Ok thinking about adding a 22lr Revolver to the safe. Always like the K frame S&W.
A buddy had (if I remember correct) a K-22. Did this get replaced by the Model 17?

Which is better? Or basically the same except for one screw?

Is the 617 simply the M17 in stainless and made a 10rd?

Yes I know I could do a bunch of research but bet some of you have the info on the tip of your tongue.

You have it figured out pretty well, the M-17 IS the K-22 in 6" or 8 3/8"(rare-ish) and there was the M-18 with 4" barrel.

All of them are very nice revolvers.

Just in case you were unaware, Whittakerguns is running the M-17s on sale right now, I just noticed them on the website a few hours ago.

I had a 4" M-18 some years ago, and it was an amazing gun. The extremely tight chambers caused me some issues, though it helped with accuracy, but it was a PITN.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...l?soid=1126604814861&aid=iltJ6bayfoE



Here's the link I got in the email today.

617s have full lug barrels and some were made with 6-round cylinders. I've had a S&W 18 since 1983, like it, and shoot it regularly. I've had a 617 since 2001, never liked it, probably haven't shot it in a decade or more.

I have the 617 with pre-lock and six shot cylinder and have own more than a dozen 17 and a couple of 18's since the years since the 60's and I like the 617 much better than the early 22 K Models

Yep was the sale that is what got me to thinking.

had one of the early 617 SS 10 shot cylinder........

some reason sold it....great revolver...liked it better than

my K-22.....don't over look the model 63 Smith.....

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.

Heck I'll double your money

The K-22 has a partridge front sight as does the 17 and 617. The model 18 (Combat Masterpiece) has a Baugman ramp front site. Otherwise all are K frames.

Ramrod340: By "adding to the safe" do you mean "investing in for profit" or for buying and shooting and keeping around for a while?
The pistols you mention in 22 caliber are a bit hard to find these days - especially on the used market.
I have shot both Model 18's and Model 17's in caliber 22 L.R. in the past and they are dreamy.
I currently just own four of those (2 M-18 4 inchers and 2 M-17 8 3/8 inchers) they are all either mint condition or unfired new in the boxes.
They are (in my opinion) just to valuable to take out shooting these days.
I often wish I had kept a shooter quality pistol in either model.
I have been looking for a Model 617 in 6 shot configuration (preferably) and at a livable price for quite some time now.
If "I" understand things correctly the Model 18 S&W's were also called "22 Combat Masterpieces" - I could be wrong about this as well but I think the Model 17 S&W's were called K-22 Masterpieces
- anyway both the Model 17's and 18's are superb pistols.
And I am pretty sure the S&W Model 617 came in both 6 shot and 10 shot configurations at different times - 10 shot being the latter manufactured style
I think any of the 3 models you are considering would be a good investment if you are collecting or an excellent pistol to shoot if interested in that.
Good luck.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Sorry. It will be for shooting. Have nothing in the safe that doesn't go to the range.

did you sleep well that night ?

tik, the $80. K one of the benefits of living in Md.. Probably no one else wanted an evil handgun...??

I have one each of the K22 Combat Masterpiece (4" pre-18) and the K22 Target Masterpiece (6" pre-17). Both are shooters, the 4" gun is the best practice or training pistol I've had. I believe I've shot it more than all my other handguns combined. It was not too expensive when I bought it 9 years ago in a small gunshop. The longer barreled target model is in much better shape, expect for missing it's original grips, but I don't shoot it as much. I use Stingers with it for small game hunting and it's very easy to hit with. It is difficult for me to imagine a better all around revolver than the 4" K frame 22lr, I would probably be better off with a stainless 10 shot as a training pistol, assuming the double action was as enjoyable as the late 40's guns.

Whatever meager skill I have as a pistol shooter was developed mostly with the K22 Combat Masterpiece.

Just to add, deciding which K frame 22 you like best is a lot like going to the best steak house within 100 miles and deciding which steak to order off the menu. You may have your favorite, but you are going to love whichever one you end up with!

I have one of the later 10 shot 6" 617's. Wonderfully accurate and sweet shooter but like others, have not shot it much since the .22 ammo shortage. I'd consider selling it if your interested let me know. 10 shots at 25 yards, rested.

my newer 617 4" gets more use than my K-22. the K-22 is much, much prettier. both are pretty heavy compared to any modern contraption.

I have a new manufacture model 17 I bought a couple years ago. Shoots very well, and though spendy has no peers IMHO. Excepting older 17s

I'd love an 18 as well.

