I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I am looking at purchasing what is said by the seller to be a 17-2 S/N: K5619XX. The photos he has listed show a 6" barrel with a Baughman style ramp front sight. I can't find any referance to this configuration in the Standard Catalog, 3rd edition. Thinking it might be a Combat Masterpiece I checked that models specs. and can't find a 6" barrel listed for it. Can any of those members, much more knowledgeable than me, shed any light on this piece

I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I am looking at purchasing what is said by the seller to be a 17-2 S/N: K5619XX. The photos he has listed show a 6" barrel with a Baughman style ramp front sight. I can't find any referance to this configuration in the Standard Catalog, 3rd edition. Thinking it might be a Combat Masterpiece I checked that models specs. and can't find a 6" barrel listed for it. Can any of those members, much more knowledgeable than me, shed any light on this piece

Sounds correct to me, but then I'm not looking at your photos. Front sights can be replaced with varying degrees of difficulty, and some guns were special ordered from the factory with the buyers preference of sights.

The Combat Masterpiece is a 4" gun, the 6" version is the K22 Masterpiece, or Target Masterpiece, your choice. Don't get too tied up in the terminology. A 6" gun is the K22 we all know and love.

If you're buying it to shoot (one of the most legitimate reasons), it'll work just fine for you. If you're buying it as a collectible, they made so many of them that I wouldn't expect any real value appreciation over any other, similar condition gun.

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Dick Burg

Welcome to the forum.

It was pretty easy to find the gun (like on my first try). Be careful what you post. If it was a screaming deal, other people could find it like I did. I wouldn’t buy that gun based solely on the listing, even if the opening bid of $500 gets it. Here’s my reasoning:

- The pictures stink. You have no idea what that gun really looks like. If your serious, ask for better photos, including close-ups of the front sight. The gun seems to have a tapered narrow rib and long ramp base like the K-22 Combat Masterpieces. The retaining pins seem to be flush, which leads me to believe the barrel and front sight came together. I’ll include a link (below) to some detailed photos of a 17-2 that I have so you can compare a heavy barrel with that tapered one. It’s interesting, but I wouldn’t put a big premium on it, even if correct.

-$500 is too much for the gun only, without the original stocks or box. You’ll have to pay shipping, tax and transfer on top of that if you go thru a dealer. The original diamond Magna stocks make the Model 17-2 more desirable than a 17-3 to me and they’re gone forever. Non-matching correct stocks will set you back $50+ and you don’t know what the finish is like under the rubber.

The K-22’s are great shooting guns and they’re out there. Be patient, I thing you can do better for you money.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=8841068...681045423#5681045423

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"I also cook."

s&wchad,
The reservations you have spelled out about this K22 are all the same ones I have said to myself. Possible non-original front sight, rubber non-original stocks with unknown finish underneath, poor fuzzy photos, pricey etc. I am leaning on passing on this questionalbe opportunity. I appreciate the time you and others have or will spend to help me in my quest.