Brazilian Contract 1917s?

[ontarget]

I've been on the look out for a 1917 revolver for a while now. I see the Brazilian Contact models for sale and was just wondering what the 1917 knowledgeable crowd thinks of them.
I'd like a GI issued 1917, but should I settle for a B.C. model? They seem to be running a bit cheaper.
Is there any practical difference between the two?
Also, what should I expect to pay for either model?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I have a couple of Brazilian Contract 1917s. The 1917 at the top of this photo is an original from 1918. The one at the bottom is a Brazilian Contract revolver.

This is a pair of Brazilian Contract 1917s. Mechanically they are no different than the earlier World War One models. The one at the bottom had replacement rubber grips on it when I bought it, it is wearing an aftermarket pair of walnut grips. That is why the grips look so fresh.

Here is a close up of the Brazilian shield on one of my Brazilian 1917s.

Smith and Wesson produced approx 163,600 Model 1917s between Sept. 17, 1917 and Jan 1919.

I do not have a shipping date for either of my Brazilians, but S&W produced 25,000 of this model in 1937. A large shipment was sent to Brazil in 1938. I have no idea what I paid for my Brazilian 1917s, it was quite a while ago, but SCSW states that they usually bring between 50% - 75% of what an 'actual' 1917 costs. Also, a lot of these were imported back into the US around 1990. Sometimes it appears they were just thrown into a box and bounced around all the way back to the US, so they can be a bit beat up.

Just so you know, the original 1917s had no hammer block inside.

I am not sure of the Brazilian models, don't recall if I ever had one apart, but I'm pretty sure if they have a hammer block inside, it will be the earlier type, not the modern type that has been installed in every S&W revolver since 1944.

 

[commygun]

I’ve had one of each. Other than cosmetic condition there was no difference between the two that I could detect. What they did have in common apart from the obvious is that they were amazingly tight for old revolvers. Maybe they weren’t shot much, maybe the 45 ACP is pretty easy on that big ol’ N-frame.

 

[AlexanderA]

From Driftwood's pictures, it appears that the original 1917's had lanyard swivels, while the Brazilian contract pieces did not.

 

[lincen]

The Brazilian contract 1917 that I have did have the hole for the swivel so I put one on it. Mine was obviously refinished which reduced the price. But, I will say that it has one of the best triggers in either double or single action of any Smith & Wesson that I have owned. 45acp is a great revolver round for that frame.

 

[jar]

I had a couple and they are a joy to shoot. Down to just one now I think.

 

[Dave T]

A friend believed he owed me for a favor and gave me a 1937 Brazilian S&W that some previous owner had tried to turn into a target gun some years in the bast.



The front sight was enough to put me off in the first place but when I took it to the range not only was the trigger mediocre, the gun just didn't shoot well. I later found out the barrel was actually loose in the frame when I took it to a gunsmith friend to see if he could turn it into something useful.

After months of work (he is retired from the gun smithing business) he presented me with this.



It sports a 3-1/2" barrel, turned tightly into the frame with a hand carved/filed ramp to hold the dovetail front sight. And he made a solid steel fixed rear sight to replace the S&W sight they had used to make it a target gun. We made several trips to the range where I would shoot my load of choice and he would file on the front sight, then we'd try again. Eventually we got it to shoot to point of aim at 15 yards, about my practical limit at 75 years of age.

He also did a lot of hidden work on the mess that had been the hammer, sear, trigger engagement including re-contouring the curve of the trigger. It makes DA shooting easier for my aging arthritic hands and fingers.

I am delighted with the end result as it shoots better than I can. If I were younger and stronger I'd start seriously practicing and carrying this old War Horse. It's that much fun to shoot.

Dave

 

[JeffG]

A friend believed he owed me for a favor and gave me a 1937 Brazilian S&W that some previous owner had tried to turn into a target gun some years in the bast.

View attachment 1189546

The front sight was enough to put me off in the first place but when I took it to the range not only was the trigger mediocre, the gun just didn't shoot well. I later found out the barrel was actually loose in the frame when I took it to a gunsmith friend to see if he could turn it into something useful.

After months of work (he is retired from the gun smithing business) he presented me with this.

View attachment 1189548

It sports a 3-1/2" barrel, turned tightly into the frame with a hand carved/filed ramp to hold the dovetail front sight. And he made a solid steel fixed rear sight to replace the S&W sight they had used to make it a target gun. We made several trips to the range where I would shoot my load of choice and he would file on the front sight, then we'd try again. Eventually we got it to shoot to point of aim at 15 yards, about my practical limit at 75 years of age.

