Thoughts on S&W Mdl.17

[Jacks Grampa]

Arthritis is not going to allow me to shoot my 586 or 29 much longer but I don't want to give up shooting revolvers. I'm looking at older mdl.17's because that safety lock on the new ones just bugs me. Thanks group, James

 

[doclu60]

I don't have a M-17, but I do have a K22. Same gun, different designation. I love mine. Even though it's pretty old and a little rough, it's a ton of fun to shoot! Still very accurate, very easy on the wrist/hand, and very easy on the wallet to shoot a lot. If you're a S&W fan, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one or the other.
JME.......Scott

 

[Dub]

they are fantastic. If you can find an older one or a K22, go for it

 

[sw282]

We Smith&Wesson shooters call it the '' HILLARY HOLE''. l simply ignore it. lf it still bugs you find a plug that fits the hole. Be advised tho. Removal of the lnternal Lock from a Smith&Wesson revolver ''V O I D S'' your factory S&W warrenty. ln addition, S&W will NOT work on a revolver that has had the lock removed, regardless who is paying

 

[hpshooter]

Still shooting one that my wife gave me in 1972. Quite counting the rounds fire with it in the 90's, it is in the range bag about 99% of the time we go to the range and gets "exercised".

Have no idea about the serviceability of new production ones, ours are all from the 70's.

 

[flatlander]

Dad always carried a K-22 Masterpiece in his pickup when I was a kid. He finally decided to put a Bushnell handgun scope on it after his eyesight prevented him from being able to focus on the front sight. I've still got it in his safe. I decided that I needed one for myself years ago, but bought a stainless 617 10-shot version instead, and have been very pleased with how accurate it is. I forget about that stupid lock until someone mentions it online - it doesn't bother me a bit. I carry mine in a soft case in my pickup, and it always goes with me on the tractor, sprayer, or combine while I'm working in the field.

A few years ago, while I was shooting a hi-power match at a club in central Ks, the weather turned really foul - started sleeting with high winds. We called the match, put all our gear & the targets away, and headed into town to the Pancake House to eat an early lunch and get warmed up. One of the guys there knew I'd been looking for a K-22, and had brought one that he'd bought online along with him. We made a deal for it after getting our fill of pancakes, bacon, and hot coffee, and it came home with me. It's in very nice shape, with an excellent finish - the only thing I didn't really care for was that a previous owner had swapped-out the original magna grips for a set of larger S&W target grips - which are very nice, and in really good condition. I just wanted a revolver just like Dad's old one. When I got the new-to-me K-22 home, I pulled the target grips so I could find the s/n, then looked up the date of manufacture based on the s/n - what a great surprise - it was made in 1951, the year I was born, and the same year Dad's old K-22 was made. I've since gotten used to the target grips, and will probably never get around to looking very hard for a set of the smaller original magna stocks that this nice handgun came with...

edited to correct the nomenclature of the grips

 

[243Lapua]

I haven't shot mine in a couple of years, but when I bought my Model 17 I installed a set of tuned springs from Wilson Combat. Totally made wonders to trigger pull and weight. Very nice shooter.

 

[sw282]

Dad always carried a K-22 Masterpiece in his pickup when I was a kid. He finally decided to put a Bushnell handgun scope on it after his eyesight prevented him from being able to focus on the front sight. I've still got it in his safe. I decided that I needed one for myself years ago, but bought a stainless 617 10-shot version instead, and have been very pleased with how accurate it is. I forget about that stupid lock until someone mentions it online - it doesn't bother me a bit. I carry mine in a soft case in my pickup, and it always goes with me on the tractor, sprayer, or combine while I'm working in the field.

A few years ago, while I was shooting a hi-power match at a club in central Ks, the weather turned really foul - started sleeting with high winds. We called the match, put all our gear & the targets away, and headed into town to the Pancake House to eat an early lunch and get warmed up. One of the guys there knew I'd been looking for a K-22, and had brought one that he'd bought online along with him. We made a deal for it after getting our fill of pancakes, bacon, and hot coffee, and it came home with me. It's in very nice shape, with an excellent finish - the only thing I didn't really care for was that a previous owner had swapped-out the original grips for a set of S&W Magna grips - which are very nice, and in really good condition. I just wanted a revolver just like Dad's old one. When I got the new-to-me K-22 home, I pulled the Magna grips so I could find the s/n, then looked up the date of manufacture based on the s/n - what a great surprise - it was made in 1951, the year I was born, and the same year Dad's old K-22 was made. I've since gotten used to the Magna grips, and will probably never get around to looking very hard for a set of the smaller originals that this nice handgun came with...

Those are full Target ''football'' grips. l may have an extra pair of the smaller 'magnas' you are looking `for. ''Football''comes from the scalloped area resembling one near the cylinder release to help in using a speed loader

 

[mongo chicago]

Love the older guns also. Just be aware that after it passes a certain age (20 or 25 years - I forget). S&W won't repair them anymore. Had an old model 48 that needed a firing pin. I contacted S&W and they refuses to work on it. Had a devil of a time trying to get a "gunsmith" to do the job.

 

[Lesloan]

Those are full Target ''football'' grips. l may have an extra pair of the smaller 'magnas' you are looking `for. ''Football''comes from the scalloped area resembling one near the cylinder release to help in using a speed loader

They are indeed target grips, not magna. I've never heard them called "football" grips before, so I learned something today!

 

[DGP4]

It's one of my favorite pistols to shoot. A friend and I usually compete at shooting tennis balls at 50 yards. He has a new S&W Model 617. I can usually outshoot him with my K22 Masterpiece.

 

[sw282]

Very nice DG. K22/Model 17 four screw with 'undercover' magnas. Called ''Undercovers'' because the butt edge is rounded to keep the revolver from snagging clothes a detective or policeman when worn under a suit jacket
ps. Smith&Wesson hates the word grips. The company says they are STOCKS

 

[DGP4]

Thanks for that information sw282! I was not aware that their were different (undercover) magnas! I remember that when I bought the revolver years ago the serial number on the grips did not match the gun. Every other K frame S&W I have has larger grips because I have large hands. This is the only one that feels good with the smaller magna grips. My N frames both have the "coke" target grips.

 

[Hoser]

Wonderful pistols.

 

[sw282]

''COKES'' DG?? Your pockets are truly deeeeppp

 

[DGP4]

OK, so I had no idea what coke grips were when I bought these guns. One is an Outdoorsman from the 20s and one is a pre 27 from the 50s. It so happens they both had those grips on them so I guess I go lucky.

 

[K22]

I have three Model 17's, 6"-barrel, target hammer and target trigger. It was nicknamed the "K22" because of the "K" frame and being a rimfire. They are the same guns.

I could go on for hours about this absolutely perfect revolver. I've been shooting it since the late 60's. I hunted with it, I shot NRA Precision (bullseye) competition for 30 years with it (qualified Distinguished Expert), I shot small bore Hunter's Pistol Silhouette (qualified AAA) and won the Hi Revolver national United States Revolver Championship in 1987.

I'm still shooting them today. Am I bullish of the K22, well just take a look at my handle on this forum.

PS: I requested that when I pass to the big hay field in the sky that I be laid out with my old one strap to my hip. That should get a rise out of my in laws who are anti-gun, anti-hunting. 

 

[snert]

K22

If you get buried with it, no offense, I am coming with a shovel!!!!

They are indeed GREAT revolvers and sadly, WAY too expensive for me.

 

[Jacks Grampa]

Got one. 17-3 proof marked in Ulm West Germany in 1970.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Got one. 17-3 proof marked in Ulm West Germany in 1970.

Why was it proofed in germany?