No way, anything that short in .45 ACP will need Goodyears so that you can hang on.
WWI S&W 1917 en route.....what do you think? **It has arrived...w/ more photos**
- Thread starter Robinett_11B
- Start date
No way, anything that short in .45 ACP will need Goodyears so that you can hang on.
Excellent score at that price. And your max bid was a reasonable one.
If you wanted to, you could sell that one tomorrow at a fair price and buy two other guns at your previous high purchase level.
If you wanted to, you could sell that one tomorrow at a fair price and buy two other guns at your previous high purchase level.
OP
Robinett_11B
US Veteran
Thanks for the added input, fellas...especially the posts about the dates. That's interesting to hear the week the gun may of been shipped, and the fact that it was made while the company was still under it's own control. I'm also glad to know that it seems I didn't overpay.
Yeah, I was most definitely just joking about chopping this gun up
Yeah, I was most definitely just joking about chopping this gun up
Peter J.
Member
IMHO, I wouldn't shoot it. Thats a museum piece.
J.D.
Member
Thanks for sharing your "MINT" 1917 with us it is truly a great piece of history
I too would be fighting the urge to fire it but then again I have no safe queens in my safes
As suggested lead projectiles & light loads then a good clean after each range shoot & it will still be a beautiful S&W M1917 to admire & to shoot, everyone wins 
I too think it was a steal at that price & you should not even pay it another thought. Well done.
Let us know if you find out anymore about it won't you.
I too would be fighting the urge to fire it but then again I have no safe queens in my safes
As suggested lead projectiles & light loads then a good clean after each range shoot & it will still be a beautiful S&W M1917 to admire & to shoot, everyone wins I too think it was a steal at that price & you should not even pay it another thought. Well done.
Let us know if you find out anymore about it won't you.
M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
Don't forget the Hi-viz sights and Aimpoint T-1.
Excellent price, you definately got a deal. I would have been willing to pay more than that. I looked on GB last night and saw several 1917s that yours way outclassed selling for a few hundred more.
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Nope, you did fine on the price, I paid more for the two I purchased this last summer. And yes I am gonna shoot them. They will be passed on to my two grand sons, they will have a couple of years to wait before shooting them, they are 2 years and 9 months old.
Did you receive your "Queen Mother" of 1917s yet?
OP
Robinett_11B
US Veteran
Haven't received the 1917 yet. It'll still be a week or so. I'm a little worried that I wont have the heart to fire it once I receive it 
I don't really see myself as a "collector", as I think the most "collectable" piece I own is a 2" M63...that's not saying much. This 1917 would be both the oldest and the most valuable of my meager 7 or 8 S&W collection.
Being that this gun was born 70 years before me, I think I still have a lot to learn and experience as far as S&W collecting goes. Seems I want a different gun every week
I may decide to hold onto it, but I may also try and trade for another gun I've been looking for...a 38/44. I do really enjoy the history behind the 1917's though. I should probably just wait and get both, but if I want a new S&W; a different usually has to go. I built up a modest collection with some extra money I had after my last deployment, so now I've just been selling-then-buying or trading into "the next one".
I guess we'll see how it goes. I'd like to think that I could receive it, decide that it'd be my son's one day, and actually take it out and feed it regularly. Decisions, decisions
I don't really see myself as a "collector", as I think the most "collectable" piece I own is a 2" M63...that's not saying much. This 1917 would be both the oldest and the most valuable of my meager 7 or 8 S&W collection. Being that this gun was born 70 years before me, I think I still have a lot to learn and experience as far as S&W collecting goes. Seems I want a different gun every week
I may decide to hold onto it, but I may also try and trade for another gun I've been looking for...a 38/44. I do really enjoy the history behind the 1917's though. I should probably just wait and get both, but if I want a new S&W; a different usually has to go. I built up a modest collection with some extra money I had after my last deployment, so now I've just been selling-then-buying or trading into "the next one".I guess we'll see how it goes. I'd like to think that I could receive it, decide that it'd be my son's one day, and actually take it out and feed it regularly. Decisions, decisions
M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
It's a keeper, if you sell it, you will regret it later; take my word for it (and many others in the forum). I think you'll have to shoot it, and don't worry about it if you do. It's not in the nature of an 11 Bravo to have a weapon that he doesn't shoot!
