Brazilian S&W 1917 Info?

[jonnyc]

Just got a S&W Brazilian 1917 that doesn't quite fit the contract specs I've previously found. Here's what I have:

Ser.#170XXX, matching frame, cylinder, and barrel.
Brazilian crest on right side plate.
S&W logo on left frame side.
Grooved trigger.
No patent marks on back of trigger.
Round rear sight notch.
No "rack" numbers on backstrap.

Any thoughts or info would be appreciated.

 

[XavierBreath]

Your markings and serrated trigger are appropriate. The serial number is outside of the range sometimes given for these Brazilian guns, but it, too, is fine. The serial range usually parroted off as 181983-207989 is simply a large shipment, not the entire production run. Your revolver is no doubt from an earlier shipment.

There is no incentive to fake a Brazilian .45HE, as they are worth less than the revolver you would use to make the fake.

What is it that does not match the specs? Are you looking at the specs for the Brazilian or another .45HE?

 

[jonnyc]

Thanks, Jim.
The serial, S&W logo, lack of hammer patent marks, and non-square rear sight notch are not what I thought were part of the Brazilian contract. Do you know when my serial # was made? Was it stored WW1 production, 1920s-30s commercial transfered to the Brazil contract, or made for Brazil but outside the usual serial # range?

 

[XavierBreath]

I'm going to hold off until the experts such as Old fuff and dfarris appear. The big hand ejectors are not my area of expertise, but your's certainly sounds like it's authentic to me. I'm using Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson for my reference.

 

[jonnyc]

Don't get me wrong, not really concerned about authenticity, just interested to know a bit more about this pistol. I'm confident it will be a great shooter.

 

[mrrick]

I picked up several of these in the 1980s when they were between 100 and 125 dollars each. Great N frame guns, and great shooters.

 

[jonnyc]

I think I answered my own question. I found a thread on another site discussing a similar pistol in the 160xxx range, also ex-Brazil. It had a full set of US inspector marks, Eagle Head w/S24. Mine has the same marks on the barrel, cylinder, and frame. That would suggest production in 1918 and then "mothballs" until the first Brazilian shipments in 1937 or '38. Makes sense that S&W would use up what they had on-hand before restarting production.