Helped needed- 5 Screw Nickel Pre 17

[jsfricks]

In beautiful condition, I'm confident its not originally nickel. Left grip marked Refinished Nickel on 4.79. 5 digit serial. Beautiful case color in target hammer and trigger. Has star under barrel and on back of cylinder. What's it worth? They want $999 and this place doesn't haggle.

[VM]

If it looks good and mechanically good, it's a smokin deal.

[410bore]

$999 is a smoking deal for a refinished K22? I understand the allure of owning a tastefully refinished example since the factory didn't make many original examples but to me that price is at least $200 too high.

I'd think someone would be able to find a 95%ish K22 that required little to no polishing and have it nickeled by Fords, or the like, for a lot less than $1,000.00

[jsfricks]

Another bad photo.

[410bore]

is the front sight a red post? If so, that would make me pay a bit more than previously stated just because I love those sights.

[jsfricks]

It does have the red insert.

[murphydog]

Hard to value this one - factory re-nickel, later stocks, etc. I have the feeling it is somewhat overpriced but there aren't many similar guns that have sold to compare. Please let us know what you decide?

[jsfricks]

I didn't buy it, but it wouldn't take long to go back and get it. I just felt it was a little high. It didn't hit me as a " you better buy this now" type of deal. The grips appear to be Presentation stocks because the right grip is cut out where the football cut is at. But it displays the S&W stamp in that area well.

[Lee Barner]

Jeff, since it was made the same year I was you should buy and send it to me for a full inspection. I am backed up so it may take a year or more. lee

[VM]

Opinions are like belly buttons - everybody has one
We've had many Threads and many Forum Members that have discussed Nickel K22's in past and have "wanted one".
I have many friends on this Forum that would be tickled to own it.
I'll stand by my previous post. I think it's a smokin deal for a Factory Nickel refinish over blue.
I doubt if it will last long in the gunshop.

[Camster]

I think that the market would value a factory refinish more than a Ford's refinish.
To cite a recent sale,I find it curious how many guys(as in everyone but me) here would say that they would pay 11k for one that left the factory with nickel,and here we have one done at the same place,at roughly the same time,(though after it left the factory the first time),and the value is questioned at 1k.

[murphydog]

I do not wish to disagree completely with my distinguished Forum colleagues, but...

I understand it's a factory nickel K-22 Masterpiece that can't be duplicated since the factory won't refinish a pre-model stamped revolver. That aside, they will still do a high polish nickel finish on a model 17. I'm not saying it isn't a cool gun either, I just can't state for sure it's a $1K gun to me, and I can't remember seeing one sell so there are just no data for a value estimate. If a buyer really likes it, $1K may be reasonable.

[hardscrabble]

Okay...it's an $800 K22, and you'll get $800 when you eventually sell it. Where else you going to spend that $200 that will make you happier?

That's the argument I'm trying to make in re gard to that pretty transition you have up for sale.

[dacoontz]

Maybe I'm wrong but is the ampersand in the address a later version and wrong for this gun based on the serial number? If I am correct than the only possible explanation is that it had to be restamped, right? Wouldn't that tell us that the original finish was majorly buggered. And also, those side plate screws don't look right. Not worth it to me. Too many questions for that kind of money.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

My BIL has one just like the one you're looking at. He sent it back to Smith in the 70's and had it nickeled and RR/WO installed...........I have a nickel mdl. 18. We sent it back to the factory in the early 70's and had it nickeled. I added RR/WO. Target hammer and smooth ranger trigger. It originally came with smooth rosewood target stocks. It still wears "em"...............Original?.....No....But MIGHTY FINE!

[05CarbonDRZ]

Originally Posted by Camster

I think that the market would value a factory refinish more than a Ford's refinish.
To cite a recent sale,I find it curious how many guys(as in everyone but me) here would say that they would pay 11k for one that left the factory with nickel,and here we have one done at the same place,at roughly the same time,(though after it left the factory the first time),and the value is questioned at 1k.

Don't worry,No way in hell would I pay 11K for a Nickel Pre Model 17.If I am going to pay that much for a Gun it sure will not be a .22LR.

[1blindref]

The "what's it worth" questions always have interesting responses since in some cases it's a very subjective question, especially when it comes to modified or altered guns.
In the case of this gun, I think it's safe to say that $800 to $1,000 is a good approximate range of value. I'm sure some might be willing to pay a little more, and some might not pay close to $800 for it.

[k22fan]

Originally Posted by dacoontz

Maybe I'm wrong but is the ampersand in the address a later version and wrong for this gun based on the serial number? If I am correct than the only possible explanation is that it had to be restamped, right? Wouldn't that tell us that the original finish was majorly buggered. And also, those side plate screws don't look right. Not worth it to me. Too many questions for that kind of money.

