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Help......1917 Smith and Wesson

Duncan357Duncan357 Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
edited April 2002 in Ask the Experts
Have a 1917 S&W in .45acp. The serial # is 471X. There are no military markings on it. Can anyone give me the date it was made or a link to look it up?Thanks
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Comments

  • S&W ManS&W Man Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are there any other markings on this gun? Where is the s/n you gave located? If this is a 1917 with said s/n, then it was made between 1916 and 1917 during the early part of the run. The 1917 was started in 1916 and by early 1917 they were producing about 5k per month. There was also some low numbers in some of the later versions of this gun. A more detailed listing of ANY markings on it would help.
    The second admendment GUARANTEES the other nine and the Constitution!
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  • Duncan357Duncan357 Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The serial # is under the crain that swings out with the cylinder, above it a capital S. In top of the barrel between the front site and frame is the smith and wesson logo and patent dates. Thats pretty much it except for tiny "67" on the grip frame on the left side beside the pin that fits into a hole on the grips. I'v got this gun listed on GB and a fellow has asked if it is C&R
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  • Duncan357Duncan357 Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    No number on the grip frame. There was a lanyard stud there, but has been ground off to permit the use of "modern" grips.
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  • Der GebirgsjagerDer Gebirgsjager Member Posts: 1,673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have S.N. 179xxx with no markings other than as you've indicated. According to Roy Jinks', " History Of Smith & Wesson", commercial sales to civilians continued during the production for the military; so the production date cited above is probably correct. Mine has been dated to 1922. Are the cylinder chambers bored completely smooth all the way through on your specimen; or are there very small shoulders where the case mouth is when loaded?
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  • Duncan357Duncan357 Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the infoIt has shoulders in each chamber.Why do some not have the shoulders?
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  • S&W ManS&W Man Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The number you describe sounds more like the assembly number. The /s/n SHOULD have been on the butt of the gun. If it has been ground off someone did it intentionally, There is no need to gring off the lanyard ring as it comes out easily. Look under the barrel on the flat and on the back of the cylinder and see if there is a number located in either of these places. S/N was also marked there. If it is an original it is a C&R, if it is one of the later models it may not be.
    The second admendment GUARANTEES the other nine and the Constitution!
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  • S&W ManS&W Man Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The number you describe sounds more like the assembly number. The /s/n SHOULD have been on the butt of the gun. If it has been ground off someone did it intentionally, There is no need to grind off the lanyard ring as it comes out easily. Look under the barrel on the flat and on the back of the cylinder and see if there is a number located in either of these places. S/N was also marked there. If it is an original it is a C&R, if it is one of the later models it may not be.
    The second admendment GUARANTEES the other nine and the Constitution!
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  • Duncan357Duncan357 Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    AH-HAThe serial # is 2202x. It's on the bottom of the barrel and the cylinder.How old would it be now?
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  • S&W ManS&W Man Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That s/n would make the production of the gun somewhere during the 1st or 2nd quarter of 1917. If there is no markings on the butt it may be a reworked gun. Are the grips smooth or checkered? Original should have been smooth. Original it had a lanyard ring. Is the finish blue or parkarized? Is there a S&W logo stamp on the LEFT sideplate? WHat markings, is any are on the barrel? These all will indicate how original hte gun is. IF this is an original, commercial gun, and there were some in the low s/n's it is rarer. If you have any specific questions email me @ 38spl@kconline.com. The 1917 and the victory models are what I collect and specialize in. Also the 28's.
    The second admendment GUARANTEES the other nine and the Constitution!
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