I was in the Gun Library at Cabela's yesterday in Wichita Ks. And they had both a used S&W 17-3 and a S&W 18-3 both 22LR`s with 6 inch barrels in very good condition . And for the life of me I couldn't see any difference in them. And nobody at Cabela's could tell me the difference either. I don`t think I have ever seen a S&W 18-3 befor. Am I just out of touch, with what is going on. Thanks for in any info.
ken

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Model 18-3s had 4" tapered barrels with skinny barrel ribs. The front top corners of their frames were beveled to blend with the skinny barrel ribs. Since model 17-3s had heavier barrels with wider ribs the front corners of their top straps did not have that bevel. If the front of the top strap of Cabela's model 18-3 is beveled then it was rebarreled. If not then its model number was miss-stamped.

That's the quick answer. With S&W there is always the possibility of a custom ordered rarity.

I thought what made an 18 an 18 was the 4" barrel.

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So did I. I have seen the 17 in 6 inch and 8 3/8". The 18 should be 4" only.

Saw it about two weeks ago (18-3 6") and asked to see the box. Took about 20 minutes for the salesman to find the "box". Turned out that the "box" was a non S&W replacement with a 4" barrel wrapped in vapor paper inside.
The 6" barrel was a replacement.

Thanks for the info guys. But darn it I am just about positive that both the 17-3 & the 18-3 both had 6 1/2 inch barrels. That I looked at, at Cabelas a few days ago. But I am old now and my wife says I am deaf and blind as a bat now.
ken

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Here's a pic of the correct barrel lengths - two 17s and an 18 below them.

John

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