Model 17 with 8 3/8 barrel?

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If you ever owned an 8 3/8" S&W you would have found it to be ungainly, in any caliber. Typically the 8 3/8" guns are lower priced than shorter barrels because of this. The longest revolver I still own is a 7 1/2" .38 Officers Model Match that I bought because of the novelty of the 7 1/2" barrel

I have owned two 8 3/8" Model 27s, but specifically for developing loads as close to the original .357 Magnum as in the longest Registered Magnum barrels, the 8 3/4". As soon as I was done I sold the first one, but a few tears later bought a second one for the same purpose. It got sold too when I was done.
 
Alk8944 said:
If you ever owned an 8 3/8" S&W you would have found it to be ungainly, in any caliber. Typically the 8 3/8" guns are lower priced than shorter barrels because of this. The longest revolver I still own is a 7 1/2" .38 Officers Model Match that I bought because of the novelty of the 7 1/2" barrel

I have owned two 8 3/8" Model 27s, but specifically for developing loads as close to the original .357 Magnum as in the longest Registered Magnum barrels, the 8 3/4". As soon as I was done I sold the first one, but a few tears later bought a second one for the same purpose. It got sold too when I was done.
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Thanks, I guess the novelty would wear off, I like your quote "a few tears later" a Freudian slip perhaps? I know I've felt something like that when it comes to dearly departed S&W's ;)
 
I put about 25,000 rounds through an 8 3/8" Model 17-3. I bought it new but the crane got dished out from all the openings and closings and the barrel-cylinder gap disappeared. I sent it back to the factory to have them restore the gap and shorten the barrel to 6". They 'shortened' it by replacing the 8 3/8" with a new 6" barrel and returned the 8 3/8".
 
Mbrgr1 said:
The bible says they were offered in 1958, this one would date to 1960, 17 no dash.

Wondering how unusual this one is and what premium it would carry on top of normal value?

View attachment 895562
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I saw one on GB a year ago and bid on it - and I won. It turned out to be an uncommon 17-1 but was not advertised as such. It was not a big fight and bidding ended up at $870. I was very pleased. I can't imagine there are a lot of 17-1's with 8 3/8 .

I have not been able to find an 8 3/8 box for it stamped model 17, so I put together a custom interior using a factory mahogany box. I prefer the 8 3/8 since it's not very common.




SW 17-1 8 38.webp
 
Gun Relics said:
I saw one on GB a year ago and bid on it - and I won. It turned out to be an uncommon 17-1 but was not advertised as such. It was not a big fight and bidding ended up at $870. I was very pleased. I can't imagine there are a lot of 17-1's with 8 3/8 .

I have not been able to find an 8 3/8 box for it stamped model 17, so I put together a custom interior using a factory mahogany box. I prefer the 8 3/8 since it's not very common.




View attachment 895706
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I have a standard 17-1 and I believe you are correct. There are very few 8 3/8" 17-1's. Great pick up, and nice job on the custom case.
 
My K22 is circa 1948 and has a 6" barrel. I have often wondered if the longer barrel is inherently more accurate. I have a nickel 27-2 with the 8 3/8" barrel and don't find it ungainly at all. To me, it's just longer. A holster for said 27-2 is another matter altogether! :eek: :p
 
I have a 17 no dash 8 3/8. Made in 59 I bought it from a shop in a rubber made tube. Had to bit some parts to get it running. They dident make a lot of them in a no dash. I have only seen the one i bought in the wild.
 
I think the 8 3/8" barrel was conceived to meet the NRA max barrel length for Bullseye competition. The extended sight radius being a benefit for accuracy. Then I feel the ungainly handling cooled off the desires and the favoritism soon died out. When used with a front bag rest the long barrel can really shine in accuracy.
 
Grips like these really help in keeping the front of that long barrel on target (especially when the long barrel gets even heavier with the full lug)...

1784123968878.webp

1784124029822.webp

The only long barrel model 17 that I own is this well-used 17-4...

