17-6 4" ?

[Chukar60]

I have a 17-6, 4" full under lug that is 99%, factory box, SAT and paperwork.

I am seeking opinions on value and if anyone can tell me if this was a low production gun or if people are just prone to hanging on to them.

[Camster]

I think that they must be fairly low production,and I think that I will hold onto mine.Mine is actually a 17-7,which seems to be a bit more uncommon than the 17-6..

[DR505]

I recently bought this 17-6 from 1989 NIB (old stock at the LGS). I'm hanging on to it and my son will get it.

[frankcr]

Ours is like the OP's and will never be sold. It is very accurate and has the best balance of any revolver we have shot. The grips are very comfortable for both my wife's small hands and my large ones.

[onemanwolfpack]

I fell into this one a few years back ($575). I have never seen another 4" locally...a couple 6" but not the 4"...she's such a looker I keep her locked up in the tower. I take her evil step sister (M18 4") out to shoot.



Evil Step Sister

[murphydog]

As you see in the photos, the heavy and full underlug model 17s were made during the same time frame. As far as a value for a NIB 4" full lug 17-6, $1K or higher would be in line with current values.

[Sconnie]

I would love to have a 4 inch model 18 or a model 17. But I have a 4 inch model 617 so I am not that motivated much less wealthy. But your full lug version is a perfect blued match for my 617.

That being said, if you decided to sell your gun many sign up for Gunbroker so they can do a search of completed auctions. I did that quick for a 4 inch model 17. You do have to avoid the listings where the gun did not sell. But I only found two listings for 4 inch model 17's that sold.

Here is one for a 17-6 like DR505's that logged 38 bids and went for $1126. I would not pay that much but almost NIB sticks out for many with the collector bone. Oh, DR505 you LUCKY DOG! Not sure what you paid and it is none of my business but I can't imagine having a LGS that had such items for any price.

S&W Smith & Wesson 17 17-6 4 inch barrel : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

This next listing is for one like yours. And it is a big mistake by the seller in my opinion. But then again, he bought it new and just wanted to get his money back out of it. Almost NIB again. At $680 for this I suspect the buyer broke his mouse clicking so hard on the Buy it Now button.

Smith & Wesson Model 17 : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

But those are the only two listed. 4 inch model 17's don't come up often. There is another 17-5 4 inch that has been up for a long time with an opening bid of $800 and a Buy it Now for $850. No box but it does look nice but I have never seen anyone bid on it over the course of many listings. That may be an indication that he needs better photos and some close up shots of quality. Great pics often fetch better prices.

Gunbroker is not the do-all, end-all but many do use it these days to get a feel for what it might be worth. I have never seen a 4 inch model 17 at a gun show so far. And a lot of those folks use Gunbroker for their pricing which is frustrating. BUT, if I had a gun to sell I would want as much as I could get too so...

[DR505]

Originally Posted by Sconnie

Here is one for a 17-6 like DR505's that logged 38 bids and went for $1126. I would not pay that much but almost NIB sticks out for many with the collector bone. Oh, DR505 you LUCKY DOG! Not sure what you paid and it is none of my business but I can't imagine having a LGS that had such items for any price.

After taxes, etc, it came to just shy of $800 IIRC.

[Chukar60]

Sconnie, I saw both of those listings. That is about all I can find and cannot reach any conclusion from what I found on GB. DR505, that is one very very nice Smith!!

[glenncal1]

My 4" 17-6 is one of the best shooting k-22's I own, great trigger and accurate with a variety of ammo

[Sconnie]

Originally Posted by Chukar60

Sconnie, I saw both of those listings. That is about all I can find and cannot reach any conclusion from what I found on GB. DR505, that is one very very nice Smith!!

The one conclusion that I draw is, I would not put on a Buy it Now were I to be selling one on an auction site.

Can't say if the people on the hunt for a 4 inch model 17 would favor the no lug over the full lug. A lot of folks like their 4 inch model 617 and i could see your gun being just as popular. Maybe more.

Actually, the typical 4 inch new 617 goes for over $700 and up. The pre-locks go north of $1K from the looking I have done in the past.

Dug out my old list for sales when I was on the serious hunt for a model 18, 17 or 617. Started doing that about 8 or 10 months or so ago. Haven't added to it for quite a while. Really hard to draw any conclusions here also but maybe it will be of interest to you or others.

$577.77 Model 17-5 4 inch No lug. Wood grips. Very good. No box/papers. Actual ship.

$785.00 Model 17-5 4 inch No lug. Wood target and custom grips. VERY nice. 1bid. $30 ship. No box/papers. 18 bids

$850.00 Model 17-5 4 inch No lug. Wood grips. Very good. No box/papers. $25 ship. Buy it now used.

$905.00 Model 17-6 4 inch Full lug. Wood finger groove grips. VERY nice shape. No box/papers. $30 ship. 7 bids.

[civil1977]

The 4" and 8 3/8" 17-6s are less common and were made in lower numbers than the 6" guns. Supply and demand dictate pricing.

[CH4]

I stumbled upon mine at the local Scheels in the used gun case. I didn't really know what I had until I got it home and did a little research - but I did think that $699 was a fair price. I suppose if you're only going to have one Smith .22, this is a good one to have. I must say that until finding this example, I'd never seen a full lug 17; at first blush I thought it was a 586. 617s, especially 6 inchers seem to be much more numerous.

[JAREDSHS]

This is my wifes 17-5 made in 1988.