For a while the repair shop was restamping all one line "Made in USA" revolvers with the four line address. It has been posted here many times that Roy Jinks visited the repair shop and got them to stop so that they would not devalue collector revolvers. I do not know how long they restamped all one line revolvers or what year they stopped. Restamping done during the period when it was done to all one line address revolvers does not indicate the condition of the revolver before refinishing.

It is a really neat revolver that I would enjoy owning but it is some one's project gun, not a collector revolver. Other than the refinish, it has replacement stocks, sights, hammer and trigger. Using conventional collector valuation this project should be worth considerably less than an original that is still in collector condition. After we build our project guns we are very lucky to recoup what we spent. The spike in S&W revolver prices combined with national internet exposure are the good luck this project's builder needed, if he's still around. The only answer to the question how much is it worth is how bad do you think you have to have it.

[S&WIowegan]

I would pay $999.00 for it in a heartbeat....after I personally examined it to be satisfied it's righteous.

The decision is really a personal one and only you can decide. What's your motivation here? Quick flip! Just like it for its looks? Can you afford it?

You be the judge.

[arjay]

That gun with a set of KB's Ropers

[RKmesa]

Modifications include:

1. As Daniel pointed out - it has had a new "Made in USA" roll mark applied. Based on the SN it would have been a four line mark originally, as it is too high a number (in almost all cases) to have left the factory as a single line "Made in USA" gun.

2. Also noted above - the Patridge front sight has been replaced with a red insert Baughman sight. It appears that the FS was still in the black and that is cool.

3. AS K22 Fan noted - The speed hammer and standard trigger have been replaced with a target hammer and target trigger.

4. Smooth presentation grips (like the kind used on commemorative models with both sides with the speed loader cut out).

5. And it is nickel plated.

With all of those factors, what we have here is a highly customized K-22. Some of the above factors, I like and some - not so much. With that said, it would have caught my eye and I would have thought kind of long and hard before walking out of the store without it. But most likely, I would have left the store without it. Do I think that it is worth a grand - probably, but not to me. I do on the other hand think that it is eye-catching and cool.

[Rabid Rooster]

Not to hijack the thread but, coincidentally, I ran into a nickel K22 in a shop today. Four digit matching S/N 2531. Didn't know to check under the stocks. Finish isn't near as nice as this one but it seemed mechanically sound. I assume nickeled K22s are uncommon, so for $799.00 this is probably an after market nickel job. Thoughts?

[wheelgun610]

Another thing no one else has mentioned is that there are two 'dings' on the back of the cylinder. Those are only caused by the firing pin striking the cylinder - as in a serious timing issue.

Here's the enlarged photo. The dings are roughly at the 1 o'clock and the 8 o'clock positions.


Whether or not that issue has been rectified should be a determining factor before deciding if the asking price is worth it.

Personally, nickeled guns don't attract my attention just because they're nickel plated. And as nice as that one looks, I don't see a nickel plated K-22 as a "gotta have it" gun....

Mark

[k22fan]

Originally Posted by Rabid Rooster

[...] I assume nickeled K22s are uncommon, so for $799.00 this is probably an after market nickel job. Thoughts?

IIRC, there are 15 Model 17 K-22s known to have originally left the factory nickel plated. We just had a thread on one that sold on Gun Broker for $11,005! We have had quite a few threads on K-22s that were refinished in nickel by S&W or other refinishers but I don't know of any other K-22s that were originally nickel plated.

Absent a large ejector rod knob or other unusual early features IMO $799 would have been the value of the K-22 you looked at if it still had its original blueing in excellent condition. I think refinished collector guns are worth less.

[wheelgun610]

Originally Posted by ben_g1

Those are pins the ejector star sits on.

I was referring to the dings on the cylinder face. Those are clearly indentations caused by contact from the firing pin....

Mark

[ben_g1]

Ok, I see what your referring to now. thanks

[kthom]

I think we all pretty much agree this is not a true collector revolver. And we all differ on what we would pay for any of them. My take is this: If it really makes your heart thump, and if it's in good mechanical condition, and you think it's just a flat out beauty (and so do a good many of the rest of us!) then it's definitely worth it to you. It's your money you are spending, not ours, and these days, there ain't many guns you can buy that have class and character like that one does. It's got a lot of things going for it, and it will appeal to a good many folks just because it is what it really is. I don't really think you stand a chance of losing much if any money on it. I wouldn't suggest you buy it to expect to make much money on it any time soon, but as has been suggested, if you just like it, like to look at it and shoot it and take good care of it, that's worth a lot of money in my book. So even if you decide to sell it someday, what's the value of your pleasure and pride of ownership? Probably a lot more than most who think the price is a bit high.

I've recently bought a few older model S&Ws that cost me more than three times what I gave for ones just like them about 50 years ago. But I don't regret a cent of their cost, and I expect that as they continue to appreciate, I won't lose any actual money I've spent since I probably won't be getting rid of them this time around. So if you've got the money to spend, and the thing makes you smile just to look at it, it will be money well spent in my book. It's all up to you, Sir!!