limited info question

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semf

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Yesterday I stopped at a gunshop which usually has good deals but not outoftheworld great deals. Working graveyard it's hard for me to shop anymore and still get sleep so I want to know should I go backFirst off let me apologize for the lack of Info, but i gotta ask anyway.

In the display case I saw a nickle(?) 1917 revolver in .45ACP in pristine condition for $229. I could not get a good look at it as it was close to closing time and they were waiting on paying customers and I did not want to waste their time ,and probably would not know what to look for anyway.Depending on the answer if any I get from this inquiry I can go bck today or not.

My question is who make repros of the 1917. I know it is not original but was wondering if they are good quality reproductions and if the price is right. I did buy a Randall 1911 from them for $450 a few months ago but I have also seen CZ52s for $250 in their shop. So their prices jump around a lot.
 
As far as I know, all of the 1917s, Colt and S&W, were originally blued. If the revolver has a nickel finish it would be refinished. That said $229.00 is a good deal if the gun is in good shape. Use Jim March’s revolver checkout that is tacked at the top of this forum.
 
All of the MILITARY model 1917's were blued. However S&W made a commercial version after World War Two, and some of those might have been nickeled. If this is what it is, it’s a scarce and valuable collector's item as well as a shooter.

U.S. model 1917's are marked on the butt and have "United States Property" stamped on the bottom of the barrel. If such a gun is nickeled it's been refinished.

A few years ago a bunch of S&W (commercial) 1917's were re-imported from Brazil. These don't have U.S. property markings, but are stamped with the Brazilian national crest on the side. It however may have been polished out. Many were in so-so shape and I suspect that the gun you saw may be one of these that was refinished. If so, check out the bore and you may understand why the price is so low.

Last, but not least, it could be a .44 Hand Ejector, 2nd. model with a 5 inch barrel chambered in .44 Special, not .45 ACP. Many of these were nickel plated. If so, and it’s in decent shape jump on it.

No one that I know of has ever made a reproduction of the S&W model 1917. It is possible that some company in Spain did during the 1930's but I doubt it. They made a lot of .38's but I have never seen nor heard of a .45. Look for obviously "odd" markings and "not quite right" S&W trade mark logos.
 
On the bottom of the butt strap next to the lanyard hole No loop present.
It is stamped ,Model of 1917 and a reference made to U.S. but i don't remember the exact wording. It was advertised as .45 ACP I would prefer .45LC.
 
You'll have to look again, but if it says: U.S./ARMY/model/1917 on the butt and "United States Property" on the bottom of the barrel it is one of the guns made for the U.S. Government during World War One. It will be chambered in .45 ACP (not .45 Colt) and you'll need half or full moon clips to extract the empty cases after you shoot it (or you can pick out the fired cases one at a time with your fingers).

The nickel plating was done sometime after it was manufactured. In Florida this wouldn't be unusual because of the humid climate.

If the gun is in good mechanical shape and the bore and chambers are in good condition, the price isn't excessive.
 
It's a Brazilian contract SW that's been re-finished. At that price it's unlikely to be anything else. Still, if it locks up tight and the rifling is good, might be a bargain.
 
My dear Doctor .......

The Brazilian contract guns don't have the U.S. 1917 markings on the butt. As unlikely as it seems it would appear that it's a G.I. gun.

However you might still turn out to be right ....

Why don't these things ever happen to me ...??
 
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