1917 S&W Revolver

[HRT]

Ok Ladies and Gents:
I have inherited my Granfather's/Uncles's 1917 S&W revelver. The barrel is ugly, probably too much corrosive primed ammo and not enough cleaning. The timing seems to be a touch out in that on a couple of cylinders the locking bolt does not lock before the hammer falls. My desire is to return it to shootable condition for a few hundred mild rounds a year with special emphasis on powder puff loads for my Mother now 70 some to reconnect with her father. Anyone have revolver smith recommendations in Tidewater VA? Or elsewhere? Plenty of stories have been told to me regarding activities of the Sheriff(s) when they carried this revolver.

 

[TABING]

these are fantastic N-frame revolvers and I've had a few, still have one. A new barrel shouldn't be a problem, gunparts.com probably has them. Any good revolver smith should be able to fix this up for not too much $$. the light weight barrel makes this a comfortable gun on the hip. the 45acp is a potent enough cartridge in a reliable revolver platform. I shoot cast reloads and occassional TMJs from www.outdoormarksman.com .

they also have some nice historical value too.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

these are fantastic N-frame revolvers and I've had a few, still have one. A new barrel shouldn't be a problem, gunparts.com probably has them. Any good revolver smith should be able to fix this up for not too much $$. the light weight barrel makes this a comfortable gun on the hip. the 45acp is a potent enough cartridge in a reliable revolver platform. I shoot cast reloads and occassional TMJs from www.outdoormarksman.com .

they also have some nice historical value too.

Yes, nice gun. Deserves fixing up. Any of the major gunsmithing places will do a good job on it. I have a soft spot for those old .45 ACP revolvers. Do you have half or full moon clips for it? You will need them, or auto rim rounds, to shoot it. If I'm not mistaken, you can also just pop normal ACP ammo in there and it will work without the clips, but you will need to pop each spent case out individually with a pencil.

 

[jacobtowne]

I have a M1917 Colt, and shoot it without clips. Empties are easily removed with a pencil or twig.
Metal clips require some sort of tool. RimZ plastic clips require no tool.

http://www.beckhamdesign.com/

JT

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I have a M1917 Colt, and shoot it without clips. Empties are easily removed with a pencil or twig.
Metal clips require some sort of tool. RimZ plastic clips require no tool.

http://www.beckhamdesign.com/

JT

The eraser end of a pencil is the only tool I need to remove spent cases from my steel full moon clips. After a few dozen, though, your hands do tend to get worn out. That's why I usually just pop them in and punch them out of the cylinder with a pencil, or use auto rims, when at the range. Save the clips for fast reloading when you actually put the gun into service.

 

[Striker]

HRT,

Though not in the Tidewater area, You might try Sandy Garrett at Northern VA Guns in Lortin (Fairfax County).

He is a superb gunsmith and craftsman. I have a variety of guns that he has repaired/tuned/refinished or done custom work on. His prices are competitive and you truely get what you pay for.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Tom C.]

While I don't have a Model 1917, I do have a Model 25-2 and 625-8JM. When I had a little trouble with my 25-2, I sent it to the factory. Call them and see if they would do it. They would be my first choice.

 

[ACP230]

You might be surprised at how well a nasty-looking barrel will shoot.

I have a 1917, one of the batch made for Brazil in 1938, and brought back in the early '90s. The barrel looked bad when I first looked through it, and only a bit better after I got all the old oil out. It shot a lot better than it looked though and I have never changed it.

Cylinder & Slide in Nebraska did some work on the old gun's finish for me, but said parts were hard to come by.

 

[MassMan]

Why not give Smith & Wesson a call. They may fix it for no cost as they warranty their guns for life. Worth a call imo.