1,096 for another in 2005. Both were in excellent condition except someone had taken a file to the front sight of the second one to make it narrower.

 

[Jack Flash]

"The year of manufacture is 1918... July"
(See http://oldguns.net/sn_php/milmods.htm )

So it was likely issued during WWI. Perhaps it went home with a soldier as a prized reminder of his service or was sold to some gentle soul right after the war. A lot of them were sold off as surplus because the M1911 was the standard side arm. It sure looks like it got away from the Army before WWII.

… I'm a little "embarrassed" to of paid as much as I did for a gun!

It really depends on the gun. That one looks like it should go for a lot.

 

[Robinett_11B]

Thank you very much for all the input, guys. I figured it was pretty clean, as the other ones I've seen on the forum seem to usually be a little rougher. I'm starting to get a little worried that I'm just gonna have to lock this one away, or trade it, and find a "battle hardened veteran" to use as a shooter. I like the idea of aquiring one that could of seen both World Wars

The seller didn't give me any history or extra info on the gun...but I'll try and see what more I can find out about it. As far as how I came across it; I was just searching GA, AA, & GB for 1917's. I stumbled across this one on AA with a starting bid of $850. I was the only bidder up 'til the closing minutes, where another user tried sniping the gun. He had me beat by a little, so I raised my max bid. As to what it finally went for...it ended up being $1,058 shipped. I guess I could of done worse? I've never spent more than $700 on a revolver before, so dropping 4 digits on one left me with a little bit of "sticker shock". I wonder if the other bidder is an active member on this forum? He bid it up 5 or 6 times in the last ~15 minutes...didn't get too close to my max bid of $1.6k though.

I thought the grips could of been repros because of their condition, but I guess I should of thought better given the condition of the gun's finish. I, too, thought that they may of fit a little too well to be repros. It may not have the character that makes most these guns so interesting, but the fact that this one has lasted this long in this shape is interesting in and of itself.....to me anyways.


Appreciate all your guys' info and comments,
-Rob



Oh...and I was thinking of cutting it down to 3", round-butting it, and getting it duracoated in OD green. Maybe add an accessory rail under the barrel to mount a laser. What do you think?


















Just kidding

 

[haggis]

"The year of manufacture is 1918... July

My calculations based on data in Pate's book give delivery during the week of June 29, 1918 - either estimate is probably equally likely. Anyway, what's a week between friends?

Buck

 

[handejector]

you got a bargain.
I would not have sold it that cheap.

 

[Jack Flash]

My calculations based on data in Pate's book give delivery during the week of June 29, 1918 - either estimate is probably equally likely. Anyway, what's a week between friends?

Buck

Oh well, at least we can agree that it was before the US Government decided to take over management of the company.

Oh...and I was thinking of cutting it down to 3", round-butting it, and getting it duracoated in OD green. Maybe add an accessory rail under the barrel to mount a laser. What do you think?

Don't forget to sand down the stocks and carve your initials in both panels.