1917 smith and wesson [Archive]

Thin Man

04-02-2013, 10:35 AM

I have enjoyed shooting 1917's for many years. Most recent range test was starline brass, lyman 452423 (140 gr. ACWW), over 6.5 gr. Unique. This load has all the authority one could need, prints to the sights, and easy ejection without excessive swelling of the brass. Brian Pearce had an article on this cartridge in Handloader issue 254 (August 2008) that still makes good reading.

Thin Man

Char-Gar

04-02-2013, 01:26 PM

When the Smith and Wesson Brazilian contract pistols first came in to this country in the mid-80s, I snatched three of them up. I still have two. Here is my favorite. It is in great mechanical shape and I sent it back to Smith and Wesson for one of their factory reblue. It took a little bit of talking, but they agreed to do it. The grips are by Herrett. 66176

alrighty

04-02-2013, 03:03 PM

I like the 1917 as well , I am still looking for a set of grips.It came with the fake stag grips shown and I don't want the reproductions that are out there.I would prefer a set that looks like it came on my pistol , i.e. lots of wear!

661846618566187
This is probably my favorite wheelgun for walking about.

justing

04-02-2013, 09:36 PM

so only 6 people have one of these that's depressing.

MBTcustom

04-02-2013, 09:48 PM

I have one too.
The cylinder was made wrong, so I am in the process of modifying one from a model 27. Just gotta get the scratch together for a 45ACP reamer, and reblue it, and it should be a sweet piece.
66237

Catshooter

04-02-2013, 10:13 PM

Tim,

Just make your own chambering reamer. I've never done it done it but it doesn't look that hard. Surely a real machinist like yourownself could do it! :)

Cat

gmsharps

04-03-2013, 01:31 AM

I have 3 of them. A Brazillion model, a Commercial and a British 455. Sorry can't do pictures at this time.

gmsharps

square butte

04-03-2013, 06:25 AM

I have the one my Grandfather was carrying on the day he was shot down during the battle of Muesse - Argon flying a Salmson SE5 - Crash landing at an airstrip at Claremont France. His home town at that time was Claremont, CA. His plane was shot up so badly it never flew again. He took a machine gun bullet through the hip and out the knee - The bullet that hit him passed between the legs of his rear seat gunner. I have the flat cap that was in his back pocket with the bullet hole in it. He met my Grandmother walking on a train platform in Cheney, WA when returning home. They were married a year later. Walked with a cane for many years after that. The cylinder on mine is badly pitted from shooting corrosive without cleaning. I guess he was not too good at that. It also has a replacement barrel. He took it out to shoot off one fourth of july and he said it made a funny sound ofter a few rounds in the air. I suspect he stacked em up in the bore and the barrel split. He sent it to S & W and they put a new barrel on it. He gave it to me as a boy and I used to take it down to the river and shoot turtles with it. It's one of my most prized posetions - But not as prized as the memories and stories from my Grandad. Wish I could find another Cylinder for it. Would like to shoot it aagain - but not with the original cylinder so badly pitted.

Le Loup Solitaire

04-03-2013, 01:04 PM

I bought one off a guy many years ago. It has only 4 serial number digits and is in perfect mechanical shape. I got rid of the silly military grips and replaced them with a pair of wooden target grips from S&W. I also had it cleaned up in and out, reblued it a rich deep black and added a set of (removable) adjustable sights. It now is a accurate target grade pistol that I have successfully shot BE comp with several times. It is clean, tight, and looks good. LLS

TheGrimReaper

04-03-2013, 01:53 PM

justing

04-04-2013, 11:00 PM

bump i want to see more 1917s

30calflash

04-05-2013, 08:59 AM

I've got one also, haven't fired it in some time. Will try to get a pic up over the weekend.

wvmanchu

04-05-2013, 09:03 AM

Saw the 1917 available for order on the Smith and Wesson site. Have wanted one for years to go with my 1911. Thinking seriously about ordering one soon.

TheGrimReaper

04-05-2013, 09:44 AM

bump i want to see more 1917s+2 here!!!

frank505

04-05-2013, 12:11 PM

got one on the way, a Brazilian contract. Should be a good grouse gun, maybe as good as the Outdoorsman we use also.

nicholst55

04-05-2013, 12:43 PM

Mine is currently 2500 miles away, but I have a Brazilian contract Smith that has seen better days. It's a project gun right now, but one of these days...

In my defense, I have a four-screw pre-M28 that is in line to become a 1955 Target-wannabe, once I get it rebarreled and a new cylinder fitted.

MtGun44

04-05-2013, 05:48 PM

Far from home now, so no pics. I have an old beater 1937 Brazilian that is
a reasonably good shooter. Took me a lot of fiddling to get accurate loads with
cast, though. .456 throats do not make it easy.

