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Joined: Jan 2012
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
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Got an itch for a nice 22 revolver. I prefer blued and walnut, but not absolutely. I'd love to get a Freedom Arms or original Colt Diamondback, but can't see spending $2,500+ on a plinking gun. I'm not a fan of the Ruger Single Six convertibles, as I don't like the bore "compromise" made to accommodate both cartridges. The S&W Custom Shop still offers the Model 17 Masterpiece for $1,100 or so....might be an option. Any thoughts? Decisions.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
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Good used gun may be an option. I like my '60's vintage Kit gun. Don't know what they go for, but may be something to think about. DF
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
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Nice! I saw a Colt Trooper 4" that looked pretty cool as well.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
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I’d lean more for good used than new.
DF
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,433 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,433 Likes: 10 |
Nice! I saw a Colt Trooper 4" that looked pretty cool as well. Keep your eye on gunbroker for those. Most Troopers for sale there are the Mk III models which are nice revolvers but IMO too big and heavy for a .22, plus their prices tend to go way up. But occasionally, right now in fact, they'll have some original Troopers from the 60's and before. Those are really well made and lately have been a very good deal. If you search for them ignore those two overpriced at $2,000, those have been there unloved for a few months now. 1954 Trooper .22This one pictured went for $505 just before Christmas
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14 |
I've read the older, pre-Convertable Single Sixes have a tighter bore. They are really accurate. I picked up this early Flat Gate that fits that bill. The OEM grips had cracked and I replaced them with ebony, installed Ruger Medallions, sent them to Errol Case in MO for carving/checkering. DF
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14 |
Nice! I saw a Colt Trooper 4" that looked pretty cool as well. Keep your eye on gunbroker for those. Most Troopers for sale there are the Mk III models which are nice revolvers but IMO too big and heavy for a .22, plus their prices tend to go way up. But occasionally, right now in fact, they'll have some original Troopers from the 60's and before. Those are really well made and lately have been a very good deal. If you search for them ignore those two overpriced at $2,000, those have been there unloved for a few months now. 1954 Trooper .22This one pictured went for $505 just before ChristmasNice. Sometime you can find a pre-War Colt. I picked up this one for $400 a few years ago. Sometimes it's easier to deal with a vendor when the show is over and they're packing up their stuff. That's what happened in this case. I like it better with Python grips, but do have the OEM's. The late'30's action is amazingly smooth and it's very accurate. I think it may edge my K-22. Yeah, it's a full sized gun. DF
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,433 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,433 Likes: 10 |
Absolutely - I forgot about those. The older Officer's Model Target and Officer's Model Match are great revolvers, actions are just so smooth and "snick-snick".
The Police Positives in .22 are dainty little things along the lines of a Smith J-frame. Just found five on gunbroker with prices from under $500 to under $700. They're getting a bit long in the tooth but as long as the crown is good they should still be good shooters.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
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Thanks folks....lots to think about.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7 |
I'll second the pre-war Colt Officer's Model Targets. I just bought one in .22 off of GB, to round out the triumvirate with the .32 and .38 pre-war OM's I have. Prices are admittedly high compared to lesser revolvers but nice shooters can be had for well under a grand. (I paid slightly under $1K all up for mine, but it has tons of condition plus a Colt factory letter outlining its birth and first owner.) In my opinion Colts of that era have the edge on Smiths, and popular opinion among aficionados and experts back then bear that out but that paradigm changed after the War. Don't get me wrong, my post-war S&W K-target revolvers are damn fine revolvers too and I would have to be hard pressed to surrender them, but at the end of the day if I had to pick one over the other it would be a pre-war Colt OM.
Fast forward to the 50's-60's into the early 70's both Colt and Smith medium frame .22 revolvers are precision piece of goods, and I love 'em too, but there's just that certain "something" about those pre-war hand fitted Colt revolvers. Just me, I'm probably making too big of a deal about it! (And don't get me started about Woodsman's too!)
Next size down, the Smith Kit Guns and Colt Police Positives alongside Ruger and Colt single actions were fine weapons too and mighty handy for carrying. I guess it boils down to what the final usage will be.
Guns that commanded $300 all day long 20 years ago are all $1K guns now. Inflation's a bitch. If you want lifetime quality you gotta be prepared to spend that kind of money, unless you get lucky.
We were blessed a couple generations ago to have the factories bending over backwards to sell us damned high quality .22 revolvers. Not so much now. Look to the past for the best, IMO.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
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DF [/quote] Those ebony grips are to die for! Envious here! That OM .22 illustrates exactly what I was flapping my gums about above!
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,810
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,810 |
Thanks folks....lots to think about. Stay away from the new production S&W 17 offered by the company, it’s a shadow of the older ones.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,364
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Good used gun may be an option. I like my '60's vintage Kit gun. Don't know what they go for, but may be something to think about. DF This ^^^. Or a Model 17 or 18.
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Joined: Feb 2013
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
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You can’t go wrong with a S&W model 17 or a 617! Maybe a 22 mag. S&W model 48 or a 648! Of coarse we’re speaking of the pre locks.
Good luck with your search.
“Alive in JESUS!” NRA LIFE MEMBER
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Smith 617
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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There are a number of 60s-‘70s S&W 17-2 to 17-4 on the market right now. I’d sooner have one of these than any of the newer guns. I’ve got a 17-2 that I’ve had for 45 years and will have it for a long time more. I never wanted for another .22 revolver.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,256 Likes: 4 |
S&W Model 18 if you want a 4" barrel.
S&W Model 17 if you want a 6" barrel.
EDIT: I have a S&W Model 617 6" 6-shot that is my least favorite handgun, I don't like the full lug barrel, seems too muzzle heavy. Bought it in 2001, probably hasn't left the house in over 20 years.
Last edited by 260Remguy; 01/20/24. Reason: Added S&W 617 comment
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,249 Likes: 14 |
Good used gun may be an option. I like my '60's vintage Kit gun. Don't know what they go for, but may be something to think about. DF This ^^^. Or a Model 17 or 18. The 34-1 J frame is a smaller, handier gun vs. the larger K frame. Mine has the target style grip, which I like better than the smaller version. I have a pair of 8 3/8" Target K frames., a K-22 and a K-38. The Target version has the wide target hammer and trigger. I was checking on line and saw on Gunsinternational, 34-1's listed for $1,100 to $1,300 in mint or near mint condition, one unfired in its factory box was listed for $1,750. Who'd a thought. Although Colts values have gone thru the roof, 5 screw Smiths aren't too far behind. Even 4 screw gun in good condition are appreciating. DF
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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Yes, everything has gotten crazy.
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