Identify S&W 1917 - The Firearms Forum

bamjr · 02-11-2008, 03:00 PM

Can anyone help me with this pistol carried by my cousin Capt. James V. Johnston in Germany in 1944. Is it a Brazil export? The flutes look too long to be a WWI issue. There is no lanyard ring?? What series is it?

Thanks for your help.

ciwsguy · 02-11-2008, 05:34 PM

Uh, Looks like an M3 Grease Gun to me.

More seriously, that appears to be a 6" barrel on the revolver. I know of no military issued firearm that issued a 6" revolver. Did S&W make a Model 29 back then? Looks a bit like a 44.

williamd · 02-11-2008, 08:41 PM

S&W 44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model ?????????

Produced 1915 to 1937.

44 S&W Special, 38-40, 44-40, 45 Colt.

4, 5, 6, 6.5 "

williamd · 02-12-2008, 06:25 PM

By the way bamjr, thanx for sharing a neat picture. Your Uncle-Captain looks like a high schooler! But, there as baby face Audie Murphy!

ciwsguy · 02-12-2008, 06:29 PM

Then that revolver is likely not military issue. Does anyone know if your average Joe WW II GI's were allowed to bring their own sidearms for the conflict? Obviously, GSP (George S. Patton) was an exception as he carried his ivory handled revolvers - I think one was a S&W and the other a Colt Peacemaker.

bamjr · 02-12-2008, 06:42 PM

He was with the 334th Regt. of the 84th I.D. Siegfried Line, Ardennes, and was leading Church's Task force as CO of 2nd Battalion ( had been promoted to Major) when he was killed 1500 yards from the Rhine on March 4, 1945. Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart. The division named its stadium in Salzwedel after him - "Johnston Stadium." He was 5'5" and weighed about 135 lbs wet. His brother 'Mitch" was a Navy Ace in the Pacific flying Hellcats in O'Hare's squadron and then in VBF-17 on the Hornet.

I'm trying to put together more info on him and that is why I would like to precisely identify the pistol. He also carried a P38 in a shoulder holster and a Model 12 12 ga. in his jeep. He could have been another Audie Murphy.

I've tried to precisely compare barrel lengths in the picture to other 1917's and I'm fairly certain that the barrel is 5 1/2" It may look like 6" due to his small size.

Anyway, thanks to all for your help.

jeanp1948 · 02-14-2008, 10:52 PM

Looks like either a 6 or 6.5 inch barrel, large cylinder diameter bigger than a .38 caliber. Possibly a .44 or .45. That's my best guesstimate.
Sorry for your loss, I lost my 18 year old cousin on July 9, 1944 at Anzio area of Italy.

Lucian J. Potelle
135th Infantry Regiment
34th Infantry Division

Little Rooster · 03-09-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciwsguy

Then that revolver is likely not military issue. Does anyone know if your average Joe WW II GI's were allowed to bring their own sidearms for the conflict? Obviously, GSP (George S. Patton) was an exception as he carried his ivory handled revolvers - I think one was a S&W and the other a Colt Peacemaker.

Officers

Looks to be a hand ejector and agree looks bigger than .38

300 H&H · 03-09-2008, 10:14 AM

bamjr,
I have two Brazilian S&W 1917 contract revolvers. They are 5 1/2" barrels. They were exported in 1937 to the Brazilian Navy. The pistol in your picture is I believe a 5 1/2" also. They do not have a lanyard loop, but have small grips. The butt of the grip is to large to be one of these guns as they do not cover the grip frame at the bottom as the grips do in your picture. Apparently the grips in the pic are oversized and cover the grip frame. Thats about all I can tell you other than it is a 45 ACP calliber. Best reguards Kirk

jeanp1948 · 03-10-2008, 08:36 PM

Didn't they make a S&W in a .41 Colt caliber for a while. My brother-in-law had one from when he was in Viet Nam while in the Marines. He got it over there somehow, I don't remember just how, but back then when I first noticed it (1970's) he had a heck of a time getting ammo!

