Mine is the latest from Cimarron. Yes, Chinese but rather nicely made. The finish is almost a phosphate type black and does not seem super durable. The action is as slick as gooseshit though. I have not got to try it either due to weather etc. but it functions perfectly with 5 dummy shells in magazine.. It did pinch my trigger finger against the hole in the lever the trigger comes thru but that is fixed. I really think I am going to love it and the price was good. Macon Due 29445
Barbarosa Don't worry about the smaller rim as it is a non issue. I got mine and it had feeding problems, no matter what OAL I loaded ammo to. Also the trigger pull was 20+ lbs. I corrected the trigger pull myself but sent the rifle back to Cimarron for repair. They had it about 3 months but when I got it back it 'seems; to function correctly now. Weather has been too crappy to get out on days I could have. I can say that dummy rds. loaded to 1.600" now function perfectly thru it. Macon Due 29445
Yeah, that's why I quoted him, so he might get an email, depending on his settings. Nobody responded to his other posts about needing some Lightning rifle parts, either. Oh well.
Just one note on actual S&W 1917 revolvers. Their barrels have rifling set up for FMJ bullets. Unless you use a very hard cast bullet, it will not play well with non-jacketed bullets.