Smith & Wesson U.S. Model 1917 .45 ACP 5½” DA/SA Revolver U.S. Army WWI C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,525.00

LSB#: LSB250807SH006

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: U.S. Model 1917 (.45 Hand Ejector, Army Issue)

Serial Number: 92425

Year of Manufacture: 1918 (WWI U.S. Government Contract, Shipped August 9, 1918 to Springfield Armory per Factory Letter) – C&R Eligible

Caliber: .45 ACP (Headspaced for Rimless Cartridge; Uses Half-Moon Clips or .45 Auto Rim)

Action Type: Double Action / Single Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder

Markings:
The right side of the barrel is marked “S.&W. D.A. 45.” The underside of the barrel flat is stamped “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” with serial number “92425” and an eagle-head sub-inspector mark “S24.” The top of the barrel bears the two-line address “SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. / PATENTED DEC. 17, 1901. FEB. 6, 1906.” The frame ahead of the hammer spur shows the Ordnance flaming bomb. Additional eagle-head marks “S27” and “S59” appear on the frame and yoke. The butt is marked “U.S. ARMY MODEL 1917 / No. 92425.” Matching serial numbers appear on the barrel, frame, and cylinder.

Barrel Length: 5½ Inches, Pinned

Sights / Optics: Fixed service sights consisting of a forged round-blade front sight and a square-notch milled into the topstrap.

Stock Configuration & Condition:
Smooth walnut service stocks with the correct military oil finish and lanyard swivel on the butt. There are scattered dings, field marks, and shallow pressure dents consistent with arsenal handling and field service, but no cracks or structural losses. The wood fits tightly to the frame and rates in Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Factory Military Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition:
This revolver retains approximately 60–65% of its original blue finish. Honest holster wear is visible along the muzzle, frame edges, and cylinder flutes. The remaining finish has aged to a pleasing soft patina. The flaming bomb and eagle-head ordnance marks remain distinct and fully legible. The screws show minor tool use, and the lanyard loop assembly is intact. The mechanics are sound, the cylinder locks up tightly, and timing is correct.

Mechanics: The action functions properly in both single and double action. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Includes a factory letter from Smith & Wesson Historian Roy G. Jinks, dated August 19, 2008, confirming that revolver serial number 92425 was shipped on August 9, 1918, to the United States Government, Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, as part of the wartime contract. The letter specifies the revolver was shipped with a 5½” barrel, blue finish, butt swivel, and smooth walnut grips.

Our Assessment:
The Smith & Wesson U.S. Model 1917 revolver stands as one of the classic American handguns of the Great War, a robust adaptation of the large-frame Hand Ejector built to supplement the Army’s limited supply of Colt 1911 pistols. Chambered in .45 ACP, the revolver’s design was quickly modified to accept half-moon clips—an innovation that allowed the rimless cartridge to function perfectly in a swing-out cylinder. Its service reputation for reliability and stopping power made it a trusted companion for American troops in the mud of France.

This particular revolver, serial number 92425, is a documented example confirmed by factory historian Roy G. Jinks as having shipped on August 9, 1918, directly to Springfield Armory for U.S. Government issue. Its flaming bomb and eagle-head inspection stamps tell of its journey through wartime acceptance lines at the Armory, while its lightly worn finish and tight mechanics speak to both use and care.

With its strong bore, matching serials, and original configuration intact, this revolver is a tangible artifact from America’s WWI mobilization—one that could have accompanied Doughboys across the Atlantic in the final months of the Great War. It embodies Smith & Wesson’s precision craftsmanship and the martial urgency of 1918, standing today as both a fine collectible and a historical heirloom of U.S. military service.

We are no longer offering layaway.  KF