Smith Model 1917 Price Check

[ewrski]

My local had a 4inch Model 1917 with fair bluing and a Pachmayr grip for $500. It looked to be in pretty good shape (some bluing gone by the end of the barrel) but I resisted really looking at it after finding the $45 a box of 45ACP in the same store so I did not check it out in great detail. Of course, now my non logical brain is saying go back and check it out and what limited price checks I have seen says to me that the price is on the low end.

Good price? Fair? Run back and get it ASAP? Tell me where it is and I'll buy it myself?

 

[Radagast]

The barrel has been cut down, it was originally 5.5 inches. So no collector value. Grips are obviously not original. Consider it a shooter only.
Can't say if the price is right as I'm not in the USA.

 

[ewrski]

Thanks Radagast. I thought it may have been cut down as I could not find any reference outside of 5.5 inch barrel. With the price of 45ACP now, I think I will pass.

 

[Devonai]

I recently picked up an excellent unmodified Brazilian contract (made in the USA) 1917 made in 1938 for $550. This same shop has had one with a cut-down barrel on the shelf for years at $350. The specimen you describe sounds overpriced to me. Maybe if it's been there awhile you can make them a low-ball offer; I might do $400 if the barrel work wasn't a hack job.