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original post:



I am a newer collector, as such I need
Some advice.

I just made a very good trade into a
17-3 in the box with papers and tools.

Here is downside.

In its lifetime it was stolen, found and returned
to its rightful owner, while the thief had it,
It was crudely cut down from 6 in to somewhere
around 4ish. It has no front sight and looks
Like a monkey with a hack saw and file
Went at it. Otherwise it’s pretty darn clean. Well it’s dirty






What can I do to save/ res erect it?

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Oh, I traded for two boxes of 9mm
Brass cased blazer.

You could have a good gunsmith fix the muzzle and install a front sight.

You might find a replacement barrel.

This isn’t work for a neophyte.

Very sad. I can't see if the muzzle had a new crown applied, but I doubt it. You might be able to find a competent revolver smith to perform that function and then it might be an okay shooter. It would be a "custom" .22 Combat Masterpiece.

Just FYI, the serial number points to 1975 for production.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

1. Have it re-barreled.
2. Crown the muzzle, dovetail & add new front sight then reblue to make a shooter.

As badly as it was mistreated, I'd say you did okay on the trade, especially if you can address the barrel problem.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I'd just re-barrel it. Fixing it up with the barrel on it is just going to yield an obviously altered gun. With a re-barrel and nobody would know.

For sure, I’m not going to try it!

Welcome. I agree with the others, have a good, competent gunsmith re-barrel it.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

Thanks fellas,

Honestly, I got it for a companion
Piece to my 10-5 6 in and will probably
Seek out a 6 in bbl for it.

Although, I don’t mind the idea of a
Buffalo nickel front sight.

I know there really isn’t a quick fix.

I’m leaning to put it back the way it was
If I can get the bbl and work for the price
Less than a shooter 17.

I have a pre model 15 k38 in 95% with a
companion Pre model 18 k22 in 90%
and a pre model 40 centennial Lemon squeezer for collecting.
I buy them and shoot them, not wrench on them lol.

Wild guess to cost on re bbl to 6 in??

And thank you all

I'm voting with glenwolde. You may have to look for a while. Model 17 barrels are not easy to find. Your best bet may be everygunpart.com but they only sell kits with a group of parts from the same model. I have bought a kit to get the barrel before and sold the rest on ebay.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

Check on the auction sites and ebay. You are bound to find a barrel in due time. I have an M17 and it is fun to shoot.

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Kevin in Oregon

You can find a barrel for it. Keep an eye on Ebay and gun broker. There is one on Ebay right now, but they want $150 for it.
I might even have one in my parts pile will check tomorrow.

Thank you, please let me know.

Thanks for the links and the pm
With links.

150-200 seems like the going rate.
I do get it, a shop couldn’t put bbl
out with all of what’s machined etc.
Anywhere near that.

I did find a evidence gun/ cut frame
Nickled 6 in parts set. Pinto?
I kid.

I’ve decided to put it to as close as stock
as I can reasonably do. The search begins.

Price out what a gunsmith will charge to cut the original barrel back past the taper at the muzzle, crown, install a front sight, and reblue to match.

Then price out what a new barrel is going to cost plus what a gunsmith is going to charge to install it properly.

Might be a big difference in cost, assuming someone doesn't have a barrel in their parts pile they can give ya.

I'd be tempted to leave the original barrel on it assuming I couldn't get a replacement very cheaply.........and assuming the gunsmith didn't beat me up too badly tidying up the original barrel.

It looks to be a handy length as-is. The person that stole it sure thought so anyway.

(At least he didn't cut into either side barrel marking.)

Dale

With any luck one of those barrels may screw right on and be somewhat close without a lot of fitting needed by the gunsmith.

I never get that lucky though. If I was looking to purchase I would wonder why they were removed?

Maybe you can have the seller send you a good quality pic of the barrel condition of each?

bmc, are they yours? (I see the seller is from Texas too.)

I’d consider having Cylinder & Slide address the front end of this one to make a shooter, then look for a better 6” for show.

For the price, you did very well.
I say replace it with another 6". Even if you clean that one up and fix the sight, it'll always be an obviously altered gun which will hurt its value.
Besides, you said you already have a K-22 Combat Masterpiece.

Welcome to the FORUM from Michigan! Most of the people here know their stuff. You may wish to get the rest of the gun checked over before you proceed. Best bet is that elusive 6" barrel. Proper installation should provide you a good shooter.
I have a 17-2. Shoots like a dream! Good luck with your project! Bob

Is it too old of a gun to have S&W re-bbl it.

What do they charge to do a bbl replacement.

I'd personally work with the bbl that's on it now if the forcing cone & bore are OK.
No refitting necessary as will most likely be necessary with a replacement.
Cut it to 4" and you need a front site ramp & blade.

Not much wrong with a shooter Combat Masterpiece. I suspect there's a better resale market for one than a K22.

