Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Is This a Good Deal

Don't know much about Smith revolvers. This one looks like it has a matte finish and the new ones look like they have polished stainless.

https://bayoushooter.com/threads/s-w-617-10-shot-22-lr-650.219553/

That is max price for used one with lock and MIM parts. You can get new one for <$800 after rebate.
Brushed stainless is inferior to high polish in two ways: more oxidation prone because it is harder for to rust to start on smooth highly polished surface, blemishes can be polished off from high polish. The only advantage of brushed finish is that it does not reflect sunlight which can be an advantage when hunting game. Stainless will rust if neglected especially in humid climate like that found in deep South of USA.
Someone bought stainless S&W .45 ACP revolver from 1990s. It had rust on backstrap under factory wooden grips

Paul Barnard: I have two Smith & Wesson Model 617's and much prefer the longer 8 3/8" barrels and six shot models for field work/small game.
And of course I would personally pass on the versions with the "hillary hole".
I paid $740.00 for an estate consignment S&W Model 617-1 with the 8 3/8" barrel and that revolver was in unfired/as new condition (no box) last December.
I wish I was more up on the "hillary holed" revolvers by Smith & Wesson for you but that $650.00 price tag does not seem way off at all.
Best of luck if you decide to go for it and remember the "hillary holed" Smith & Wesson revolvers take LONGER to resell should that need arise even though they are lesser priced than similar "non-hillaryholed" models.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

That's not a bad deal, But I prefer the non Hillary hole models. Like a 17-3.

I wouldn't pay half that. Key lock is a deal breaker.

Exactly! Just find a nice pre-lock one, or better yet a pre-82 one.

Enlighten me on the lock if you will. Did it in any way impede the function of the gun or is it simply the notion of having a Hillary Hole that is devaluing those models?

The lock isn’t going to be a big deal Paul. Go over to the S&W forum and buy a “Plug” for it for a few bucks. If you’re not a complete idiot and you can safely operate a screwdriver you can delete the lock and plug the hole at your kitchen table in about 10 minutes. Maybe swap a spring kit in while you’re at it if you want or feel the need.

Go forth and slay pop cans and snakes to your hearts content.

I’ve worked on and or shot tons of S&W revolvers. The only issues I’ve ever encountered with the locks were them engaging under extreme recoil. 329PD and X frames. This is of course bad. But it is easily remedied as described above. I don’t like them but some guns have never been offered without them.

Both. People have reported the lock mechanism self-engaging under recoil, requiring the key to unlock it again.

Paul, IMHO, the 617 is one of the Hillary hole guns that will maintain its value. For many, it is a desirable piece. All this meaning, If you should decide to sell it you probably won't have any problem getting your money back

Sounds like I would need to lean on my neighbor a bit if I bought it.

I just checked the ad again. It's been sold.

You dodged a bullet, LOL.

Lol. Agreed.

Get a pre-lock.

It makes no difference to someone that intends to use item as it was intended. Second-hand should be 20% to 30% < new due to loss of lifetime warranty to the original owner. Not sure how S&W addresses issue if the original owner has not send in registration card. If the gun is no longer made and S&W honors warranty to secondary owner than price reduction can be less. Do not pay huge premiums for no internal lock guns because lock can be plugged for about $40 plus your installation time. The difference in price should be about $100 not hundreds of dollars as is often seen. Contrary to what some will tell you MIM parts like hammers, cylinder release buttons do not break.
The prices for older S&W revolvers have become so high that cost often exceeds price of new Colt DA/SA revolvers. I would leave those boxed S&W collectors who keep them in safes and take them out for pictures to be posted on the net. Don't pay extra $200 for cardboard boxes. Blue plastic S&W boxes with foam lining can be bought for <$20 (Midway USA).

You should STFU now

Brownell's makes a S&W revolver screwdriver and bit set.

PB the 617’s are nice for sure….

But if you are only going to have a few .22 revolvers (an assumption on my part) get an early 17 like dirts up there^ and you will never have an ounce of regret

There is no point buying antiquated 6-shot .22 revolver when more modern versions are available. The 617 was available with 10-shot steel cylinder and no internal lock from 1997 to 2001. MIM parts were introduced in 1998.

Do you know what a pain in the ass it is to clean 10 .22 caliber chambers?? You don't need ten uninterrupted shots from a .22.