This is a S&W Model 17-6. I took some photos this afternoon for another forum and wanted to post here as well. It has a nice deep blue. I understand that the 4" barrel, particularly without the full underlug, is uncommon for the 17-6. I have the original box and tools. The grips are not original. Did these come with combat grips? Anyone know?

By 1985 the Model 18-4 was the end of the old tapered barrel Model 18 line .
1987 (ish) New Model 17-5 HB offered in 4", 6" and 8 3/8" with wide rib (non underlug) barrel and new yoke retention system.

By mid 1989 Model 17-6 appears with same non underlug wide rib barrel.

1990 Model 17-6 with new full underlug barrel appears.

The 17-6 was a transition gun meaning that there were 2 different variations. As previously stated, the early guns were non full underlug with speedloader cutout grips or magnas. Yours are target football relief grips which probably came from the 70's, early 80's, incorrect for your gun. The later 17-6's came with full underlug and combat grips like this one.

Really nice revolver. I know the grips on mine are not original. Would like to find a set consistent with original. Love those combats.

Do you have a photo of these "speedloader cutout grips?" This Model 17-6 came with different grips that I assumed were also not the original. Might have been wrong. I could put them back on...if I can find them.

[EDIT] Here are the grips that came with the gun. I assume that these were not original. Will look for some speedloader grips.

Place a "Want to buy" ad here. I'm sure someone would get rid of a set or even trade you for the ones you have on there.

I had a 17-6, no underlug , that I bought off of GB. Thankfully the price was good at the time. It had THE absolute worst bluing I have ever seen on a later Smith revolver. SPLOTCHY would best describe the bluing. Almost had a camo pattern look to it.

Shot fine, so I kept it. Few years back I got my Niece into shooting and she shot it well. So I gave it to her.

Yours looks to have a far nicer finish than mine did.

I've seen the 4-inch, -6, heavy barrels (non lug), LNIB with either Magnas or Combats. More frequently with Magnas.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Do you know about the trigger stop on this gun?

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I know that it has a trigger stop and that these are somewhat adjustable. I also know that they were regularly removed from service revolvers due to concerns about locking up the trigger. In fact, I have removed a trigger stop from one of my Model 19s (Did that just for fun). I believe that it was a feature more useful, if at all, on target guns like this and really presents no problem. That’s all that I know, or think that I know.

Is there something else?
Ryan

I have a 4" Model 66-2 with a stop and have been told it is a somewhat rare feature, at least for that model. Oddly, my 686 National Match doesn't have one so I guess they stopped installing them before that gun was built (1989).

Ed

Nice one , I have the 6" version . It came with the relief cut targets like you have pictured on your gun , though the bluing seem brighter on yours than mine .

You got it.

I only mention it because occasionally new owners aren't aware there is a trigger over travel stop there.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I have had two 17-6's without the underlugs, a 4 inch and a 6 inch. They both came new with Magnas. All of the full lug 17-6's I have seen came with Combats.

I have several Smith revolvers, a couple that came with the back-of-the-trigger pivoting tab/screw over-travel stop. Without Loctite, that pivot screw can come loose, and cause trigger problems. I use Loctite, so that hasn't happened. I've had better luck...finer over-travel control...with inside-the-rebound-slide-spring pins for over-travel stop. I make my own out of 7/4ths drill rod. They are tedious to fit perfectly, trial and error...and .001 will make a difference. But, once fit to dead on "plus half a thousandth," are as reliable as gravity and dreamy in operation. I'm convinced they improve double-action pull, but I can't prove that. They make single-action pull ridiculously nice. No chance of them going out of whack and causing trigger failure.

Mine came like this...combats...I shoot my M18...this one too pretty for regular action...

I bought a 17-6, 4" barrel without the full underlug about a year ago. No box, but it had Magna stocks.
I got tired of waiting for a decent Model 18 to turn up.
The bluing on mine is very nice, sorry no pics, can't figure how to on this tablet.
Greg

So did ALL 17s, with full underlug come with combat grips? Mine does not have those. I don't know all the S&W jargon, so I'm not certain what magnas are. I'll post a pic of mine when I can.

The bore of a .22WMR firearm is .001" larger than that of a .22LR so "convertible" guns like the Ruger Single Six usually delivered inferior accuracy with 22LR ammo. Your Model 48 would be the same.

Ed

Magnas are what are also referred to as "service" stocks, the small wood stocks that are the same size as the grip frame. Police revolvers of the old days usually wore them.

Ed

Thanks Ed. So mine are not magnas either. Probably target.

Just ordered a set of nice Magnas to put this 17-6 back the way it (likely) was.

I sent my 25-5 back to S&W in the late 1980s for work which mandated a reblue. It was splotchy. Bugged me so much I traded the gun off. Unfortunately never did get another 25-5, and am leery of them because of the chamber mouth size issue.