I was talking to a friend the other day about 22 Smiths and he went and got one he has. It was a K22 Masterpiece with an 8 /38 barrel! Never seen one before! It has wear on the barrel and cylinder blueing but is in great shape otherwise. Were long barrels a special order? I told him I would ask the old timers on the forum what It might be worth as he is in his early 80's. Best regards the toolman.
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Mod. 17-4 8 3/8 barrel
- Thread starter JMtoolman
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Don't see the long barrel 17s as often as the 6 inch but they are out there. As to value, probably about the same as a 6 inch in comparable condition. Depending on how much wear perhaps in the $600 range; more if stocks are original and with box/papers.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
silentflyer
Member
I love to take mine to the range, toss out a few golf balls and start knocking them around. A tack driver for sure, only problem is when I miss I can't blame the gun
8 3/8" barrels were a standard catalog length for over 25 years. There are less of them than six inchers but there are also less people who want them. In my area high retail for as new in box, meaning you can not tell if they've been fired, 6" Model 17s is $700 + tax. If there is a difference in value the long barrel is worth less. They sell slower. Your description of condition is not clear enough for me to guess at what your friend's revolver is worth but the image that comes to mind would not be worth $600.
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I'd like three of those NIB 17-4s (or earlier) for $700 each; please advise when they're ready to ship.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Nobody wrote that they'd prowl the stores until 17s are displayed, buy your gun for you and spend $50 shipping to you, only what 17s are routinely priced when they are displayed. The new owner of the closest store has a 6" 17-3 that is conservatively 95%+, no box, priced at $700. It's been on the shelf for months and he's strongly hinting please make an offer. He just put out a half dozen good .22 Autos and said to expect that many more this week so that $700 is going to get really soft, really soon. The last gun that I bought from the prior owner shortly before he sold the store was a 98%+ condition, no box, 8 3/3" 17-3 or -4. I forget which. I'll look and correct this later but it has a gas ring in the cylinder and a barrel pin. It was $500 out the door. I admit that was a bargain. The 6" 17-4 that I bought before it, as new and apparently unfired since leaving S&W, was $700 + tax at Cabela's ~ two years ago. I thought it was priced at top dollar but I valued its early carry up, tight lock up and trigger pulls. I justified buying it by taking it straight to the bullseye league and using it for the season.
When you snuggle in between dedicated S&W collectors who are showing off the best examples that exist you get numb to high prices that most stores could not realize.
I have an 8 3/8" Model 17-4 that I purchased new in the box in January of this year.
I value this higher than a 6" Model 17, the 8 3/8" version is much harder to find. They're also a blast to shoot! That's my opinion of course, you're welcome to your own.
I value this higher than a 6" Model 17, the 8 3/8" version is much harder to find. They're also a blast to shoot!
That's my opinion of course, you're welcome to your own. 
BoCash
Member
ABSOLUTELY!!!
I have a 17-4 with the 8 3/8" Barrel and it is one that goes to the range every trip. It is a blast to shoot especially at long distances. I bought mine about 6 months ago on GB for $700 all in and that was a bargain compared to what I had found in the previous couple of months when I started looking. 6" are a dime a dozen but a nice 8 3/8" is really hard to find. I don't think its because they made a lot less, I think its because once someone shoots it, it never leaves the nest. If you really want to be amazed, slap on a no drill scope mount and put on a scope or red dot and let it show you what its capable of doing at 50-75 yards with the right bullet. Its got me wanting a 22 mag with the long tube next.
Perhaps the reason some of you only see higher prices is because you won't make the effort to go to stores. I do not take trips only for that purpose. I only make short diversions from other things I have to do so I'm not burning a lot of gas to hit gun stores. If you only shop from your computer you are paying more than the value of the gun for that convenience. If the seller cannot recoup most of the fees the internet site they use charges and recoup their shipping cost then they may as well sell the gun to me face to face for less. Even if it is a break even for them selling to me skips the time it takes to package and ship the gun. Often that takes a drive to the post office and waiting in line.
Also I should add that as long as they are not full lug 8 3/8" is my favorite length for target revolver barrels.
Also I should add that as long as they are not full lug 8 3/8" is my favorite length for target revolver barrels.
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Nice Model 17. I think the end label is a reproduction.I have an 8 3/8" Model 17-4 that I purchased new in the box in January of this year.
I value this higher than a 6" Model 17, the 8 3/8" version is much harder to find. They're also a blast to shoot!
It may very well be that you're right. If it's faked, it's very well done. The label gives every appearance of being the same age as the box.
There is also the small matter of the fellow SWCA member who sold it to me, and told me he bought more or less two of everything back when they were being sold new and that this was the spare he put away at the time of purchase. Who knows?
I can only attest to the condition of the gun when purchased. and the fact that I immediately proceeded to shoot it and couldn't be happier.
If it wasn't snowing where I'm going, the 17-4 would be aboard.
With the Trijicon RMR.
I can shoot on skis.
We have a 2.5-8x Leupold and the MKIV and 17-4 will get some range time swapping.
K22 and Colt GM
My first South Florida purchases. '79
just noticed it's the GC ... that was soon after.
if i could have only one , it would be those three!!!
With the Trijicon RMR.
I can shoot on skis.
We have a 2.5-8x Leupold and the MKIV and 17-4 will get some range time swapping.
K22 and Colt GM
My first South Florida purchases. '79
just noticed it's the GC ... that was soon after.
if i could have only one , it would be those three!!!
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My 8.375" model 48 has been in my range bag for my last few trips to the club. IMHO the k-frame long tubes balance really well and the long site radius really helps my aging eyes.
<a href="https://s47.photobucket.com/user/fyimo/media/Copyof17-4LeftSide.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/fyimo/Copyof17-4LeftSide.jpg" border="0" alt="Model 17 left Side photo Copyof17-4LeftSide.jpg"/></a>
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stang289
Member
I have owned a model 17 with the 8 3/8 barrel for years and just recently found a model 14 with the same length barrel to pair up with it. These two are to much fun to shoot. My only complaint is the tight chambers on the 17 require some cleaning every now and again to keep the empties extracting smoothly.
Mod 17 Tight Chambers
I've had the same problem with my 17, I used some Flitz on a wooden shaft cue tip and ran it through each chamber with my drill. Works like a charm.
I've had the same problem with my 17, I used some Flitz on a wooden shaft cue tip and ran it through each chamber with my drill. Works like a charm.
stang289
Member
Thanks, I'm gonna try that.
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