S & W 1917 in need of TLC

[HRT]

I have a 1917 Smith, passed down from my Grandfather through a favorite Uncle . Papaw carried this pistol while Sherriff in Leake County, MS in the 30's and 40's. Neither my grandfather nor my Uncle were fastidious cleaners and the barrell and chambers are suffering badly from pitting. I have acquired a near new bbl that someone had started to sandblast. Is there anyone out there that will reline the existing barrell? If not recommendations for a Smith to install the "new" barrell, polish the chambers, retime and refinish? I would like to return it to an occasional shooter with mild loads.
Thaks


__________________
Semper Paratus
HRT

 

[Mike Irwin]

I THINK that Gun Parts Corporation has barrels for the Model 1917.

 

[Old Fuff]

To start with, I'd see what Smith & Wesson's Customer Service might have to say. Numrich/Parts Corporation also have original style replacement grips. The trick on your gun is to work the pitts out by hand, not on a buffing wheel. Relining the barrel (to .45) would be hard because the walls at the muzzle are thin in the first place.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Bobby Hoyt of PA relines old barrels. I had him do one for me and earlier this month sent a S&W 22 bbl into him for relining. You may want to drop him a postcard. Write him at:

Freischutz Shop
R. A. Hoyt
700 Fairfield Station Road
Fairfield, PA 17320

BTW, that S&W bbl I sent in was the original and I couldn't find a replacement. Rather salvage the old one than have a modern barrel with a finish that won't match.

 

[shootist2121]

Since you only want to shoot it occasionally..Have it check out first for timingand go out and put a few rounds through it.

I have one with pited chambers and..welll frosted and freckled bore and it will keep a 2" group from rest at 25 yards..Use FMJ 230 grain,. I've actually shot mine with 185 fmjwc and got a 1 1/4" group..but seven inches low..LOL ..The 230's seem right on the money. I've even used lead without a problem but that depend on how bad the pitting in the bore is..

Clean it up and scrub the bore down and see what she' do before you go iinvesting alot of time and money..


Enjoy