Bought an early serial # S&W 1917

[DEL56]

I had been looking fora S&W 1917 to go along with my WW1 uniform and rifle to shoot in GAF. They all were going over $1,000 so didn't expect to find one any time soon. Then I just happened onto one on Gun Broker that was an early one that still had the original hammer and grips on it. Serial numbers all matched, the bore was very good, and it was a low #. For some reason nobody was jumping on it. So I did! Got it for a little over $800, I consider it a steal all things considered. Picked up about 12 sets of half moon clips and purchased some 45 acp dies. Now will work up a skirmish and accurate load for it. Looking forward to using it in 2025.

[Major 2]

Nice Nice  ... great price

I wish I could get to a GAF shoot     
I found mine on Cabella's Gun Library

[Niederlander]

Very nice!  I used to have one of the Brazilian ones.  Sort of regret selling it............

[Silver Creek Slim]

I have a Brazilian.

Slim

[Major 2]

Several years ago, a widow brought her late husband's Brazilian in for consignment.
It had been nicely re-blued and had some very nice custom Target grips.
It showed very well almost as newish... 
She was wanting to get $900 and with the shops cut it was over a grand.

For me that was just out of the question, being that it had been ruint 
For someone maybe all prettified it was desirable  
After many months, she re-acquired it, taking it out of consignment.
I did make an offer, but it was rejected.



   

[RoyceP]

I bought a Brazilian Model 1917 around 1989. IT was in a barrel of grease when the importer received it and 200 others. It shot pretty good. I think at the time I paid $250, it was in middle of the road condition similar to the OP's picture. I stupidly traded it off. Been wanting one ever since.

Anyway I think you did OK if it shoots well.

[Niederlander]

I think I got mine a bit earlier than that.  I think I got it for about $165 plus shipping.  Stupidly traded it off later.  Mine was nice, too.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Nice find, mine is a Brazilian Contract piece.  Somewhere along the line got a 1914 Colt New Service that went to England as a .455 webley, came back home to Merica and morphed into a .45 Colt.

[Major 2]

I was sort of leisurely scrolling online at Cabella's, was about their Gun Library Pistol page 70 something... boom mine caught my eye.
I called expecting full well it was sold or at least had a hold on it. 
Using my $360 Cabella's bucks and some work bonus money, mine was winging it way to me.
I paid $735 for mine from the' Gun Literary in Omaha.

[RattlesnakeJack]

Canada's primary-issue handgun during WWI was the S&W "Hand Ejector" chambered in .455  ... many of which commercial-production revolvers. 

Here's mine:


Looks like mine, only mine was converted to .45 Colt

[DeaconKC]

I've got 2 1917s in the safe right now. One from September 1917 with original finish. You will find you often need a hard cast bullet [think Linotype] to get good results as they were cut for FMJ bullets. Using .452 cast bullets will sometimes give good accuracy, I have had good results using a 230 grain rnfp over 7.2 grains of Accurate #5. Wilson's full moon clips are really good too.

[Professor Marvel]

I've got 2 1917s in the safe right now. One from September 1917 with original finish....

Safe? Whatever is this safe of which you speak?
My 1904 .455 Hand Ejector is the cousin of Rattlesnake Jacks and lives in the desk drawer like a proper gent's ought to.

My beater 1937 Brazilian is undergoing a facelift, and I have not yet decided on "how far to go". Since it has little to no colector value, I got the brazilian to turn into a carry piece so as to leave the 1904 alone

I am amazed at the terrible triggers these things have! That at least will be adressed shortly.

Still grying to get photos uploadd...

Yhs
Grumpy prof

[Good Troy]

I have a Brazilian.

Slim

How many is a Brazilian???

[Major 2]

I was sort of leisurely scrolling online at Cabella's, was about their Gun Library Pistol page 70 something... boom mine caught my eye.
I called expecting full well it was sold or at least had a hold on it. 
Using my $360 Cabella's bucks and some work bonus money, mine was winging it way to me.
I paid $735 for mine from the' Gun Literary in Omaha.

[DeaconKC]

My Good Professor. Check out the Wolff's Spring Kit for the N frame S&W, it can work wonders as you rebuild. Best of luck on your endeavor!

[Silver Creek Slim]

How many is a Brazilian???

One. 

I cleaned the stocks for my 1937 Brazilian contract, last night. I'll apply the first coat of boiled linseed oil, today.

Slim

[Professor Marvel]

My Good Professor. Check out the Wolff's Spring Kit for the N frame S&W, it can work wonders as you rebuild. Best of luck on your endeavor!

Thanks Deacon! I will look into a pair of these for the 1904 nd the Brazilian.
The fun part is that I have enough stuff that I can save the original parts (including barrels and cylinders) that
I can save the original bits and mod to my hearts content without concerns of destroying history....
As long as I stick with a rust blue...

[Professor Marvel]

Trying to 7oad fotos. My several devices don't wanna talk to each other

Aw crap too big...

[Professor Marvel]

Sorry for the lack of photos.

Here we are, still unpacking from our move last december
(yeah, i know, a year!  We have too much preacious crap and mrs marvel refuses to part with ANYTHING!!! )

I have too many devices with stuff on different ones,
Still unpacking,
Getting ready for holidays and shoving boxes in a room i can close the door on
And mrs marvel is revocering from total knee replacement ....

So my new hobby is getting sleep....

Regarding photos...
My smith 2nd model hand ejector is the spitting image of Jacks,
serial puts it at 1904, originally chambered & proofed for .455 webley
Rechambered and marked for .45 acp, and reproofed and marked
Bluing is pretty darn good, but the grips are nearly shot

My 1937  brazilian i got cheap because it was in need of refinish, but guts are good.
Basically looks like all of them, except  a slow rust blue refinish continues as i find a few minutes.
Grips are also pretty bad and shrunk.

I got the 1904 first, then became so enamored with the .45 N frame I shopped for a brazilian in the "after christmas lull"
When people looked at the bills comong in and stopped buying ...

I have so many parts, ie 4 barrels , original used and unused barrels, a s&w .45 1955 barrel , 3 excellent
1917 .45 acp cylinders, piles of guts and
including a "parts kit" with a 3.5 inch heavy custom barrel, target hammer & trigger, and guts...

So I plan to leave the 1904 alone and play with the brazillian, all the while setting up my old 6"  model 28
With a 3" and 4" barrels, fitting them all and setting up a smith "switch barrel".
Not real easy, but not real hard if you have memorized your Kunnhausen , and done enough smiths , and dont
Plan to change them out as often as a Dan Wesson lol....