Jack Flash
Member
You sure better be!Yeah, I was most definitely just joking about chopping this gun up
OP
Robinett_11B
US Veteran
Finally picked up the 1917 this weekend. Been so crazy around here lately, w/ me getting out of the service and trying to get into LE, I've just been all over the place. It's finally in my possession though!
It checked out perfectly in the cursory checkout I did w/ my FFL and it's perfect mechanically upon further inspection too. There is zero rust or pitting that I can see anywhere on the gun and not a whole lot of bluing loss either. The chambers are bright and the rifling is sharp and shiny. It suprises me that this gun is nearly 100 years old in this condition! Oh, and the grips number to the gun too It appears to of been well taken care of throughout it's 93 years of existence.
I honestly don't feel like I can fire it though I don't know how to feel about it. It's an amazing piece of history and an awesome example of old S&W engineering; but it looks too nice for me to want to play with :/ I think I need to find an arsenal refinished WWII example to shoot and either pass this one along or keep it in the back of the safe.
Anyways. I'm glad I got it, even though it's future with me is not entirely certain. I figured I'd add some more photos from when I first got it to the house...though I don't have much to add beyond the photos the original seller took (that I posted) from the OP. I need to get some naturally lit outdoors photos, but it's a little difficult...living in an apartment here in Tacoma The flash made the finish look a little washed out in places, and dust showed up a little too readily, but that's just my lack of camera skills...I need to learn how to make a light box
Thanks again for all your input, guys.
-Rob
With a little buddy, no-dash 642...both of these guns arrived together
It checked out perfectly in the cursory checkout I did w/ my FFL and it's perfect mechanically upon further inspection too. There is zero rust or pitting that I can see anywhere on the gun and not a whole lot of bluing loss either. The chambers are bright and the rifling is sharp and shiny. It suprises me that this gun is nearly 100 years old in this condition! Oh, and the grips number to the gun too
It appears to of been well taken care of throughout it's 93 years of existence.I honestly don't feel like I can fire it though
I don't know how to feel about it. It's an amazing piece of history and an awesome example of old S&W engineering; but it looks too nice for me to want to play with :/ I think I need to find an arsenal refinished WWII example to shoot and either pass this one along or keep it in the back of the safe.Anyways. I'm glad I got it, even though it's future with me is not entirely certain. I figured I'd add some more photos from when I first got it to the house...though I don't have much to add beyond the photos the original seller took (that I posted) from the OP. I need to get some naturally lit outdoors photos, but it's a little difficult...living in an apartment here in Tacoma
The flash made the finish look a little washed out in places, and dust showed up a little too readily, but that's just my lack of camera skills...I need to learn how to make a light box Thanks again for all your input, guys.
-Rob
With a little buddy, no-dash 642...both of these guns arrived together
DustyJacket
Member
Great looking.
SHOOT IT
lots
SHOOT IT
lots
Well it's as good as it looked in 1st pics, beautiful. It's already got a full ring around the cylinder so you don't need to be afraid to fire it, you can't hurt it unless you're one of those guys that can't handle a gun without clinking it on other guns around it or dropping it on the table. You know the type. As long as you don't holster it, you don't have a worry.
It's probably dry as a bone with original grease like shellac inside. I'd oil it up judiciously but not remove sideplate.
Enjoy. But get a 'beater' if you want to bang around the woods with it.
It's probably dry as a bone with original grease like shellac inside. I'd oil it up judiciously but not remove sideplate.
Enjoy. But get a 'beater' if you want to bang around the woods with it.
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Well, after you round butt it and cut the barrel back and refinish it be sure to take an electric pencil and engrave your name on the grip frame and put your SS# on the side under the cylinder.
Cooter Brown
Member
Just beautiful!
I tend to agree with this assessment. If you're careful with it you'll be fine to shoot it a little. What really causes blue wear is holster use. Carry a rug to put it on at the range and try not to drop it!
I tend to agree with this assessment. If you're careful with it you'll be fine to shoot it a little. What really causes blue wear is holster use. Carry a rug to put it on at the range and try not to drop it!
Wow, that is a beautiful 1917 you have there!! Great find
As you had suggested needing to learn how, here's a thread from another forum on how to build a simple light tent for shooting photos of things like handguns:
How to photograph handguns (or other small items - updated for 2010!) - Calguns.net
As you had suggested needing to learn how, here's a thread from another forum on how to build a simple light tent for shooting photos of things like handguns:
How to photograph handguns (or other small items - updated for 2010!) - Calguns.net
