Remembering Brazil in WWII: S&W 1917

[Douglas Jr.]

Hello all,

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

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.

[Douglas Jr.]

pictures I

[Douglas Jr.]

pictures 2

[Douglas Jr.]

pictures 3

[Douglas Jr.]

pictures 4

[alanint]

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?

[Norme]

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

[Douglas Jr.]

Originally Posted by alanint

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?

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.

[alanint]

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

[alvin]

Originally Posted by Douglas Jr.

Alvin,

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

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.

[Douglas Jr.]

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

[Heinz]

Very nice presentation Douglas! Thanks

[jonnyc]

Makes me love my "Brazilian" even more!

[alvin]

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

[jonnyc]

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

[Douglas Jr.]

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.

[alvin]

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.

[Douglas Jr.]

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

[Douglas Jr.]

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).

[Douglas Jr.]

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