Remembering Brazil in WWII: S&W 1917
 

Hello all,

I had showed this on another board, but decided to give it a try here too. :p

Allow me to present you the Brazilian Contract Smith & Wesson Model 1917 revolver. I know these are not the "big deal" for most of you, but it I intend to use this small article and display to honor the Brazilian Expeditionary Force that fought during WWII.

By 1937 the Brazilian Armed Forces had started a weapons updating program - the first organized process of purchase modern equipment since 1910. In late 1930s, the standard sidearm of the Brazilian Army was the 7,65mm Luger pistol (in its “Model 1906” configuration) but most of the 5000 guns bought in 1908 were already worn out or had been transferred to State Law Enforcements. To make things worse, several minor purchasing of both original as well Spanish copies of Smith & Wesson MP revolvers had been made during the 20s.

Then in late 30s it was decided that, for logistical and strategic matters, the sidearm must be standardized. The Army Ordnance chose the .45 ACP ammo as the new caliber for the Armed Forces and went shopping. An order for 25,000 M1917 revolvers for Smith & Wesson followed (another 25,000 Colts M1911A1 were also bought, but this is another story). The revolver was chosen also because it was easier to be trained and handle with when compared with semi-autos and was intended to be issued to NCOs and/or rear guard soldiers (MPs, artillery officers, cavalry, etc.).

The “Modelo 1937” revolver is almost a clone of the Smith & Wesson M1917 (“N” frame) that served with the US military in both World Wars, with only few minor changes (such as the rear sight): had plain, smooth wood grips, serrated trigger, a lanyard ring, is marked “Made in USA” on the right side of the frame and “S&W D.A. 45” on the left side of the barrel and fires the 45 ACP using the famous half moon clips. According to a friend who visited S&W plant in early 90s and make contact with their historians, the Brazilian revolvers were assembled with newly made parts with commercial finishing standards – and also help S&W finances that were in bad shape at that time. The Brazilian "Modelo 1937" revolvers fall in the 181983-207989 serial number range were delivered in two separated batches: a first and bigger batch shipped in early 1938 (serial numbers 181983-207043) and a second, small batch shipped in 1946 (207196-207989). However it seems that are some "fliers" that stood out of both batches.

In 1944, when the Brazilian Expeditionary Force went to Italy (under the 5th US Army) to fight in WWII, most of its troops were fit after its arriving in Naples (mostly Colt M1911A1 pistols, Springfield M1903 rifles, M3A1 submachine guns and M1 carbines). However, a few hundred of revolvers “Modelo 1937” went with some officers that preferred this kind of weapon instead of the semi-auto pistol (at least one Brazilian general is known to have carried one of these in Italy) and with the Brazilian Military Police staff.

After the war the “Modelo 1937” revolvers stayed in service for three more decades, to be finally withdrawn from use in mid-1970s. My father, served in an anti-aircraft battery in 1965-1966 remembers to see a few cavalry troops armed with the S&W revolver. Unfortunately for Brazilian collectors, most of the survivors (and there were many) were sold to US Gun Surplus dealers in 1989-1990 and not many have remained down here.

Hope you enjoyed, remembering that it served my country during one World War and for three more decades after that. It is a loud statement of the fine quality of these guns. And, to remember the 25,000 Brazilian soldiers - and the 2,500 casualties suffered by our Armed Forces - the that also fought against the Nazis in Italy, I made some special photos to celebrate them.

Regards,

Douglas.

pictures I

pictures 2

pictures 3

pictures 4

Nice write-up, Doug!

I have two of these revolvers; one with the first issue blue and another in grey/green parkerized. I am not sure whether the guns were originally shipped parked, were parked in Brazil or parked by the importers returning them to the us in the 1980's.
Any insights?

Beautiful presentation, Douglas, thanks for sharing. Regards, Norm

Thanks to both of you for your kind comments.

Concerning the finish, all the S&W M1917 arrived in Brazil with a blued finish. Some revolvers had been refurbished here, but that's not the rule. Most that I've seen are still blued (in fact I only saw one that had a parked finish).

