POTD: Brazilian Contract S&W Model 1917 – Cleaning Out the Back Room

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a pair of Smith & Wesson Model 1917 revolvers that never wore an American uniform. These went south to Brazil, and the contract behind them is the real story.

In 1936 Brazil decided its sidearm situation was a mess. The army was carrying 7.65mm Lugers bought back in 1908, a handful of S&W 38s and Spanish-made knockoffs of the Military & Police. The fix was to settle on one cartridge, and 45 ACP got the nod. Smith & Wesson already had a proven 45 ACP wheelgun in the catalog, so the Model 1917 became the Brazilian Modelo 1937, named for the year it was adopted.

The first order called for 25,000 guns that shipped in 1938, built pretty much like the commercial 1917s of the day. Then in 1946 Brazil came back for 12,000 more, and this is the part I love. S&W had been sitting on a pile of World War I parts since 1919, and that second batch was largely assembled from them. That’s why some second contract guns carry lower serials than the first batch. Brazil was helping Smith & Wesson clean out the back room.

The Modelo 1937 stayed in Brazilian service for more than 30 years before being pulled in the 1970s. Around 1989 and 1990 importers brought a big wave of them stateside, which is why most survivors live here now instead of back home in Brazil.

Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!

“Two Brazilian Contract Smith & Wesson Model 1917 Revolvers.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5034/925/two-brazilian-contract-smith-wesson-model-1917-revolvers. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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