Custom 17 / 617

[MagnumForce44]

Anybody have any pics to share of customized 17s and 617s. Just picked up a 17-8 10 shot. Considering sending it to S&W to fit a stainless cylinder in place of the original aluminum cylinder. Should look something like this if completed. Before on left(mine) after on right. This one belongs to a fella on here who I have yet to speak with, goes by VAdoublegunner...
For the record I'm not thinking of doing this because of any reliability issues, gun works great. I just don't want to ruin the black anodized finish on the aluminum cylinder which was typical of these with use. I'd like to throw a stainless cyl. on and beat the hell out of that and set the original aside to preserve the look of the gun for the future.

 

[steamloco76]

I bought my 17-8 as new-used, put about 500 rounds through it and the hand ratchet on the bolt face was already wearing to the point the gun was out of time. S&W sent a Fed Ex label and replaced the cylinder with a stainless version. They did notreturn the original cylinder. The stainless cylinder is much easier to clean. The 17-8 has several thousand rounds on the stainless cylinder now and shows no wear.

 

[JimHartman]

I bought my 17-8 as new-used, put about 500 rounds through it and the hand ratchet on the bolt face was already wearing to the point the gun was out of time. S&W sent a Fed Ex label and replaced the cylinder with a stainless version. They did notreturn the original cylinder. The stainless cylinder is much easier to clean. The 17-8 has several thousand rounds on the stainless cylinder now and shows no wear.

Is that a 617 cylinder? Im surprised they didnt send a blued steel cylinder. Although that does look pretty cool like a pinto.

 

[MagnumForce44]

I bought my 17-8 as new-used, put about 500 rounds through it and the hand ratchet on the bolt face was already wearing to the point the gun was out of time. S&W sent a Fed Ex label and replaced the cylinder with a stainless version. They did notreturn the original cylinder. The stainless cylinder is much easier to clean. The 17-8 has several thousand rounds on the stainless cylinder now and shows no wear.


Thanks so much for the info Steamloco. Thats really good looking, just what I had in mind! How was your experience overall with the shipping and handling and customer service?
These pictures are AWESOME by the way

 

[MagnumForce44]

Is that a 617 cylinder? Im surprised they didnt send a blued steel cylinder. Although that does look pretty cool like a pinto.

Im fairly certain the flat blue/black anodized aluminum cylinders that were standard issue for these guns are completely obsolete. The other story I've read similar to this one, S&W replaced the fellas cylinder with a stainless cyl. from a 617.
Thats kinda why I want to do this before I encounter any trouble or start ruining the finish on this cyl. this gun was only made from 96-99 before they changed up and ditched this style. Though the stainless is obviously a better choice from a function point of view, I'd like to set the original cyl. aside to preserve the guns originality down the road. It may have been an experiment/flub but unique all the same...

 

[steamloco76]

S&W never made any blued steel 10 shot cylinders and the few extra aluminum ones that were properly heat treated were long gone by the time I sent my 17-8 for repair.

My gun was covered under warranty even though it was not a lifetime warranty gun! Eight eight days total from the time I received the Fed Ex label until the gun was back at my house.

If you are paying them to fit a new stainless 10-shot cylinder and want your original returned, I'd suspect it will cost about $250 plus shipping. I guarantee they will not return the OE aluminum cylinder if you request goodwill replacement because they really don't want any of the soft aluminum cylinders being fitted to another revolver. Paying for an upgrade, then they should return the old part.

 

[MagnumForce44]

S&W never made any blued steel 10 shot cylinders and the few extra aluminum ones that were properly heat treated were long gone by the time I sent my 17-8 for repair.

My gun was covered under warranty even though it was not a lifetime warranty gun! Eight eight days total from the time I received the Fed Ex label until the gun was back at my house.

If you are paying them to fit a new stainless 10-shot cylinder and want your original returned, I'd suspect it will cost about $250 plus shipping. I guarantee they will not return the OE aluminum cylinder if you request goodwill replacement because they really don't want any of the soft aluminum cylinders being fitted to another revolver. Paying for an upgrade, then they should return the old part.

Good Information. Thanks so much. Couldn't ask for a better reference for this situation.

 

[steamloco76]

Figured I'd better post a photo of the 17-8 as it is configured now, with a Bushnell 2X scope and a stainless thumb piece.

The Speed Bees loading block and loaders are way too much fun!

