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11/8/2019 2:33:28 PM

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Section 8: Handguns
Subject: M-37 Msg# 1060511

From:

Mark Freburg Forum Manager

Joined 4/3/2000

To:

TJ Parmele (Read)

Joined 6/1/2005

Enjoy your fascination! Eric is in love with his M1917 Brazilian. Of course he got it from me as a gift when he was about...I don't know, eleven or so?

Image below from Mark Freburg - Image Title: Eric with S&W
Image Info: My son Eric in about 1994 with hs Brazilian contract M1917 Second Model Hand Ejector in.45ACP holstered at his hip. A happy eleven-year-old.

Image below from Mark Freburg - Image Title: Brazilian M1917
Image Info: An old and admittedly crummy photo of my son's S&W M1917 Brazilian contract. A bit scratched up and it came with the hammer block somewhat worn but I added some cylinder spacers and it functions well.

For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where:
Interestingly the initial shipment in 1937 were all made from new parts but the second shipment in 1946 was made up of some left-over, some new parts. The frame cut for the rear sight notch was wider on post-WWII frames but the Brazilian contract guns made from leftover frames in 1946 had the narrower rear sight notch indicative of the WWI frame.

I appreciate the correction. This is indeed NEAT stuff. I THINK my snub-nosed 1917 is a Brazilian contract.

You're right that the contract with Brazil was for 25k pistols, but they were not supplied in serial number order and can be found all the way from 1 to 210000. guns made after S&W added the new style hammer block in 1947 has an "S" prefix added to the serial. Shipments were completed in 1948.
When you think about it, this is a strange contract. Why go for a honking revolver when semi-autos such as the 1911 would have probably been a better choice? So production / assembly from 1937 to 1948? That's a LONG time for a shipment of 25,000 revolvers. That's only 2272 a year. More of an afterthought of production than a real contract IMHO. Ya gotta wonder about the thinking behind those kind of production numbers.

I used to really love these guns. I like the looks of the Colts better, being a Colt revolver guy in my heart, but the S&Ws fit the hands better. I'd still love to own a Colt M1917, but they're pricey. Owning the S&W Hand Ejector Target I do makes having a Smith M1917 superfluous.

I still like them. They shoot great, look monstrously stylish, and seem right at home in any film or historical setting from WWI to well... recently.

I don't like them at all...

Image below from TJ Parmele - Image Title: Model 1917 and 625-2
Image Info: Smith and Wesson Model 1917 and 625-2

Image below from TJ Parmele - Image Title: 1917 and 625-2
Image Info: Model 1917 and 625-2 Smith and Wesson revolvers in .45 ACP

Image below from TJ Parmele - Image Title: Smith 1917 Converted
Image Info: This is a slightly different version of a Smith and Wesson 1917. Barrel has been changed to something akin to most likely chambered in .45 Colt. The surface also looks to have been re-finished in a black oxide. Trigger is ok. The Double Action lockwork needs smoothing up and I am probably going to replace the stocks.

Image below from TJ Parmele - Image Title: Revolvers in Auto Calibers
Image Info: Top to Bottom: Smith & Wesson 1917 .45 ACPSmith & Wesson 610 10MMSmith & Wesson 940 9MM

Image below from TJ Parmele - Image Title: S&W Model 1917
Image Info: Here is a Non-Brazilian S&W Model 1917. I do have plans to find original grips for it and get a factory letter.

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