For Sale: Bowen S&W '1917/50' .45 ACP

by FOG, Saturday, January 05, 2013, 14:11 (4342 days ago)
edited by FOG, Saturday, January 05, 2013, 17:45

As Glen can attest, I've been a four-inch big-bore N-frame guy for some time, and I always thought I would be.

I got this one a while back from JLF thinking it would be just the ticket for me in my 'old' age, but infirmity in the form of a neurological disorder has intruded further upon my plans than I hoped, and I can no longer tolerate the recoil of even the .45 ACP in a DA revolver. The only way I might in this case would be to mount Goodyears on the gun, and that would be downright un-American.

But I digress... :-D

I also have medical bills to pay, so this is a classic case of 'health forces sale.' Suffice to say, it could be worse, and in more ways than one, but the bottom line is, I need the money.

This is a Bowen custom S&W M1917 with a rebored barrel from a 1950 .38/44 Heavy Duty. The base gun was a Commercial Model, not surplus, and the revolver is documented with a letter of authenticity from BCA.

In the interest of further full disclosure, these are the few flaws I see in the gun:

Nothing against JLF or BCA, but the action is tighter on one side than the other and could use some attention. It works fine and is perfectly safe, but it isn't particularly smooth.

The gun also came with the original industrial-strength trigger return spring which I replaced with a new factory part. This made the DA pull much more tolerable. The gun will come with the original spring, but I will leave the new one installed.

The Bowen refinish and reblue job is pretty good, but it isn't perfect. There is a grey-colored blotch along one side of the rear sight channel in the top strap, and the remnants of numerous small pits in the frame flats and barrel surfaces are visible upon close inspection. None 'ruin' the overall appearance of the gun, but they are there.

The gun was in 'new' condition when I got it and is still pretty close, but the turn line is now more evident. I fired the gun less than 100 rounds, so this resulted mainly from handling and dry firing (using Freedom Arms snap caps).

Three chambers of the original cylinder show light pitting in the throats. I do not know and cannot measure their diameter, but the gun shot well with hardball. (The bore, of course, is 'perfect.')

The gun came with prewar factory service stocks. I added the prewar factory Magna grips and the Tyler T-Grip. All will come with the gun, but I will leave the Magnas and T-Grip installed.

The leather is optional and is offered here only at the prices shown. If it doesn't go here, I will eBay it with a bunch of other stuff I hope to try selling there in the near future. The IWB is like new. The OWB and belt are used but have been meticulously maintained since I ordered them in the mid-1990s.

The pics are several months old or more but still pretty representative. I will take new ones and relate contact info, etc. if there is serious interest.

This one is C&R eligible, of course. All other usual conditions apply.

The 'Price List' follows the pics. No trades wanted.

Thank you for looking. :-)