Did S&W make a stainless steel version of the model 18, and if so what was it's model number? I am sure I saw a 4 in. stainless K frame in .22 unless S&W made the 18 in nickel.

Are you thinking of the Model 63?

Isn't the 63 a J frame?

I believe th first stainless K-frame .22 was the 617. I do own a nickel 18 that was refinished by the factory back in the 70's.

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S&W Accumulator

Model 63 is a J frame. The closest may be a 4 inch model 617?

There are a very small number of heavy (non-lug) 4 and 6" model 617s.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I think the 617 comes in a 4 in. but what I saw had no under lug. I pretty sure what I saw was a K frame it was in a case with model 17s and a 18.

How rare are these and is there a premium on them? Asking price was $625.

Rare.....and a lot more than 625.

Maybe I need to look into this a little further. HMMMMM!

Either a non-lugged 4" 617, or perhaps a hard-chromed model 18.

The 4" 617 in question has a heavy barrel, a model 18 of any finish has a tapered barrel. If it is a 617 $625 is probably the deal of the century.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The defining feature of model 18’s is their 4 inch 1950s style tapered barrel with an ejector rod shroud. No home should be without one! I don’t know if the recently made “Classic" model 18s were made in nickel. I’ve not heard of any model 18 that was originally made in nickel but that doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist, just that it is very unlikely RalphK22’s local store has one that was made before the model 18’s 1985 discontinuation. It is infinitesimally less likely his store has an original stainless “model 18”. On page185 in the description of model 18s the SCSW reports that 17 were manufactured and stamped model 65 and that all but one were destroyed. I’ve been keeping an eye out for the one remaining example since I first read that. Don’t try holding your breath until I find it. In the unlikely event RalphK22 has found it, I would be delighted to swap him my car for it tonight!

Did it look like this? I've been offered much more that $625 for this one!

Never seen an 18 or pre 18 CM with an ejector rod shroud and I have both.

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S&W Accumulator

Good correction. I also have both. I was grasping for a quick way to describe the tapered barrel style and thought of how I'd previously described Mountain Guns as "1950 style", then typed away with visions of Mountain Guns on my mind. Oops!