Bill

Dutchman

04-05-2013, 10:18 PM

These Modelo 1937 Brazilian Navy revolers hit the U.S. market in 1988 when they were 51 years old (per US curio-relic law = 50 yrs old).

Mine will put 6 rds of HG68 .452" into one big hole @ 20 yds. It would be safe to say it's still my favorite holster gun.

I generally follow the religious dogma of: revolver = rimmed case. But it shoots loose .45 acp just as good as .45 AutoRim... as long as they're loaded with HG68.

http://images55.fotki.com/v605/photos/4/28344/9895637/DSCF3939sw-vi.jpg
http://images20.fotki.com/v502/photos/4/28344/9895637/nuswb1-vi.jpg
http://images60.fotki.com/v661/photos/4/28344/9895637/nuswb8-vi.jpg
http://images56.fotki.com/v1601/photos/4/28344/9895637/nuswb9-vi.jpg
http://images46.fotki.com/v274/photos/4/28344/9895637/nuswb10-vi.jpg

GLL

04-05-2013, 11:08 PM

http://www.fototime.com/0BD0A2CA4D13733/orig.jpg

Jerry

Spruce

04-05-2013, 11:13 PM

Nice looking handguns. Thanks for showing the pics. I have a 1955, but I certainly missed out on these.

Char-Gar

04-06-2013, 05:45 PM

66592

Discrimination is an terrible thing, these days and times. So here is my Colt 1917.

MtGun44

04-06-2013, 06:36 PM

Got one of those, too. I also have added the grip adapter. WHAT were they
thinking with that Colt grip frame!!!???

Bill

375supermag

04-07-2013, 08:58 AM

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy305/375supermag/100_0747.jpg

I have had this one for many years. it is a Brazilian contract gun, has been re-blued, removed the lanyard loop and added a set of Houge grips.
I carry it with 203gr LRN over 4.5grs of Bulllseye in .45AutoRim brass as a hiking gun.

rintinglen

04-07-2013, 04:37 PM

I had one, I bought one of the Brazil Naval Trade Ins back in 86 when a local gun shop got 20 of them in. IIRC, they went for $169, $189, and $209 I bought one of the cheapies, which was mechanically sound but missing a might of finish. It was not very accurate, so it went down the highway, but I liked it. I think If I'd sprung for the top dollar one, I'd still have it.

justing

04-07-2013, 08:00 PM

Discrimination is an terrible thing, these days and times. So here is my Colt 1917.
ill allow it that's one nice looking colt.

casterofboolits

04-10-2013, 04:39 PM

I had a pair of the S&W 1917s, a pair of Colt1917s, two Webleys converted to 45 ACP and a customized 1917 Colt. Unfortunatly, most of my revolvers were stolen I only have the customized 1917 and a Colt New Service in 45 Colt left.

justing

04-11-2013, 12:41 PM

"bump"

JonB_in_Glencoe

04-11-2013, 12:48 PM

I picked up one at a gunshow a couple years ago...I had the table, the seller was just walking around with it...since lots of other vendors didn't buy it before me, I suspect I paid too much ...700.

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_2115croppedandreduced.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_2107croppedwithSNlast2digitspixalized.jpg

Catshooter

04-12-2013, 12:54 AM

Jon,

You didn't pay too much, you just paid too early. Seven hundred for that today would be a real steal.

Cat

Bat Guano

04-13-2013, 01:03 AM

Haven't played with one since the early 60s, but I thought they were a cool gun. In those days you could pick one up for $29.95 and they were all over the place. I saw no need to hurry getting one and spent what money I had on DCM 1911s. Eventually they all were bought up and got scarce--and stayed that way. I'd like a shooter, and keep hoping to stumble over a decent one at a 1970s price.

Needless to say I'm an incurable optomist.

larryp

05-20-2013, 08:23 AM

I just bought one of the Brazilian 1917s that has been refinished. The bore is excellent and it shoots to point of aim with Winchester white box fmj. It has some ugly fake pearl grips but I have a set of reproduction walnut grips coming along with a WW I lanyard and web belt. Now to get a repro or good condition military flap holster for it. Can't do pics at the moment but will post them as soon as I can.

Worn_Holster

05-20-2013, 05:08 PM

Love my 1917...
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/myHKiron/1917012a.jpg
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/myHKiron/1917014a.jpg

dragonrider

05-20-2013, 08:43 PM

Use to have one until a friend talked me out of it in a weak moment. Was the first gun I bought when I had an FFL. Would buy it back in a heartbeat but my friend has Alshiemers now and doesn't know me or anyone else.

atr

05-21-2013, 10:47 AM

Have looked and looked,,,if I could find one I would buy it
its the next revolver on my list

Char-Gar

05-21-2013, 12:07 PM

You got a pic of my favorite Brazilian, now here is the other. I took it out to shoot this week and it is sweet.

