A Gunbroker curiosity- What is it?

[evan price]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=446189473

This one has me confused. I've been looking for a 1917 off and on for the collection.

Seller claims it was sent back to S&W for refinishing work and that explains the things that don't jive. But I'm not sure.

- Lazy Ampersand barrel
- Mushroom ejector knob and cut barrel (Pre-1930)
- Lanyard loop
- 5-screw frame
- long action hammer

However-
- 4-line address (post 1948)
- S&W logo on sideplate
- 1969 or later grips


Would S&W do all that to a gun sent in for refinish? If I had a 1917 and I wanted it refinished I would not expect it to come back with the frame re-stamped!

 

[Lucky Derby]

That F.A.C.T. scale is a load of something we don't say here on THR. Does the seller have a factory letter showing the trip back to S&W and the work performed? Doubtful, or it would be mentioned. That gun is a $500 shooter. Might be a good candidate for cutting the barrel down to a snubbie and making a carry gun, if it could be had at the right price.

 

[bannockburn]

Looks like this gun has more questions with its provenance than answers. And with a starting price of $1199 somewhat pricey for so many conflicting issues. I would pass on it and keep looking.

 

[evan price]

I've bought from this seller before, they are a large outfit with lots of guns and not so much time to devote to each...and yes the FACT scale is a load of hooey, I let the pix do the talking.
I've never heard of S&W restamping a gun for just a refinish, like I said, if I had an original I'd be ticked off if they took it upon themselves to stamp my gun without being asked.

 

[BobWright]

Looks to be a very nice shooter, but waaaaay overpriced!

Bob Wright

 

[dogrunner]

You sure that the 're-stamping' referred to is not the star S&W used to indicate a re-finish.

I own an ancient M/19 that I had re done at the factory in '67. The frame,bbl and cylinder all carry that star. Additionally, the frame is date stamped as well.

 

[Jim K]

I can't be sure of the serial number but the S is part of it, indicating a post-war (new safety) gun; the diamond indicates factory refinishing. (They used both a star and a diamond; I don't know what the difference was, if any.)

Jim

 

[Tom K]

This one has me confused. I've been looking for a 1917 off and on for the collection.

Seller claims it was sent back to S&W for refinishing work and that explains the things that don't jive. But I'm not sure.

- Lazy Ampersand barrel
- Mushroom ejector knob and cut barrel (Pre-1930)
- Lanyard loop
- 5-screw frame
- long action hammer

However-
- 4-line address (post 1948)
- S&W logo on sideplate
- 1969 or later grips


Would S&W do all that to a gun sent in for refinish? If I had a 1917 and I wanted it refinished I would not expect it to come back with the frame re-stamped!

If you are looking for a 1917 for your collection, this is not the one to get. It has zero collector value to a S&W collector and is a shooter only. Any refinish means that the gun has 0% original finish, regardless of how nice it might look now. This gun's starting price is about double its value and the seller is looking for someone who doesn't know any better - "Oooh, shiny like new!" Granted, a factory refinish trumps all others but it is still a refinish. On a relatively common gun like the 1917 it adds no value. $1200 should get you a very nice original gun.

And yes, for a couple of decades S&W would re-stamp old guns sent in for service, with the four-line address. It was an idiotic standard procedure that the S&W historian Roy Jinks finally talked them out of.

 

[evan price]

I completely agree it is double what a shooter grade 1917 is worth and I'm not buying it. I just wanted to expand my knowledge about the things not matching up with the frame stampings. Thanks Tom for clearing that up.

 

[Radagast]

Drake GmBh has a similar 4 line address gun gun. Discussed on page 60 & 61 of this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=372213&page=60

My best guess is it is a gun made from parts that S&W bought back from the US Army after WWII.

 

[Field Tester]

Drake GmBh has a similar 4 line address gun gun. Discussed on page 60 & 61 of this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=372213&page=60

My best guess is it is a gun made from parts that S&W bought back from the US Army after WWII.

I've actually seen a few threads that mention this.
This is a great example though. Thank you Radagast.

 

[evan price]

Radagast- do you know why s&w would do that? It would seem to me that they would rather keep them off the market, like they did with the victories they destroyed after ww2?
Just got a copy of the 96 standard catalog of s&w, btw, and interested in learning.

 

[Radagast]

No clue. My only info is what's in SCSW. One of the guys at the Smith & Wesson forum might know.

 

[hiker64012]

I deleted the post, wrong 1917.

 

[hiker64012]

Same as above.