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S&W Model 1917 DA45 age by serial number

10percentoffthetop10percentoffthetop Member Posts: 28 ✭✭
edited November 2010 in Ask the Experts
I have a S&W model 1917 45 revolver that I recently purchased. Im trying to find the age. The serial number is 71686 If anyone had a rough idea of the age please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it is a military model, those were all made between 1917 and 1919.
  • 10percentoffthetop10percentoffthetop Member Posts: 28 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How can you tell if it is the military model or not?
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your S & W Model 1917 was made in June 1918. This is what a factory original one looks like.



    usarev4.jpg


    sw1917leftbig.jpg
  • lake_carllake_carl Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK another newbie who is here just to learn about an old gun, S & W DA 45 found the serial number on bottom of barrel, think it is 131480 or it might be, 151480 or even 181480 just my eyes are just not as good as they used to be, also have an old german revolver trying to look up information on, H Burger Muller & Schne Kreiensen if anyone has any ides where to look that up at,, thanks Carl
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by lake_carl
    OK another newbie who is here just to learn about an old gun, S & W DA 45 found the serial number on bottom of barrel, think it is 131480 or it might be, 151480 or even 181480 just my eyes are just not as good as they used to be, also have an old german revolver trying to look up information on, H Burger Muller & Schne Kreiensen if anyone has any ides where to look that up at,, thanks Carl


    Need quality close-up photos, for accurate identification and valuation.

    Information at this link for posting photos in the forum.

    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294
  • lake_carllake_carl Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK here is my first try at posting a picture, gun003.jpggun004.jpg
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The pictured revolver is a S&W 1917 .45 ACP.

    Looks like somebody has gone over it with sandpaper knocking off the blue or Parkerizing, leaving scratched bare steel. Looks good with the plastic "stag handles" doesn't it?
    If the action is tight and the bore is good, it might make a project gun but the interest and value are low as is.

    Grips might be jigged bone in a stag pattern. One step up from plastic. Still not deluxe and certainly not original.
  • lake_carllake_carl Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    the handles look and feel to me like bone, not plastic
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The U.S. Army markings and serial number should be on the bottom of the grip not bottom of barrel as shown in the 9/21 photo.

    Smith and Wesson made just under 170,000 Model 1917's for the Army between 1917 and 1919.
  • lake_carllake_carl Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    rufe-snow, the serial number is under the barrel, have to have cyclinder open to read it, what does that tell you?
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by lake_carl
    rufe-snow, the serial number is under the barrel, have to have cyclinder open to read it, what does that tell you?



    The original serial number has been removed from the bottom of the grip.

    This is a bad thing because it's a federal offense to have a firearm in your possession that the serial number has been defaced or removed. If they catch you with it, you could get you jail time in the gray bar hotel if things don't go right.
  • lake_carllake_carl Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    are you sure?, I found the serial number by reading in a book that some of the numbers could be found under the barrel
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by lake_carl
    are you sure?, I found the serial number by reading in a book that some of the numbers could be found under the barrel



    Check out the photos in the 4th post dated 9/21. If your S & W Model 1917 doesn't have the serial number on the bottom of the grip same as the one in the photo, your in deep s**t as far as the feds are concerned.
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