Alvin,

What kind of grips yours have? Plain or checkered (with S&W medaillon)?

Douglas.

Both my guns have plain wood grips, just like the original US M17 Revolvers.

Doug, I wish I have this one! It's beautiful revolver. Americans can do very well on things invented by Americans -- revolver and airplane are typical examples.

I had a 4" S&W M&P (Model 10) back some years ago. That one had checked wood grip. Last year, I saw a Royal Hong Kong Police surplus model 10 on the internet, but I was a little bit slow and missed that one.

Alvin,
I'm glad you like it. I now looking for a S&W Victory Model or a classic M&P. The latter were found down here easily until late 80's but now they simply disappeared...

Douglas

Very nice presentation Douglas! Thanks

Makes me love my "Brazilian" even more!

Doug, since you like revolver -- have some experience with C78 Zig-Zag?

I have heard of some unit-marked, but never a short version.

Thanks again for all the compliments!
The number on the backstrap is an inventory numbers made by the Brazilian Army after the guns had arrived here. There is no relation with the serial number.

On the other hand, I never saw an unit marked M1917 here. By the way, the Brazilian army never had such tradition regarding their handguns.

Douglas.

An recent English book named "World War II Extraordinary Facts and Stories" (published by Armchair Reader) has an interesting section on Brazlilian Expeditionary Force.

"Brazil's failure to commit troops during the First World War let to a joke: One was more likely see a snake smoke than to see Brazilian fighting in Europe."

During the Second World War, the FEB fighted in Africa and Italy. The FEB took 20,573 prisoners during its service in Italy, and veterans were always proud that they had shown their enemy respect in defeat. There are many photos of smiling German prisoners smoking cigarettes with their pleased Brazilian captors.

The story regarding the origin of the phrase about a smoking snake is controversial. Due to the Brazilian dictatorship's unwillingness to get more deeply involved in the Allied war effort, by 1942 a popular saying was that "it's more likely for snakes to start to smoke now than for the BEF to set out." ("Mais fácil uma cobra fumar do que a FEB embarcar"). Until the BEF entered combat, the expression "a cobra vai fumar" ("snakes will smoke") was often used in Brazil in a context similar to "when pigs fly." As a result, the soldiers of the BEF called themselves Cobras Fumantes (literally, Smoking Snakes), hence the divisional shoulder patch that showed a snake smoking a pipe. After the war the meaning was reversed, signifying that something will definitively happen and in a furious and aggressive way.

This fighting spirit is clearly illustrated by an episode that ocurred near the end of war. During the capture of Montese, three Brazilian soldiers, Arlindo Lúcio da Silva, Geraldo Baeta da Cruz, and Geraldo Rodrigues de Souza, when on a patrol, ran into an entire German Company. Though ordered to surrender, the Brazilians refused and fought to the death. In recognition of their bravery, the Germans would bury them and write on their crosses "Drei brasilianische Helden" (Three Brazilian Heroes). It is also interesting to note that the Brazilian Army was not racial-segregated, which caused some amusement to the Americans from the 5th Army.

For those interested the learn more about the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, I highly recommend the essay "Brazil and World War II: The Forgotten Ally" by Frank D. McCann (New Hapshire University):

http://www.tau.ac.il/eial/VI_2/mccann.htm

Douglas

Here are a few pictures of troops from the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Army) and from the 1st Brazilian Fighter Group. The latter was attached to the 350th US Fighter Group and was commanded by Lt.Col. Nero Moura (1910-1994).

In the first picture (in the front of the row) and on the second, you can see Lt.Col. Nero Moura, who commanded the Brazilian 1st Fighter Squadron ("Senta a Púa"). Included here are two pictures, taken by me, of a Republic P47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber flown by the Brazilian pilots, currently preserved in a museum.

