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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,030
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,030 |
JB in SC: Wowsers! If your value assessment of the S&W 617 six shot revolvers is correct I just halted my search for one! I did not know they were that rare - I saw a couple years ago but have had trouble finding one since. Thanks for the heads up. Darn. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,009
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,009 |
Bought my 4", six shot, 617 25 years ago for $345 out the door.
It has caused the extinction of skunks and near extinction of corn stealing raccoons on my deer lease.
It will not go anywhere until I'm gone.
"An open message for all Democrats; "Look you are nothing and your work is worthless. Anyone who chooses you is detestable." Isaiah 41:24 (HCSB)
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,808
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,808 |
JB in SC: Wowsers! If your value assessment of the S&W 617 six shot revolvers is correct I just halted my search for one! I did not know they were that rare - I saw a couple years ago but have had trouble finding one since. Thanks for the heads up. Darn. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
Don't get too excited, the ones without the full lug barrel are the versions that are bringing the high prices. As with all S&W rarities it didn't take long for them to escalate into the stratosphere. I saw two sell for over $7,000 last year, they were new in box with all the accessories. Sold by a fairly well known S&W collector that had a nice display of all 617 variations. The early 617 full lug barrels were the six shot versions, both 4" and 6". They are out there but they are still pretty pricey. I haven't seen a six shot sell for under $700 in years. They would be pre lock revolvers and usually command a premium. There are also six and ten shot variations of the full lug Model 17, some had aluminum cylinders (I can't recall if it was the ten or six shot versions). There were some that had stainless cylinders, about 50 I think. Keep in mind most of these were made in the late 80's to early 90's, so are pretty well known to collectors.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,030
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,030 |
JB in SC: Thanks again for this additional and very interesting information! I had no idea about this situation regarding the rarer 617's. Your insights are one reason I but up with all the drivel that occurs on this site! Thanks again - I have taken notes. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 573
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 573 |
I bought my K-22 in the early 60's, added the K-38 in the 80's. Many hand guns have came and went over the years but these two will never leave me.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 150
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 150 |
i did the gunblast article on the k22s. The 1.5-inch 50 yard standard applies to the old k .38s too and by ever indication, it is not exaggerated. My 617 came along just when they started with MIM lockwork. When I got mind, i noticed that the trigger and hammer looked different. All S&W would tell me was that it was an ' alternative way of making parts." I didn't learn more about MIM until later. I used that 617 to get up to speed shooting one-handed double action working for precision and put quite a few rounds through it doing that I also put a pretty good handgun scope on it for a while an confirmed that it would meet the 1.5-inch-50 yard standard with quite a few loads. It appears no more nor less accurate than my 1947 and 1990s K 22s and it is still in perfect time. Giving credit where credit is due even though the Metal Injected Molded parts remind me of the old plastic model airplane small parts from the 1950s.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,013
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,013 |
I bought a K22 Masterpiece in the early 80s . It was my prized possession. I have taken it out and shot a brick through it in an afternoon. Mine was super accurate. It isn't now and I don't know why. I have shot thousands of rounds with it. It is a great revolver and very easy to shoot well. Everybody needs one.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,216
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,216 |
I bought a K22 Masterpiece in the early 80s . It was my prized possession. I have taken it out and shot a brick through it in an afternoon. Mine was super accurate. It isn't now and I don't know why. I have shot thousands of rounds with it. It is a great revolver and very easy to shoot well. Everybody needs one. It might finally be time to clean it.....
Regards,
Tom
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,216
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,216 |
I bought my K-22 in the early 60's, added the K-38 in the 80's. Many hand guns have came and went over the years but these two will never leave me. I had one of each of these and like a fool sold them. I have replaced the K38 and am still looking for the K22. Of course, the replacements aren't as nice as the originals I had. Edit - Found one today online and ordered it. A really nice 17-3 with box.
Last edited by tominboise; 09/23/17.
Regards,
Tom
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,948
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,948 |
I have a model 17-6 In 4". Round butt, full lug, six round cylinder. Nowhere does model 18 appear on revolver or box..
Last edited by Malloy805; 09/23/17.
" He who refuses to do the arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense" John McCarthy
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,371
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,371 |
I bought an early Model 17 with the 6" barrel back in the early '70's and packed it around for a few years, but honestly I thought it was too heavy as a K frame and only being a .22. I traded it off for a Model 34 with the 4" barrel and a J frame and have been happy with that choice ever since. A .22 handgun is not a long range piece and while the 17 was accurate, anything that I could do with a pistol, I could do better with a rifle. The piece went in for Armaloy plating which made it look like a stainless Model 63, but mine was much smoother I thought than those early 63's that I looked at. Depends what you want to do with it, but that M34 has sure worked better for me.
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,368
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,368 |
I got my minty 5-screw K-22 at an estate auction, for $80. Not that long ago. I was the only one in the audience who wanted it. Sometimes even a blind hog finds an acorn! P.S. It shoots like a young rifle. I got one in 1995 that as made in 1955 for $250. I cannot find a thing wrong with it. It always shoots better than me. I have killed ground squirrels with it.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
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