He also did a lot of hidden work on the mess that had been the hammer, sear, trigger engagement including re-contouring the curve of the trigger. It makes DA shooting easier for my aging arthritic hands and fingers.

I am delighted with the end result as it shoots better than I can. If I were younger and stronger I'd start seriously practicing and carrying this old War Horse. It's that much fun to shoot.

Dave

Wow. I really think that's great!

 

[Packrattusnongratus]

I only have one but it shoots well. It has been snubbied, 2.5" barrel, Tyler T grip adapter, still needs a tritium big dot on the barrel. Nice but large carry gun. Should do well if needed. Be Well Brothers, Packy.

 

[Terry G]

I picked one up when I was going through my "I've got an 03 license and a credit card!" phase. It might even been an ad out of the old Shotgun News. Good shape except for the cylinder stop which is a bit worn. Good, accurate .45. I replaced the grips which were a were worn. It was $135.00 delivered, I hear their (like everything else) going for a lot more.

 

[Packrattusnongratus]

Mine was cleaned up a bit then blued, oxpho I believe. Not all the pits could be ground off and have a gun left. Is shoots well but has a heck of a kick with that short barrel. Thinking about a full underlug barrel change. P.

 

[Gladius]

They're just as good as any other S&W 1917, but they were better when they were first being imported (because they were dirt cheap... *sigh* another missed opportunity...).

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

My Dad has kept one as a nightstand gun for years. Nice gun.

 

[nvcdl]

They are fine. I have both military issue 1917s and a Brazilian.

 

[AlexanderA]

The problem with the 1917's (both the S&W and the Colt, as well as the 1909 Colt) is that they're so large (and poor ergonomically) that it's hard to shoot them unless you have equally large hands. I gave up on mine in fairly short order.

The only worse revolver that I've ever owned was an 1890's vintage Army issue .38 Colt. That had a horrible trigger, and I got rid of it quickly too.

All these guns were in cosmetically like-new condition, but that didn't save them. I'm a collector, but not a masochist.

 

[StrawHat]

The Brazilian 1917s were built in two batches. The first batch was delivered in 1937 and was built on the Commercial 1917 frame, complete with the small S&W logo under the cylinder release, squared off rear sight notch, flat topped frame, and squared off half moon fore sight. It also had the Brazilian National Shield on the sideplate. There were approximately 25,000 built and the serial numbers were roughly between 182000 and 207000 with some very far outliers. The serial numbers read in normal fashion with the barrel pointing to the right. These revolvers will be the same as the Commercial 1917s, including the lanyard swivel and ring.

In 1946, the second contract run (nearly 12,000 revolvers) was ordered. S&W was moving to a new factory building. In the move, nearly 10,00 frames were discovered that had been purchased back from the Army after WW I. These frames and other small parts, were of the old style and had been destined to be scrapped. Carl Helstrom, President of S&W, saw an opportunity to use the old frames to fulfill the contract and save a lots of money and time. These revolvers will be identical to the Model 1917 Army with the round top frame, round notch for the rear sight and narrow half moon front sight. Serial numbers, roughly 166000 - 175000. There will be approximately 2600 flat topped frames were used to complete the contract. These will be the same as the Commercial 1917. The serial number on the grip frame will read with the barrel pointed to the left, as did all post WW II revolvers from S&W.

Kevin

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

The problem with the 1917's (both the S&W and the Colt, as well as the 1909 Colt) is that they're so large (and poor ergonomically) that it's hard to shoot them unless you have equally large hands. I gave up on mine in fairly short order.

The Colt Model 1917 is much larger than a S&W Model 1917.

The revolver at the top of this photo is a Colt New Service, which was built on the same size frame as the Colt Model 1917. Never mind the long barrel, look how much bigger the frame is than the S&W Model 1917 at the bottom of the photo. That particular New Service is chambered for 45 Colt, and is the largest revolver I own. The frame is truly huge, and I have trouble shooting it.

Not so much with the S&W Model 1917, built on a standard S&W N frame. I have no trouble shooting N frame Smiths, like this 1917.

 

[algebraman]

All of mine have the lanyard ring. The civvie models - like Strawhat says - are easier on the eyes to shoot, with their squared off rear sight groove and wider front sight.Decent bang for the buck, even at today’s prices. Fnd a good gunsmith to slicken one up.

 

[StrawHat]

All of mine have the lanyard ring. The civvie models - like Strawhat says - are easier on the eyes to shoot, with their squared off rear sight groove and wider front sight.Decent bang for the buck, even at today’s prices. Fnd a good gunsmith to slicken one up.

Make sure the gunsmith understands the long action S&W revolver. Firing the revolver, dry or live, will also smooth out the action.

Kevin