Preacherman
Member
Hi, all. I think this is my first thread in this forum! Ah, well, better late than never...
I've been offered a S&W 1917 revolver in .45 ACP (of course). It's rather a strange gun... let me tell you about it. It looks to have been nickel-plated at some point, but a previous owner apparently blew up his barrel with some defective ammo. He installed a blued barrel (NOT the original 1917 barrel - looks like something from an early Model 25), with a ramped, serrated front sight. The front 1½" of the barrel has been plated with what looks like a rough, matte silver paint, but isn't paint - it's definitely a plating of some kind. The rest of the barrel is blued, going into the frame, which is still nickel-plated.
After that ghastly description, now comes the good part! There seems to be a small amount of cylinder play and end-shake, but basically the action seems fine. I've been offered the gun for $200. I need to know roughly what it will cost to do the following:
1. Action job, including rectifying any "normal" wear and tear on the gun;
2. Re-finishing the gun, probably removing the plating and re-blueing it, since that was the original finish (although I'm open to alternative suggestions);
3. Any other "tweaks" that you knowledgeable ones would like to suggest to make the S&W 1917 a safe, usable firearm with modern ammunition. (I know not to use +P ammo in it, due to the early metallurgy - but what other areas need attention?).
Finally, is it worth undertaking this restoration, or is $200 simply too much money for this revolver? I've never owned one of the old 1917's, and am interested in this one as a piece of history: but I don't want a high-cost lemon-flavored piece of history!
Please advise. Many thanks in advance for your help.
I've been offered a S&W 1917 revolver in .45 ACP (of course). It's rather a strange gun... let me tell you about it. It looks to have been nickel-plated at some point, but a previous owner apparently blew up his barrel with some defective ammo. He installed a blued barrel (NOT the original 1917 barrel - looks like something from an early Model 25), with a ramped, serrated front sight. The front 1½" of the barrel has been plated with what looks like a rough, matte silver paint, but isn't paint - it's definitely a plating of some kind. The rest of the barrel is blued, going into the frame, which is still nickel-plated.
After that ghastly description, now comes the good part! There seems to be a small amount of cylinder play and end-shake, but basically the action seems fine. I've been offered the gun for $200. I need to know roughly what it will cost to do the following:
1. Action job, including rectifying any "normal" wear and tear on the gun;
2. Re-finishing the gun, probably removing the plating and re-blueing it, since that was the original finish (although I'm open to alternative suggestions);
3. Any other "tweaks" that you knowledgeable ones would like to suggest to make the S&W 1917 a safe, usable firearm with modern ammunition. (I know not to use +P ammo in it, due to the early metallurgy - but what other areas need attention?).
Finally, is it worth undertaking this restoration, or is $200 simply too much money for this revolver? I've never owned one of the old 1917's, and am interested in this one as a piece of history: but I don't want a high-cost lemon-flavored piece of history!
Please advise. Many thanks in advance for your help.