Hutch
Member
Were the original WW1 revolvers blued? If not, what finish is correct? I've spotted one on an auction site, and all the lettering looks VERY crisp, and there is a good-looking blue finish. Has it either been re-cut AND reblued, or what?
Question about S&W M1917's
- Thread starter Hutch
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Regarding the finish on World War One model 1917 revolvers.
All of them were blued. the first ones had a high-polish commercial blue, but the larger part were wire-brushed and then blued. This resulted in a satin blue-blue finish that isn't like the black-blue you see on current blued guns. A little hard to explain - let alone photograph - but if you ever handle a mint example you'll never forget what the finish looked like. Anyway, think "blue-blue" rather then "black-blue."
During World War Two many revolvers that remained in stock were bead-blasted and Parkerized.
All of them were blued. the first ones had a high-polish commercial blue, but the larger part were wire-brushed and then blued. This resulted in a satin blue-blue finish that isn't like the black-blue you see on current blued guns. A little hard to explain - let alone photograph - but if you ever handle a mint example you'll never forget what the finish looked like. Anyway, think "blue-blue" rather then "black-blue."
During World War Two many revolvers that remained in stock were bead-blasted and Parkerized.
Sunray
Member
"...you'll never forget what the finish looked like..." Yep, there's no finish anywhere on anything that compares with the old S&W bluing. It's looks much deeper than any current bluing. It looks like you can see into the steel.
I know a guy who owns a BAR(the LMG) with the highest grade of burly walnut for the stock and that old S&W bluing. It was made in the 20's for the civilian market. It's friggin' beautiful.
I know a guy who owns a BAR(the LMG) with the highest grade of burly walnut for the stock and that old S&W bluing. It was made in the 20's for the civilian market. It's friggin' beautiful.
JNewell
Member
Similarly, if memory serves, Springfield Armory did not begin to parkerize rifles until late 1918. Going on even weaker memory, the M1917 rifles were also originally blued. We see most parkerized because they were overhauled in arsenals after the war, but this was not the original finish.
Good descriptions of the old S&W commercial blue. But like Old Fuff says, most of the S&W 1917's were not blued like that. They have a dull finish, almost black. They are NOT Parkerized, but were simply blued without being polished, leaving a flat looking but very serviceable dark blue finish.
The grips also were just the normal S&W grips, used as they came from the shaper before any checkering was applied or the cut made for the medallion. (The same was done in WWII with the "Victory Model" grips; for some reason, in both cases, some folks think the checkering was "removed"; it was never there.)
Jim
The grips also were just the normal S&W grips, used as they came from the shaper before any checkering was applied or the cut made for the medallion. (The same was done in WWII with the "Victory Model" grips; for some reason, in both cases, some folks think the checkering was "removed"; it was never there.)
Jim
JNewell
Member
Hey, howdjadodat???
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