Douglas

The Brazilain Expeditionary Force won several bravery medals from US (remembering that it was attached to the 5th US Army). One Distinguished Service Cross, a. 30 Silver Stars and a. 180 Bronze Stars were awarded to Brazilian soldiers.

The 1st Fighter Group personnel received 17 Distinguished Flying Cross (US), 127 Air Medals and five Bronze Stars. In addition this unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (US).

Douglas

I know this is an old topic, but I prefer to concentrate as much information as possible in the same topic in order to make it easier for those researching our data. Besides that it is the same gun, but with an upgrade regarding its respective rig: I finally managed to get one example of each of two models that were issued to Brazilian troops right after the S&W Model 1917 revolver adoption.

At the time of the M1917 adoption by the Brazilian Army, in 1917, our field equipment had a strong influence of the British Mills field gear, using mostly canvas to built holsters, suspenders, belts and ammo pouches. So, when the revolvers were first issued to troops, a typical olive drab canvas holster came with the guns. The flap was closed by a press button with the capital letter EUB (“Estados Unidos do Brasil”, country’s official name from 1891 to 1967) and had two straps in the back to accept the belt (mine has lost of the straps though). These first holsters were extremely well built and able to endure several years of use and abuse.

Later holsters, probably made from 1945 on, were also built in canvas, but had a suspension system identical to the used by the US Armed Forces, to allow its wear in American-style belts, adopted here as a consequence of the Lend Lease Program after 1944. My impression is that such later holsters were not so sturdy, as my example seems to have shrunk. Another feature of the latter holsters is the different button on the flap, the same from the US rifle ammo belt.

The additional material seen in the pictures are the Brazilian Mauser bayonet (with canvas frog), an illustration of M1917 internal view from the Military Academy booklet and two military belts (the most faded one came with the holster and I believe it is from WWII, the other, darker, was wore by my father in 1965-66).

While common in the past, this kind of surplus material is becoming increasingly scarce and it took me two and half years to gather what you see here. But I did.

Hope you enjoy it.

few more pictures

Douglas,

Amazing information on what is, unfortunately, a largely forgotten contribution to WWII. I feel like I'm pretty knowledgeable on the subject of the Second World War and a lot of this is new to me.

Beautiful firearms as well. My first handgun was a rough 1937 with checkered grips that I foolishly sold to buy text books. Stumbled across a factory-refinished 1917 with the same 1930's grips that I snapped up quickly.

The Mexicans also flew P47s in the Pacific Theater in WW2, (Esquadron 201) and were similarly equipted by the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escuadr%C3%B3n_201

Douglas, was Brazil issued the S&W .38 Special "Victory Model" pistol as well? Perhaps the smaller holster is meant for this pistol, as canvas rarely shrinks.

Douglas, thanks for the great info on the Brazilian forces in WW2. I am very proud of my Brazilian marked luger and would love to find a S&W so marked. IT makes it more interesting to me as I traveled quite extensively in Brazil in the 1950's and flew in and out of there during that time. Bill Hughes

Thanks for the comments!

Alain, yes, this is a possibility. Brazilian Army bought some S&W M&P (caliber .38 SPL) but I still need to research more about them - mostly regarging the time frame, serial numbers and how many. There aren't many information about them readily availble, and it seems that not many were bought, as they are much more rarer than the M1917. They only display the Brazilian coat of arms, with no date, and I only see a couple, only in pictures.

Bill,

I can assure you that a Brazilian M1917 is mouch more easier to find than a Brazilian Luger. Go for it!

Douglas

Bill,

Thousands of Brazilian S&W 1917s were imported into the US in the 90s. I have seen both parkerized and original blued versions. An internet search on all the usual boards should turn one up.

Bill, I am definitely jealous that you have Brazilian Luger. Must be a beauty.

As far as the S&W's, you owe it to yourself to pick up a nice Brazilian 1917. Having had both, I still prefer the better sights on the Brazilian model. The original 1917's tiny rear notch is almost too small for my eyes and I'm only 33. May need to go find one myself after I finally score a nice Luger.