 

[MTAustin]

I sent my 17-8 back to S&W two years ago to have the original aluminum cylinder replaced. I've owned mine since new, and it was severely out of time from years of shooting. After discussing it on this forum, decided to give S&W a call. Customer service told me that they would have to fit a stainless 10-shot cylinder to it, as they didn't have any blued ones. The guy was very careful telling me that, because he had been chewed out before by 17-8 owners who wanted blued cylinders. Told him I didn't care; I just wanted my favorite .22 back. After about a week and a half (and no charge), the gun was back in my hands, shooting gophers just like we used to.

 

[MagnumForce44]

Figured I'd better post a photo of the 17-8 as it is configured now, with a Bushnell 2X scope and a stainless thumb piece.

The Speed Bees loading block and loaders are way too much fun!

HAHA I was going to ask if you had anymore pics of it but I didnt want to be a pain in the behind. That thing looks like a beast! My buddy at the LGS was trying to push a couple of those DS10s and a block my way....I went though 300 rounds the other day so fast without em it made my head spin. Im afraid of what will happen with em. I will single handedly be responsible for the ammo shortage on the east coast!
Thanks for the pics....I'll take anymore you want to share

 

[MagnumForce44]

I sent my 17-8 back to S&W two years ago to have the original aluminum cylinder replaced. I've owned mine since new, and it was severely out of time from years of shooting. After discussing it on this forum, decided to give S&W a call. Customer service told me that they would have to fit a stainless 10-shot cylinder to it, as they didn't have any blued ones. The guy was very careful telling me that, because he had been chewed out before by 17-8 owners who wanted blued cylinders. Told him I didn't care; I just wanted my favorite .22 back. After about a week and a half (and no charge), the gun was back in my hands, shooting gophers just like we used to.

Thanks for the info MT. You know the idea of having this replaced under warranty and free of charge is tempting...Problem is 1. I dont have a legit issue with the gun and 2. Im a sucker for historical value and I just want to do this so somewhere down the road I can reassemble the gun with its original cylinder and say "yep kids that there is a 17-8 with the aluminum cylinder...no turn line, no finish loss, and its still here on the gun. Probably never saw one in such good original condition right?"

 

[MagnumForce44]

The gun is expected to be in Massachusetts by 3PM tomorrow...wish me luck.

 

[Tom C]

My custom 617 is a 617-5 (6 shot) that started life as a 6" gun. I felt the muzzle was excessively heavy for my purposes and found a guy to cut it to 5". I wanted it to match my 627PC as a surrogate. It now weighs 43.6 oz with Hogue grips, within .6 oz. of my 627PC, has an identical trigger pull (very good indeed) and is indistinguishable from my 627PC. For me, I can do most of my practice with the .22 and then shoot a much smaller round count with the .357. It works very well for me.

 

[MagnumForce44]

My custom 617 is a 617-5 (6 shot) that started life as a 6" gun. I felt the muzzle was excessively heavy for my purposes and found a guy to cut it to 5". I wanted it to match my 627PC as a surrogate. It now weighs 43.6 oz with Hogue grips, within .6 oz. of my 627PC, has an identical trigger pull (very good indeed) and is indistinguishable from my 627PC. For me, I can do most of my practice with the .22 and then shoot a much smaller round count with the .357. It works very well for me.

Sounds neat, I'd love to see pics of both!

 

[oysterhead]

Are these factory grips? Very nice.

 

[MagnumForce44]

Are these factory grips? Very nice.

Those are Wooden "Hogue" brand grips. I believe in coco-bolo...but we'd have to check with ol steamloco76 on that last part. I've been eyeballin em myself.

 

[MagnumForce44]

Well according to UPS tracking it was delivered at 10:30 this morning!

 

[steamloco76]

Are these factory grips? Very nice.

Grips are Hogue checkered fancy coco-bolo with a maple spacer and walnut grip cap. They, along with the original ugly rubber, were included when I bought the 17-8 in unfired, but used, condition. The grips feel as good as they look too. My wife has commandeered the gun as HERS when we go to the range

 

[Tom C]

Sounds neat, I'd love to see pics of both!

Here it is, a 5" 617.

 

[andyo5]

Figured I'd better post a photo of the 17-8 as it is configured now, with a Bushnell 2X scope and a stainless thumb piece.

The Speed Bees loading block and loaders are way too much fun!

[/IMG]

Where did you get the Speed Bees loading block and loaders?