I came across this pre 17 K22 at a local gun store. They're asking $550 for it mechanically it seems fine but cosmetically looks like in pretty rough shape but would you pay for it?

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That one is rough... I wouldn’t make an offer at all but half of asking price would be pushing it...

To me no more than maybe $450. But then, I bought a 95% for $600 about 2 years ago. This is a shooter only, definitely not a collector piece.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Save your money. This is not a rare revolver, another in better shape will come along.

If it is mechanically good, a shooter is worth $450 to me, and I have shooters. A collector isn't going to want to go anywhere near that one.

I would think $400-450 would be about max on that one.

Yeah I would give $400.00 but I have a bunch of them.
Mark

Regardless of price, this is a $300 disappointment after you get the 'shooter' refinished as possible. Just my experience but you may visually be more tolerant.

EDIT: You buy that revolver at what ever price / deal you can make. Then you spend the 300 Disappointment Dollar$ on a refinish /reblue job because you are disappointed because of the poor condition. Save all this grief and buy a pre-17 / M17 in better condition. I went down this road with a M19. The ugly was in the pictures, but I didn't know what I was seeing in the pictures. Also bought a refinished M27-2 with 5" barrel and Patridge front sight. From 5 feet you can't see the buffed pits, but it was cheap, locked up tight, had a decent trigger. Accurate with wadcutters and 2.7 grains of powder or gaschecked 158 swc and a stout load of AA #9. I was satisfied with my shooter M27.

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S&WHF 366

You guys ,heck a little fitz and it'll buff right out lol. Seriously that would make a decent beat around gun you wouldn't have to worry about scratching it ect offer 300 maybe 350 it's worth that or would be to me if I wanted it if I really really liked it I might go 4 hundred if I really really wanted and could use it but I am notorious for paying too much for guns I like so there it is .

Too much money, keep looking.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I paid $350 for one like that several years ago and I just shoot it and don't worry about the finish.

$350-400 for that one.

I flat out wouldn't buy it for more than a couple of hundred-too many other ones out there.

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Forum consigliere

It’s just not a gun that I want.
A pass for me.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

If the cylinder isn’t pitted, I’d probably be in at 300, maybe 350 max. I have time and a good supply of cold blue. Assuming, of course, that it’s mechanicaly sound.

Never, never, buy a gun you have to make excuses for. In my book, that is a junker and I would pass, to be sure, at any price. Sorry to be so harsh. Big Larry

I wouldn't waste my money on something like that. There are too many fairly nice examples of that model, in that price range, to choose from. Spend a little more time looking you will find just the right one and then say to yourself.....thank goodness I didn't buy that one I was looking at.

Don’t hunt with a gun that embarrasses the dog.

The "beauty" of Model 17's and Pre 17's is that there just accurate as all get out. That would make a great addition to a belt of a Trapper to be used for gathering meat and or pelts. Nope, definately not a safe queen but a down in the treaches working gun that I would MAYBE go some $275 or so on. Thats perfect for when you dont want to be carring a early LERK model or high end .22 in the field. Kyle

I would pass even at $300.
In the $500 ~ $600 range you should be able to find one in much nicer condition. (In my neck of the woods, anyway.)

Wouldn’t consider buying it. I have nothing against used and well-cared for guns but this one has the signs of being stored wet (holster?) and left there. Who knows what examining the internals might find?

If you are determined to own it and can live with its appearance, however, inspect it thoroughly and offer $300 if it checks out. Good luck in your decision.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It's hard to walk away from stuff like that. Believe me I know because no matter how bad it looks someone will buy it.

A few months ago I walked way from a 65-5 that looked like it had been tied to a tailpipe and dragged down a gravel road. I had pipe dreams of refinishing it, replacing the side plate and bringing it back to its former beauty. The store would not come off the price though so I walked away. Sure enough it didn't last 2 weeks in the case and some poor sucker bought it. The more I think about it the happier I am, there was just no saving it without some major dollars.

Bought a 5 screw off one of the auction sights last year, about 90%, for $450. Included was an after market cherry presentation box. They’re out there, I’d keep looking.

I purchased a 17-4 for $250 about 7 years ago,,, the little bluing loss bugged me EVERY time I took it out,,



One day, my neighbor offered me $650,, I did not bat an eye,, it was gone,,
I really wanted another 617,, so that is what I got,, just about for even money,,,



Other than the Model 18,, I am DONE with blued rimfires for shooting,,,

Let the suckers have them.It's not a competition,and neither should one be compelled to deny one to someone else. I also get the impression that some guys will pay just as much for a rough gun as a nice one,as they're bored and want a project to occupy their time....I'm not one of them.