1784124108732.webp

1784124135541.webp

... and it is a tack driver.
 
This shape, for the strong hand side, is on my long barreled 17-4.
Keeps the hand high up and supports with the shelf.
Same shape for my 460/3.5".
The 8"+ 460, requires and can of Spinacia oleracea. 😜

FullSizeRender.webp

Same side after blue paint.

FullSizeRender.webp
 
Alk8944 said:
If you ever owned an 8 3/8" S&W you would have found it to be ungainly, in any caliber. Typically the 8 3/8" guns are lower priced than shorter barrels because of this. The longest revolver I still own is a 7 1/2" .38 Officers Model Match that I bought because of the novelty of the 7 1/2" barrel

I have owned two 8 3/8" Model 27s, but specifically for developing loads as close to the original .357 Magnum as in the longest Registered Magnum barrels, the 8 3/4". As soon as I was done I sold the first one, but a few tears later bought a second one for the same purpose. It got sold too when I was done.
Click to expand...

I personally really enjoy the 8 3/8" barrels, I don't find them bothersome at all and I am not a big guy. However, I don't carry them, but I do have a shoulder holster for the barrel length.

I am seriously considering buying a 17 with an 8 3/8" barrel to complement my 6" 17-3.

The 629-1 in my avatar picture has had thousands of rounds through it in the 25 years that I have owned it. While it's consecutive serial number 6" companion has hardly been shot at all. I bought them new in the boxes, they date from 1984.

I also bought a 29-2 with the 8 3/8" barrel and love it just as much as the 629-1. I have had it for a year now and I have already put 388 rounds through it. I have been keeping track of the round count on this one.

Fun, fun revolvers that I love to shoot and load for.
 
Alk8944 said:
If you ever owned an 8 3/8" S&W you would have found it to be ungainly, in any caliber. Typically the 8 3/8" guns are lower priced than shorter barrels because of this. The longest revolver I still own is a 7 1/2" .38 Officers Model Match that I bought because of the novelty of the 7 1/2" barrel

I have owned two 8 3/8" Model 27s, but specifically for developing loads as close to the original .357 Magnum as in the longest Registered Magnum barrels, the 8 3/4". As soon as I was done I sold the first one, but a few tears later bought a second one for the same purpose. It got sold too when I was done.
Click to expand...
I much prefer the 6” version
 
Someone mentioned the 8 3/8" barrel to be ungainly but I found the 6" full lug barrel to be way more muzzle heavy balance wise. I flipped that and kept the 8 3/8's 17.

Sorry can't help on rarity or value of the one shown.
 
45NUTT said:
My K22 is circa 1948 and has a 6" barrel. I have often wondered if the longer barrel is inherently more accurate. I have a nickel 27-2 with the 8 3/8" barrel and don't find it ungainly at all. To me, it's just longer. A holster for said 27-2 is another matter altogether! :eek: :p
Click to expand...
Well here is an answer that will knock you off your chair. Decades ago a Gun writer tested revolvers in a Ransom rest and he found that 2 inch revolvers outshot 8 inch revolvers because of less barrel vibration except when you put the revolver in the human hand. Longer sight radius, and a heavier gun enabled people to shoot better groups despite the fact that their revolver was actually "less" inherently accurate. Another real life example of Yin and Yang (well almost).

Addendum: Last summer I shot and compared a .41 6 inch Smith to a .41 8 3/8 inch Smith. The Shooting results at 25 yards showed zero difference in accuracy. No I cannot explain it because I usually shoot pistols and revolvers with longer barrels more accurately but not that time. I decided to keep them both just so both of them could drive me nuts.
 
I've shot a Mod 58 in 8 3/8 and I just love the .41 but that barrel is just too long. It makes a handy firearm into a one purpose freak. Not a rifle yet not really much of a pistol either. A Colt SAA in 7 1/2 is about as long as I can stand. It is just on the edge of being too long.
 
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