..and actually,,if resale value is what drives you or holds you back on a project that you are having to farm out & pay market price for all the work , it's better to sell what you have now before investing anything.
Take a profit and buy what you want that's ready to go.

JMO

Let's see, 2 boxes of 9mm... so about $600?

I'm a story teller, so I guess I lean towards cleaning up the original barrel and telling it's tale.

As other's have stated it will never be "as-delivered original" ever again.

Most likely I'm in the minority on this one, but I am what I am.

Lol! No, I’ve had the ammo since the
Salad days. $11.00 a box.

If you purchased the 9mm ammo before the current run, then you did very well. If you purchased it last week, then......

It's not like you have any money in it, so getting it re-barreled will still have you way ahead.

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Only a cold warrior

I’ve located a 6in bbl
In really close to the same condition overall as the frame.
It’s going to cost $200 shipped. Off a 17-3.
plus a guy here has a 6 in for $100 (need to request a few pics)

Looks like I can re bbl for between
$175 ish to $275 ish. Local gun smith
says $75.00 to do a swap, or $245.00
to “fix” the original bbl.

If It didn’t come with the box and stuff, I think
I would have went “custom”. However
for what I have in it, I don’t think it’s
cost prohibitive to Replace the bbl.


I’ve had more than a few pm’s wanting
to buy the frame and box. “Since it’s basically junk”
IT IS NOT FOR SALE, I came here for advise,
Not to sell.

I'd cut it back another 1/4' - 1/2", re-crown it, braze on a front site and hit it with some cold blue.

Cheap, and make a most excellent shooter.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I have a 65 in which the barrel was cut down. Actually posted about it yesterday. My advice would be to re-barrel. I find the cost to make the barrel correct is prohibitive. When I purchased the gun I was aware of the cut down barrel but was just glad to own a 65 three inch. It is a great shooter. But now that I have two other three inch 65's, this one bugs the heck out of me. It is not just the actual cost of polishing off the uncentered lettering, the whole gun would have to be polished to match. (and on top of that your gun would need to be re-blued.)

Just my $ .02 worth. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Do the right thing, convert it to 327 Federal Magnum!
Scott

I’d opt for a 6” barrel replacement. I would always shudder at the short barrel and mistreatment after it was stolen. A new barrel and a little TLC and it should look nice.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I wouldn't want to cheat you so I'll offer 4 boxes of 9mm & you can double your money! (just kidding). I'd add a sight & reblue but as a retired gunsmith would have nothing invested but time (& some 9mm ammo). If you have it re-barreled you'd have a very nice gun & less than 1/2 what a gun like that should cost.

Welcome to the forum! This would be a great project to learn on either way cutting the barrel back, and giving it the correct muzzle profle can be done by hand, also rebarreling can be done at home with a few basic tools. Yes both can be done faster with a machine shop, but if you are mechanically inclined, and don't mind a little work you could have a nice shooter. I can see from your second picture you are not afraid of a little hard work so good luck however you proceed.

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Randy

Welcome to the forum.
Well... I would keep the original shortened barrel. It is its «hi *story, a part of its life. I would just add a front sight. Just my opinion.

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French Pollywog

I’m always interested when a stolen firearm is returned to the rightful owner. Do you know how long the revolver was gone? Did the owner keep the box in the interim or was it taken as well?

Well you have enough suggestions to make your ears ring, so I won't add to them, all the possibilities have been covered.

I'll just add the considerations I would make to decide what to do:

1. You already have a proper 4" .22 in the Mod 18.

2. The 17-3 is much too late to have a barrel serial numbered to match the gun. So replacement is a less important issue.

3. You have plenty of 'margin' between what you paid and the value of the gun, not only as it is, but even after having some professional correction work done.

4. If you decide to replace the barrel, the cut barrel will still have some resale value to someone, to help defray your costs to fix it. (I always prefer to pick up a barrel in a length I want, even if needing work, rather than cut down a good barrel.)

5. Even if you pay top dollar for a good matching barrel vintage, say $150, and a typical $125 to have it professionally installed, you'll still have a gun worth much more than your outlay and original trade value; in the $700 to $900 price range w/box and tools, depending on your local market or the whims of on-line auctions.

6. Whatever you do with it, you can always upgrade it later if the opportunity arises. In the meantime if you get it functional you can enjoy shooting it until it becomes a family heirloom or circumstances change.

Enjoy!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have 2 6" tapered K frame 22 lr barrels in my barrel drawer. Will send you one for $80 which is about what I have in it. Has sight and lug parts. If you get it I would like the old barrel. I like to keep my parts drawers full of interesting stuff. Let me know Jim

I also have a heavy K 22barrel that someone cut about 1/4" off and replaced the front sight. It is flat across muzzle except for a cone shaped recess. I have always thought it would make a neat 5" barreled K22.