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Value of a 1937 Smith & Wesson

newb gun personnewb gun person Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
edited December 2007 in Ask the Experts
I do not know much about fire arms and found what I belive to be a 1937 Smith & Wesson D.A. .45 revolver hand gun in a storage in my house. So my question is about how much money is the gun worth? I am assuming this is the manufacter/model/tpye of gun do to the etching on the guns barrel and other pictures with similar titles and appearance seen on the internet. It has a wood grip and the rest of the gun seems to be made out of some type of medal. I can take pictures of it if needed. It seems to be in good condition, wooden grips have some chips in them and scratches. Some etching above the wooden grips are worn away. The revolver part itself and thumb switch to release it (so it slides out to the side form the main assembly of the gun) work fine. I belive the bore has some sort of rifling. The trigger and hammer actions also seem to be in good working condition. I don't know much aobut the past of how this gun was used other than it may have been owned by my grandfather. So once again I am sorry if i used any terms incorrectly but if you have any questions I will try to anserw them as best I can and any estimates would be great.
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Comments

  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Welcome to GB forums. It sounds like you have a model 1917, but we realy need pictures. What makes you say it is a 1937 vintage? Value depends totaly on condition. Please post photos.
    Good luck.
    W.D.
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  • newb gun personnewb gun person Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The etching is faded however I am pretty sure it says 1937 on the right side looking at it from the back right above the grip.


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    2004694973128041497_th.jpg

    2004618176261814550_th.jpg

    2004694984254753517_th.jpg

    2004614632471612149_th.jpg

    2004682243994323252_th.jpg
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  • eastbankeastbank Member Posts: 4,052 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    may be a 1937 berzilian S&W in 45 auto rim or 45 acp,s in half moon clips. eastbank.
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  • helicopter_pilothelicopter_pilot Member Posts: 1,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    From Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson:
    quote:Brazilian Contract: 25,000 Model 1917s were made for the Brazilian government and stamped with the Brazilian crest on the sideplate bearing the date "1937." Although a Brazilian-marked 1917 has been report [sic] as early as serial number 16974x, a large 1938 shipment included most guns in serial number range 181983 - 207043, and a 1946 shipment included most guns in the serial number range 207196 - 207989. A small S&W trademark is found on the frame's left side with "Made in USA" on the right side. <snip> Patent dates are found on the top of the barrel with "S&W D.A.45" on the barrel's left side. These Brazilian-marked 1917s tend to bring about 50-75% of what a comparable U.S.-issue 1917 would bring, and average ones can be found in the $350 to $500 range.
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  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Brazilian Model 1937's were imported and sold as surplus in the early 90's. Most that I saw had the Brazilian national crest, and 1937 date on the side plate. I can't see that crest in your photos?

    In any case your S & W revolver appears to have been refinished, ( it's hard to tell, because your photos lack clarity ). If it has been refinished? This would have a negative affect on it's value, to a collector. Sold as a shooter, my WAG is that it would be in the $250-$350 range.
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  • newb gun personnewb gun person Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    From helicopter_pilot's information my gun is from the 1938 shipment due to it's serial number. It also has the rest of the tradmarks, patent numbers and "S&W D.A.45" .In response to rufe-snow's reply the crest is mostly gone with only the "1937" date visable on the side plate.What would be some tell tale signs that the gun ahs been refinished? Where there is a small chunk missing from the grips it is much darker than the rest of the wood grip, possibly from it get a new coat of something from after the chip was there? It can partly be seen in picture 4 from my pervious post. Oh and I do apologize for the poor picture quality I only have a camaera phone to use. :/
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  • helicopter_pilothelicopter_pilot Member Posts: 1,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by newb gun person
    In response to rufe-snow's reply the crest is mostly gone with only the "1937" date visable on the side plate.What would be some tell tale signs that the gun ahs been refinished?

    rufe-snow is right. Refinishing reduces the collector value. Re-bluing involves (or should involve) polishing. This would tend to erase or at least 'soften' shallow stamps. Since the crest is 'mostly gone', I'd guess that's a good indication of a refinish. The value in Standard Catalog would be for a gun with its original finish.
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