02-11-2008, 03:00 PM	#1
bamjr Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Identify S&W 1917 Can anyone help me with this pistol carried by my cousin Capt. James V. Johnston in Germany in 1944. Is it a Brazil export? The flutes look too long to be a WWI issue. There is no lanyard ring?? What series is it? Thanks for your help. -->

02-11-2008, 05:34 PM	#2
ciwsguy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: KY Posts: 31	Re: Identify S&W 1917 Uh, Looks like an M3 Grease Gun to me. More seriously, that appears to be a 6" barrel on the revolver. I know of no military issued firearm that issued a 6" revolver. Did S&W make a Model 29 back then? Looks a bit like a 44.

02-11-2008, 08:41 PM	#3
williamd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 772	Re: Identify S&W 1917 S&W 44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model ????????? Produced 1915 to 1937. 44 S&W Special, 38-40, 44-40, 45 Colt. 4, 5, 6, 6.5 " __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" But, we are moving that direction. NRA Benefactor, Vet VN '64-'65 Never sell a gun or a car and you can retire right!!

02-12-2008, 06:25 PM	#4
williamd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 772	And, great pics By the way bamjr, thanx for sharing a neat picture. Your Uncle-Captain looks like a high schooler! But, there as baby face Audie Murphy! __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" But, we are moving that direction. NRA Benefactor, Vet VN '64-'65 Never sell a gun or a car and you can retire right!!

02-12-2008, 06:29 PM	#5
ciwsguy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: KY Posts: 31	Re: Identify S&W 1917 Then that revolver is likely not military issue. Does anyone know if your average Joe WW II GI's were allowed to bring their own sidearms for the conflict? Obviously, GSP (George S. Patton) was an exception as he carried his ivory handled revolvers - I think one was a S&W and the other a Colt Peacemaker.

02-12-2008, 06:42 PM	#6
bamjr Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Re: Identify S&W 1917 He was with the 334th Regt. of the 84th I.D. Siegfried Line, Ardennes, and was leading Church's Task force as CO of 2nd Battalion ( had been promoted to Major) when he was killed 1500 yards from the Rhine on March 4, 1945. Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart. The division named its stadium in Salzwedel after him - "Johnston Stadium." He was 5'5" and weighed about 135 lbs wet. His brother 'Mitch" was a Navy Ace in the Pacific flying Hellcats in O'Hare's squadron and then in VBF-17 on the Hornet. I'm trying to put together more info on him and that is why I would like to precisely identify the pistol. He also carried a P38 in a shoulder holster and a Model 12 12 ga. in his jeep. He could have been another Audie Murphy. I've tried to precisely compare barrel lengths in the picture to other 1917's and I'm fairly certain that the barrel is 5 1/2" It may look like 6" due to his small size. Anyway, thanks to all for your help.

02-14-2008, 10:52 PM	#7
jeanp1948 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 135	Re: Identify S&W 1917 Looks like either a 6 or 6.5 inch barrel, large cylinder diameter bigger than a .38 caliber. Possibly a .44 or .45. That's my best guesstimate. Sorry for your loss, I lost my 18 year old cousin on July 9, 1944 at Anzio area of Italy. Lucian J. Potelle 135th Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Division Attached Images __________________ You can have my gun, just let me unload it first, oops.......... Last edited by jeanp1948; 02-14-2008 at 11:08 PM.. Reason: Added unit

03-09-2008, 10:14 AM	#9
300 H&H Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,796	Re: Identify S&W 1917 bamjr, I have two Brazilian S&W 1917 contract revolvers. They are 5 1/2" barrels. They were exported in 1937 to the Brazilian Navy. The pistol in your picture is I believe a 5 1/2" also. They do not have a lanyard loop, but have small grips. The butt of the grip is to large to be one of these guns as they do not cover the grip frame at the bottom as the grips do in your picture. Apparently the grips in the pic are oversized and cover the grip frame. Thats about all I can tell you other than it is a 45 ACP calliber. Best reguards Kirk

03-10-2008, 08:36 PM	#10
jeanp1948 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 135	Re: Identify S&W 1917 Didn't they make a S&W in a .41 Colt caliber for a while. My brother-in-law had one from when he was in Viet Nam while in the Marines. He got it over there somehow, I don't remember just how, but back then when I first noticed it (1970's) he had a heck of a time getting ammo! __________________ You can have my gun, just let me unload it first, oops..........