[Mike Irwin]

"It is possible that S&W actually made NO Model 1917s in that era. You might recall that Remington was left with enough Model 1917 (Enfield) parts to make some 20,000+ sporting rifles up to WWII."

The only problem with that is that during World War I, during much of the production of the 1917 revolver, Smith & Wesson did not run the factory -- the US Government did.

S&W was unable to match the production figures that the military wanted, finally resulting in Gov't intervention in factory operations for the duration of the National Emergency.

All firearms being produced during the Gov't's management were for gov't use -- all civilian production was halted.

At the end of the War, and Gov't management, reports are that the gov't took all finished but unassembled parts, including frames and cylinders as final fulfillment of the outstanding contract obligation.

All subsequent production of Model of 1917s resumed with frames and other parts that were in the production pipeline, but which were unfinished, and as such, had no government or serial number markings at all -- the genesis of the civilian model 1917s.


Your gun would be the only Brazilian contract gun I have ever seen or heard of that began as a US Government gun. None of these I've seen over the years, from all through the production range, showed any evidence at all of either remarking or Government serial numberization.