Smith &Wesson D.A. 45 question

[701]

hello! I’m wondering if anyone out there has any wisdom they could share about a revolver I just picked up.
I have a S&W D.A.45 that I’m trying to gather info on. I know that it is not a war year model, but I don’t know much else about it. It’s serial number range is 210xxx. It also has an s stamped in the bit ahead of the serial number (the lanyard Mount is in between them. My understanding is that this means it was fitted with a hammer block safety and from looking, it appears that this is the case. The right side features a s&w logo and “made in the USA”. There are 3 visible screws on the right side and there appears to be a hole just above the trigger guard front face where a 4th screw should go. The cylinder advances when cocked, but not near far enough, and the cylinder spins freely in the fun with the hammer forward and back. I am told that it needs a spring beneath the cylinder stop (inside frame beneath the cylinder). The “stop” is there, but rests even with the frame , along with a spring for the rebound side (advances the cylinder), apologies if my nomenclature is incorrect. It also appears to need the screw for the front face of frame above the trigger guard (and possibly wherever it holds inside). I have not opened it up yet, as I just picked it up an hour ago. Anyway, before I go searching for parts, I just wanted to see if anyone out there could shed light on what model and age/generation/etc, I should be searching for. Is this considered a “s&w 1917” or a “model 22” or if it goes by some other name I am not aware of? Thank you all for any info you may have!!

 

[cheygriz]

I can't be sure without looking at it, but it sounds like a WW1 S&W 1917 military revolver.

 

[701]

I can't be sure without looking at it, but it sounds like a WW1 S&W 1917 military revolver.

I believe it is, however from what digging I’ve tried to do, it seems to have been manufactured post war (1960 is my best guess based on trying to decide the serial number and the “S” stamped in the butt. But I’m entirely unfamiliar with these. I don’t know what the proper model is called. Thank you!

 

[cheygriz]

Call or E-mail S&W and ask.

 

[reddog81]

I'm about 99% certain that missing screw is what holds the spring in place that places tension on the cylinder stop. It makes sense that the cylinder stop doesn't work in that condition.

I'd take it apart or take it to a gunsmith if you're unfamiliar with disassembly and figure out if anything else is missing before proceeding too much further.

That's a nice looking gun. Good luck with getting it up and running.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I'm about 99% certain that missing screw is what holds the spring in place that places tension on the cylinder stop.

Yup.

There are actually five screws. Four in the sideplate, (one is hidden under the top of the grip) and the fifth is the one in front of the trigger guard.

You have a 1917 Postwar revolver. Mostly made for civilian sales. The hammer identifies it as a 1917, not a 45 Hand Ejector Model of 1950. The Model of 1950 had a newer 'short throw' hammer.

A bit tough to pin down when it was built, as about 1,000 frames and spare parts made in the 1930s and sold to the government were bought back after the end of WWII. The serial numbers for these ran from about S20972 through S210782. Yes, S indicates it has the new hammer block inside. Then again, according to SCSW, 1960 through 1961 saw Serial Numbers S207000 through S21999. This included all N frame Smiths including the models 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 57, 58, and their pre-model number variations.

This is a photo of a K frame S&W, but it is the same idea as in your 1917. You can see the screw, and the spring and plunger that should be under the screw to operate the cylinder stop. The Cylinder Stop is the piece directly above the spring and plunger.






This is a different K frame, but it shows what the parts look like in place. You can see the tip of the plunger pushing the cylinder stop up. That is the normal position. When the trigger moves back, it pulls the cylinder stop down so the cylinder can rotate.






Later, I forget exactly when, S&W got rid of the screw and the plunger in front of the trigger guard. Now a spring is wedged all by itself in front of the cylinder stop. I dislike this arrangement, it is tricky getting the spring in place without mashing it. By the way, the slanted piece is the type of hammer block that should be inside your 1917.






You need the screw, spring , and plunger. I'm not sure if you can use one from a K frame (38) or if you need one from a N frame (45). I will try to find out.

P.S. If it was a Model 22 the frame would be stamped MOD 22 under the cylinder yoke. (The hinge the cylinder pivots on).

It appears that Numrich Gunparts has the parts you need.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/smith-wesson/revolvers-sw/1917-sw?page=3

About halfway down the 3rd page. Cylinder stop plunger, cylinder stop spring, cylinder stop screw.

 

[701]

I can’t thank you enough. That is extremely helpful! So this would be an “N” frame, and officially a model 1917, but postwar production? Did they go by any other name I should be aware of? I’m ordering the parts right now.
Would these parts have any effect on the “tab” that advances the cylinder when the hammer comes back? The cylinder does advance now, so it must be doing something, but not nearly far enough to spin the cylinder more than a few degrees. Sorry I do t know the proper nomenclature yet for the “tab” but it protrudes from the rear vertical face of the frame behind the cylinder. I’m guessing there is another spring that tensions that and controls it’s ability to advance the cylinder? Or is it dependent somehow on the cylinder stop mechanism? Thank you again for all the insight!!

 

[Jonesy814]

You have what I believe is a model 1917, Post War Transitional. According to the Standard Catalog of S&W at the end of WW2 S&W purchased 10,000 frames and spare parts stamped in the 1930's back from the US government and assembled some of them. These were sold from May of 1946 until 1950 as the model 1917 Army. Serial numbers were S209792-S210782
This explains why your revolver has a lanyard ring and has only "Made in USA" on the right side of the frame instead of the 4 line address that was normally stamped after WW2. It's basically a commercial version of the 1917.The Pre 22 was similar but used the newer short throw hammer
You need parts for the M1917 .The transitional model of 1917 is fairly rare as only about 1000 were produced. If that was in 98% condition it would be worth a couple thousand dollars

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

The part that pushes the cylinder around is called the Hand. A pin on the hand fits into a hole in the trigger. The hand rotates slightly around the pin. A spring keeps it pressed forward.

The part attached to the trigger in this photo is the hand.







Here is a view of the way the hand sits when installed in the gun. This hand is a little bit different than the one for your 1917, but you get the idea.






I really can't diagnose what's going on with your revolver unless I had it in my hands and could take it apart. Perhaps the hand is worn. Perhaps the spring is missing. Perhaps the spring is weak. I don't think the cylinder stop should have any affect on the hand pushing the cylinder around, but I don't know for sure.

 

[ThomasT]

Driftwood Johnson always has the very best post. Thanks for the clear pictures DJ.

 

[701]

Thank you so much Driftwood. I cannot express enough how helpful all of this is! I ordered the parts you recommended this morning. I will update as I make progress and learn more from S&W when I’m able to call them. Thank you again!

 

[701]

I ordered the parts and installed them. It was as easy as you said. Thank you again for the helpful info and pictures! I also took a look at the grips and they are numbers matching, so it appears the revolver is numbers matching minus the screw and plunger/spring that I had to install. Thank you all again so much! Now if I can just find time to get it to the range.

 

[Walkalong]

You have a very nice old revolver. Enjoy it.