My new gat!

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  • Last Post 06 December 2023
David Reiss posted this 03 June 2022

Purchased this S&W 1917 about 6 months ago in the condition you see below for $175.00. As I do nearly everything gunsmithing wise, I went over the revolver and prepared a list of what I needed to do to make it shootable and presentable. One thing I don't do is refinishing, I leave that all to Bob Cogan at Accurate Plating in Alabama. Bob has been doing my refinishing work since about 1980. I had him cerakote with a combination of finishes that looks like a dark blue matte. He removed as much rust as possible and did a good job of making it presentable. He hard chromed the extractor for durability and to keep the fit tight. 

Once back I fitted a new oversized hand and cylinder stop to make it lock-up tight as a bank vault. Then a little smoothing here and there created a nice 7.5 pound double action pull and a crisp 3 lb. single action let-off. I replaced the grips with some old stock Jay Scott faux ivory ones. I have a t-grip on the way. 

Previous to me when someone chopped the barrel to 3.5 inches, they also added a dovetail front sight. I plan on fitting a new fiber optic green sight that will aid my aging eyes. 

I have 1000 new Starline .45 AR cases waiting on some loads, no moon clips for me. 








David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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giorgio the slim one posted this 10 June 2022

Purchased this S&W 1917 about 6 months ago in the condition you see below for $175.00. As I do nearly everything gunsmithing wise, I went over the revolver and prepared a list of what I needed to do to make it shootable and presentable. One thing I don't do is refinishing, I leave that all to Bob Cogan at Accurate Plating in Alabama. Bob has been doing my refinishing work since about 1980. I had him cerakote with a combination of finishes that looks like a dark blue matte. He removed as much rust as possible and did a good job of making it presentable. He hard chromed the extractor for durability and to keep the fit tight. 

Once back I fitted a new oversized hand and cylinder stop to make it lock-up tight as a bank vault. Then a little smoothing here and there created a nice 7.5 pound double action pull and a crisp 3 lb. single action let-off. I replaced the grips with some old stock Jat Scott faux ivory ones. I have a t-grip on the way. 

Previous to me when someone chopped the barrel to 3.5 inches, they also added a dovetail front sight. I plan on fitting a new fiber optic green sight that will aid my aging eyes. 

I have 1000 new Starline .45 AR cases waiting on some loads, no moon clips for me. 


Wonderful job , a labour of love . I am a S&W addict too. Rugers may be sturdier , Colt's may be more elegant but S&W talk with my heart .

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Urny posted this 03 June 2022

That is quite a transformation! We have a couple of 1955 4" Cobras that could use some cosmetic help. Neither is collector grade, just holster guns carried around our Ozark acreage on our daily futzing about. Mr. Cogan will hear from me after the family reunion.

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JeffinNZ posted this 03 June 2022

WOW!

Cheers from New Zealand

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Aaron posted this 03 June 2022

That is an amazing transformation! I'll give ya $200 for it. cool

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Ed Harris posted this 04 June 2022

Nicely done. Did you ever find a replacement cylinder, or are you usinf the original one? Pitting looked pretty deep.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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David Reiss posted this 04 June 2022

I actually found two original cylinders in pretty good condition, one a complete assembly with the yoke. The one on the gun was just too pitted. So much of it had to be removed that it eliminated the cylinder stop leads on three chambers. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Pentz posted this 04 June 2022

Fitz that puppy!

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blackout52 posted this 04 June 2022

What an amazing transformation!!!

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Glenn R. Latham posted this 05 June 2022

Looks downright presentable now!!  Nice work.  What do the cylinder throats measure?

Glenn

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David Reiss posted this 05 June 2022

Glenn,

Five at .454" and one a little tighter at .453". 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Qc Pistolero posted this 05 June 2022

Just beautiful.The only thing I'd consider is to put a brass bead on that front sight instead of an optic fiber(like Elmer would have done).But that's just my 2 cents and I'd sure be a proud owner if I'd have one like that....even with the fiber sight!

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max503 posted this 21 June 2022

How does it shoot?

 

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RustyZipper posted this 06 December 2023

I have an older Brazilian Contract model, 2.75" barrel, no front sight yet, original grip with Tyler installed. Wanting to install a big dot front or perhaps big dot tritium. Sure kicks though. Probably needs a full lug heavy barrel to hold it down a bit. Still just a "belly gun". Any suggestions? RustyZipper.

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RustyZipper posted this 06 December 2023

Forgot, mine has a swiveling lanyard loop still on the butt of the grip. Not a thing of beauty except to me. A highschool bud who was a gunsmith, went through it any got rid of the rust he could and oxhpho blued it. Still shows some character,pits. RZ.

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