Smith And Wesson 1917 Serial Numbers Database

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SOLD FOR: $1000

Smith wesson serial number yearSmith and wesson 1917 for sale

Our Assessment: This is a Smith and Wesson.45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917 that S&W made for the U. The revolver is properly marked, including the serial number on the inside of the right grip. This pistol is in Excellent condition with about 96% of its original finish remaining. Dating a Smith & Wesson Revolver: This list is merely a general guide and not meant to be exact. There is some dispute regarding the dates on some serial numbers. Your gun may actually be a year off from what is listed. The precise shipping date as 'lettered' can be several years off depending on model.

LSB#: 210425EN03

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: .45 Hand Ejector U.S. Army Model 1917

Serial Number: 166428

Year of Manufacture: 1917-1919, C&R

Caliber: .45 ACP or .45 Autorim

Action Type: Double / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “S.&W. D.A. 45”, the top is marked “SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. / PATENTED DEC. 17. 1901. FEB. 6. 1906. SEP. 14. 1909”. The left side of the frame is marked with a flaming bomb at the top corner behind the cylinder and an eagle head at the rear bow of the trigger guard. The butt is marked “U.S. / ARMY / MODEL / 1917” and “NO / 166 / 428”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with the serial number and an eagle head over “S24”. The barrel flat is marked with the serial number and an eagle head. The yoke and yoke cut are marked with “17356” and the yoke cut has “R” an eagle head over “S2”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY”. The rear face of the yoke and front face of the ejector are marked with the serial number.

Barrel Length: 5 1/2″

Numbers

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a half-round blade integral to a rectangular base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is “U” notch in the end of a groove in the top of the frame.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood panels. There are some scattered nicks, compressions, draglines, oil stains and handling marks. There are some little chips out of the bottom edges. Some of the deepest marks are on the bottoms. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Smith And Wesson 1917 For Sale

Type of Finish: Blued

Serial

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is light surface erosion with some pitting at the muzzle, mainly in the grooves.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. There are some scattered nicks and scratches, mostly on the barrel. There is a mottled plum hue. There are some spots of oxidation, some of the most noticeable are on the barrel at the muzzle, cylinder, and on the bottom front edge of the frame. There is finish loss on the grip frame and the lanyard ring is missing. There are some little spots of frost showing through the finish, most noticeable on the sideplate. There is some mottled thinning, most noticeable on the cylinder. There is a turn line through the finish. The screw heads are sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Moonclips will be required to eject .45 ACP. The double-action trigger pull is stiff, single action is crisp. The cylinder locks up with light side to side play. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Smith And Wesson 1917 Serial Numbers Database Pdf

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Smith And Wesson 1917 Serial Numbers Database Free

Our Assessment: This is a Smith and Wesson .45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917 that S&W made for the U.S. Army. The Army wanted more 1911 pistols than Colt could make so they contracted with both Colt and S&W to produce the Model 1917 revolver in .45 ACP, so that both pistols and revolvers would use the same ammunition. The cylinders were designed to hold the cartridges in half-moon clips for ease of loading and extraction. The chambers were stepped so that individual cartridges could be loaded and fired when there wasn’t time to load the clips, but then the empty cartridges had to be removed manually. This revolver is properly marked with U.S. markings though it has been refinished. This revolver would make a decent candidate for a fun new shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!

Smith & Wesson produced approximately 169,595 U.S. Army Model 1917 Revolvers between 1917 and 1919. All revolvers were polish blue with 5.5 inch barrels and chambered to shoot the .45 ACP round. Early production revolvers had the ordnance acceptance mark of GHS (Gilbert H. Stewart) which was replaced with the ordnance bomb pictured below around April of 1918. The final inspection mark of Eagle/S# started to appear around June 1918, before that date there was not one present on the rear trigger guard web (see inspectors mark image below).

S&W M1917 revolvers in this serial number range were shipped to the American Expeditionary Forces at Bush Terminal. Also to be found on the right side of this example is the mark of the Ordnance Office “OO” as they served as guard guns in the 1930s.

  • The Original finish on the S&W M1917 was bright polish blue with case hardened hammer and trigger, they were configured to use the .45 ACP ammo with a moon clip (holds 3 bullets, also allows for extraction).

  • The inspectors mark of Col. Gilbert H. Stewart (GHS) can be found on the left side of the receiver until April, 1918 and then a Ordnance insignia (bomb) until end of production.

  • The serial number can be found on the butt, back of cylinder, underside of barrel, inside right grip, underside of extractor, inside of crane.

  • 'United States Property' mark is located on the bottom of the barrel.

  • Barrel is tapered. Unlike the M1909 barrel.