I'd like to hear some of your opinions of the model 17 with 4" heavy barrel. How does it compare with the 6" model 17 and the 4" 617? Thanks!

the 4" model 17 is the same gun but with a barrel that is 2" shorter than the 6" 17.
The early 617 is a stainless steel K frame with a full underlug barrel .
Later models have an IL and MIM parts....
All fire the .22lr round

I don't have a 4" 17 but do have a 6" which I like. I also have an 18 which has a 4". Both shoot well.

[QUOTE=Engine49guy;135837812]the 4" model 17 is the same gun but with a barrel that is 2" shorter than the 6" 17.

Not entirely true.Yes,there is a full lug 4 inch Model 17, which is the same as a full lug six incher,minus two inches.I have one.
There is also a heavy barrel 4 inch Model 17,which is essentially a Model 18 with a heavier barrel.
I love any version of a four inch K frame .22.

I have the 4" 6" was just a little too long for me. I like it a lot it balances well in your hand and is fun to shoot. You can also purchase a 6" S&W barrel and have a smith put it on for you so you can have both models.

Pardon my ignorance, but wouldn't a 4" barrel Model 17 really be a Model 18? I thought the Model 18 was the .22 Combat Masterpiece, sort of like the Model 14/15 situation, just in rimfire.

Again, I'm sorry if this is a dumb question.

I used to own a model 17 4" HB, it had a barrel profile like a model 10 HB 4".
It was marked model 17, and like a fool sold it.
I liked my model 17 with the 6" barrel better.

About a year ago I jumped on one on GA for like 475 or so,only to be told 2 days later ,that even though it was still on there,it had been sold the day before I bought it. I alway figured they didnt know what it was and someone bought it out from under me. STILL looking for 1,neat gun. REB

You're officially pardoned.

The tapered barreled 18s were discontinued about 1985 and replaced with 4" 17s that had untapered 4" barrels with wide ribs the same as the 6 & 8 3/8 inchers of the same time period. The latter are the subject of this thread.

Gil

Thanks for the clarification!