71129

Char-Gar

05-21-2013, 12:19 PM

Here is a bit if Smith and Wesson Brazilian contract trivia. The original contract was completed in the late 30's and it was 25,000 pistols. In addition to the serial number, there was an issue number on the backstrap. This pistols were all newly made at the time.

Shortly after WWII, Brazil had another contract with Smith and Wesson for another 25,000 pistols. These pistols were assembled from left over 1917 and original run Brazilian parts with a few new parts made as necessary to fill the contract. These had no numbers on the backstrap and can be found with a weird assortment of parts. My second contract has a WWI frame and barrel with the rest of the parts being pre-war 1st. Brazilian contract.

The 2nd. Brazilian contract pretty much used up the left over parts at Smith and Wesson and the post war commercial 45 ACP DAs were all new manufacture with the new short action.

At one point in time the Brazilian navy had an Brazilian company make spare barrels for these pistols and the left overs were imported into this country at the time these pistols came in. So you will see Brazilians with no barrel markings other than caliber and might also fine new barrels floating around. I snagged two of these new barrels, sold one and am hanging on to the other. (

Milsurp Junkie

05-21-2013, 12:24 PM

Char-Gar

05-21-2013, 12:31 PM

I got by with a pic of my Colt 1917 without getting any flack, so here is my all time true favorite sixgun. It is a 1955 Smith and Wesson Target Model with the barrel bobbed to 4 inches. I bought it in a gunshop in Farmington New Mexico about 1991 for $200.00. Some guy had it put together to hunt mountain lions, but didn't like it. When I cocked the hammer I knew why. Somewhere along the line, it has picked up a mish-mash of pre-war and post-way internals and the action was worse than terrible. After a short dicker I took it home, knowing I had a box of parts and could most likely get it working right. I replaced all of the internal parts except the hammer and got is smooth as silk.

I mostly use 452423 over 7.5/Unique for 950 fps out of this pistol. It will do anything and every thing I want a handgun to do. This is the one I consider to be "my pistol".

71135

Char-Gar

05-21-2013, 12:36 PM

No, but I have 4 Colt 1917 US property marked revolvers that I am in the process of rebuilding and restoring...Still need parts (some are going to have to be made, as I can not find them online). If anyone has a source (private or know of a company that has parts besides numrich), please PM me.

I have a box marked "Colt Parts" with many years accumulation of stuff in it. I don't recall if there are any 1917/New Service parts in it or not. Which parts do you need? Many of us old guys have all sorts of part laying around that have accumulated and if you can get into the ring of Colt guys, those parts can be had.

HATCH

05-21-2013, 12:38 PM

My dad has purchase a few of these 1917 Brazilian contract guns.

The last two had issues. One had been reblued and had a adjustable sight installed installed (I will take a picture its no modification to gun). The barrel had 2 bulges in it. Its currently getting rebarrelled.
The other one is parked and the barrel has seen a lot of rounds. I am gonna test fire it this coming friday and see if the barrel needs to be changed in it too.
Sorry for no pics.

Char-Gar

05-21-2013, 01:42 PM

Barrel bulges are most likely caused by bullets lodged in the barrel and a live round fired into them. Where the bulge is will determine if the barrel has to be trashed or not.

When I consider the purchase of a used handgun, I always run the barrel between my thumb and index finger to see if there is any bulges there. You can feel them, when you cannot see them. I won't purchase a handgun with a bulge in the barrel.

When I consider the purchase of a used handgun, I always take a long hard look at the condition of the bore. A bad bore is also a cause for rejection of the purchase.

Buying used handguns requires the potential buyer to do a good examination of the piece and know what to look for. If defects are found, the firearms should be rejected or else the buyer want it bad enough to stand the price of repair. One should not discover bulged and shot out barrels after the purchase is made.

It is common to find older firearms whose bore have a frosting of shallow pits due to the use of corrosive primers and not cleaned in a timely manner. If the rifling itself is intact and not pitted away in patches, most often the barrel will shoot just fine with either jacketed or cast. But such a frosted barrel will down grade the price I am willing to pay by a good amount.

The bead blasted Brazilian above has such a frosted bore, but shoots as well as the other one with a bright shiny bore.

Scharfschuetze

05-23-2013, 04:19 PM

Great pistols these!

Here is my Colt 1917 along with my wife's grandfather's tunic and helmet from the Great War.

Scharfschuetze

05-23-2013, 04:24 PM

Here is the Colt 1917 along with my US issue S&W 1917. While both have holster and service wear to the finish, none have been dropped or otherwise abused and both have very good bores with the Colt's bore looking better than some of my new pistols. Both are surprisingly good shooters and shoot 230 gr cast bullets to point of aim at 25 yards. I do replace the issue grips on the S& W with S&W target grips when shooting though as those issue stocks are just brutal to the hand.