Centershot: How much would that lockable Model 617 be on sale for?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Centerfire I sent you a PM

I bought a pinned and recessed 6" model 17 in the early 80s. It was my favorite possession for several years.
I shot bricks of ammo through it in a single day sometimes.
I could hit things with it that were amazing shots and distances for a pistol. Now either it or me don't shoot as well as we used to.

Not going to give it away - plus ffl & shipping a handgun, probably not worth it. Face to face around $600. It's like new, w/ blue plastic box.

Are the SS 617s 6-inch in a six shot format anything rare?

Thats what I have.

I've only seen 10 shot versions.

Its my favorite handgun of all of them. My wifes too.

Centershot: Thanks you for the comeback.
I will dwell on that a while.
Thanks again.
Good luck if you do decide to sell it.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

i have several s&w 22 revolvers and i like the older model 18's the best. second best is the pre 17's from late 40's to mid 50's. if you are patient you can find them for 6-ish in nice shape. i wanted to like the 617's but never saw one that had the fit and finish of the old ones.

I have owned a K-22 for about as long as any gun I have. I kilt a jackrabbit near Mud lake Idaho in 1981 at 140 paces. And it was even the one I was aiming at. All the bluing has been rubbed off the ejector rod.

Sorry, but the newer ones don't do it for me.

I remember trading my 617 10 shot Smith.......

straight across for a 1983 Marlin 357 carbine....

still have the Marlin......

No, not rare.

I gave $500 for my 18-2

in love

I guess my point was that you will pay $350-$400 for most any quality 22 pistol or revolver so you might as well decide to pay a little more and look for a deal on one of these.

My favorite is the K22 Pre-17. And I have a 17-3 and a 18-2. Nothing like touching off a cylinder-full in the K22. It is the first one that I load in my pack when heading to the lease.

Not to derail a good thread, but what is the expected accuracy level of one of these? I read a LOT of everything gun-related I could get my hands on growing up, and I'm 50. A lot of it was old stuff from the library. From what I read, I was expecting that the K22/17 would put them all through one hole at 25 yards. It seemed to be THE uncontested, most accurate revolver going.

Somewhere between 10 and 15 years ago, I bought a 6", 10 shot, 617. I mounted a 3-9X Burris Posilock scope, took a sandbag rest, and spent multiple afternoon sessions at a private range. Out of maybe 15 different types of ammo, as best as I can remember (I left the results in the box when I sold the gun), my best groups were 1.25", and most were 1.5" at 25 yards. Admittedly, I didn't use any premium target ammo, just regular CCI, Remington, and WW stuff. I was expecting much better.

Bhemry: Sadly a page has somehow escaped my handloading log book binder - and that page is one I made for my Smith & Wesson Model 647 (six shot stainless revolver in 17 HMR with 8 3/8" barrel).
I can't imagine where it went.
Anyway I have a straight 10 power Burris pistol scope on it.
It is similar to your Model 617.
It shoots extremely well - with an outstanding single action trigger pull.
I have Hunted with it a lot and killed all manner of small game and Varmints with it - along with some Grouse.
If I recall correctly it made 6 shot groups at 50 yards just under 1.75" inches - this off of sandbags and at times with sandbags "holding" the pistol down/steady.
I think if I owned your Model 617 (and someday I hope to own one!) I would be somewhat satisfied with 1.25" six shot groups at 25 yards.
I always want my firearms to be more accurate but in the real world that does not always happen.
I will keep looking for my misplaced page to relay my exact results with my 17 HMR Smith & Wesson.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I suspect the sights are the limiting factor. I'm 48 and shot that target at 25 yards off a rest with the stock irons. I suspect I could do a lot better with a scope.

Gary, sounds like a really good deal there. My 17 likes CCI standard velocity.

Steve

Did a little online searching this morning and came across this article from Gunblast http://www.gunblast.com/Cumpston_K22s.htm where the author, Mike Cumpston said, "Post World War II, the factory promised that each K Series target revolver would group five rounds inside of 1.5” at 50 yards."

In looking at other forums, very few owners give much more info than, "It shoots better than me" and, "It's very accurate". Of the very few posters that did give some actual numbers, it seems like 1.5" at 50 yards is about right.

I had an early 10 shot 617. It would skip a cylinder or two firing double action. Single action it was a tack driver, but DA? Eight or nine out of ten.

Not necessarily, it's probably a no dash 617. But, there are 6 shot versions without the underlug, current asking prices are $3,000 and up. Around 150 made..there are also some 4" non lugged versions out there too.

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

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.....

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.

I have a model 17-6 In 4". Round butt, full lug, six round cylinder.
Nowhere does model 18 appear on revolver or box..

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.

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.