The cylinder has the worst of the bluing damage. A bit on the bbl around the markings but not bad there.
Of course the rest of the gun we cannot see...
But with that showing and the rest of it looks actually quite nice from the pic,,I'd probably throw an offer of $300 in. Maybe take it at $350 if they came back with that.
I don't really need another one, but damaged & orphan guns interest me as projects which I have too many of already

Either reblue the cylinder to bring the gun back up in condition,,or maybe refinish the bbl and cyl in nickel for your own Pinto,,,
Or perhaps use the gun as a full custom project. The finish doesn't matter in that case so why pay for it.
The grips would go in a custom project so they would re=claim at least some $$ from the original buy. They look like pretty nice diamond magnas.
Projects can be expensive if you can't do any of the work yourself and have to farm it all out to gunsmiths and mechanics.

If I was just wanting a M17 and an earlier one to own and shoot,,at the asking price I'd pass given the outside condition. Seems high for a somewhat common pistol with that much damaged blue.

I wouldn't buy that at all, for any price. The $550 price tag is disgusting.

$550 is ridiculous, and I would ignore the price tag in any conversation with the seller. It would make a great first pistol for a kid, or just a shooter for yourself. I would pick it up at $300, maybe $350 if it was really in supreme mechanical condition.

Obviously you have gotten a lot of different answers, which reminds us that value is subjective.

A $12 bottle of rust blue and some 400 grit paper would fix the cylinder if its not pitted. If the bore and chambers are bright and it checks out mechanically, start the bidding at $300. Its worth that much as a shooter. I picked up one a couple of years back for much, much, less than the asking price for that one. It happened to be a k-cheq conversion to 22 Hornet that somebody had put a ton of money into. It was a brown gun but mechanically 100%. Then again I love project guns.

3 years ago I found a 1930 Outdoorsman , worn bluing , nice patina , mechanically sound - with gold "Call" front sight , for $546.

About 1 1/2 yr ago I found a 17 dash something , 8 3/8" bbl , finish 95%+ (conservative estimate) ., mechanically excellent , for $750.

That $550 price tag is an insult , the kind of thing that makes me inclined to leave the gun shop.

First of all I would like to thank everybody for their opinions and comments and points of view, you all have been very helpful. Second I called the gun shop yesterday talk to the owner son and he said if it's still in the case after 30 days then he might look at reducing the price but right now$550 is the price.

It'll be there.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I’m a sucker for guns like that, but the list price is crazy.

I think I would put three one hundred dollar bills on the counter and see what happens.

It looks a little better rightside up.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Anyone know what would make the bluing of the cylinder fail in such a blotchy fashion?

The 550 price tag would offend me to the point I would likely not make any offer at all. If I really wanted that gun, I’d be tempted to make an equally offensive offer of $45, just to see what the shopkeeper said. Or maybe ask him in a totally serious tone while pointing at the gun “hey, is that a colt python?”

I've seen nicer K22s/17s sell for $250 in private sales pretty recently. Perfect, no, but nicer than that one!

I have been known to argue with pawn shops or LGSs that sell on consignment. "No sane person would pay that price. You're fishing for an idiot" has left my lips more than a couple times. At least they know where I stand

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Psalm 27:2

$250.00 tops

my first pre-17 was like that, maybe a little worse. mechanically fine and shoots great. i paid $440 with shipping and FFL fee's and thought i paid a bit too much but didn't care. what the heck is 50 or 75 bucks anyway? let it sit a month or so and offer 450 OTD.

People have been saying for years that any K frame in good mechanical condition without rust is worth $350. Being a pre model number gun, that is a $400 revolver. Latest Catalog lists fair condition as $500. I realize that some of y'all will not pay that. Does not mean it is not worth it.

Looks like somebody's tackle box gun. A saltwater fisherman.

But if it's sound mechanically and has a clean bore and chambers, and if I had any money (insert rueful laugh here), I'd offer $250 and work not too far up.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Same here. I wouldn't give it a second look unless they were asking a C note or less.

I'd like to find a K-22 for some of the prices you fellows are talking about.

Around here, $400 will barely get you a Taurus, much less a Smith & Wesson anything. Police turn in 64's are tagged at $450.

I think that price is high, but I don't think it's as far out as all that.

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John 3:16 .

An 'apology' gun. "Yea, yea... BUT, it only cost..." Here, the price seems ridiculous. Yet my perspective, as in not to own such a gun unless some documented category of rarity; not demonstrated here. Better to pay the toll for a gun package including 'pride of ownership' rather than apology!
Just my take

Depends what you want it for. If you want a nice gun that you don't have to make any apology for, spend the same money and get a better one. M17/K22s are out there. OTOH, if you want/need a working gun to drag through the brush, sweat on, get muddy, and then let the rain wash the mud off as you walk home, offer them $200 for that one and just walk out with a snicker if they won't take it.

Some years ago I bought a police trade-in Model 15 in about that same shape for $125. It's my working gun on the farm, and the one I grab when I go out the door. I have NO apology for the way it looks. I also have pre-M15 I bought recently for $265 that is in MUCH better shape both mechanically and cosmetically. It's not a safe queen, but it gets treated nicer than the other one.

Ugly guns have their uses, and nice ones do as well. All depends on what you want, but don't pay nice-gun money for a beater.