Hello all!



Long time listener, first time caller.



BLUF: do I own a frankengun?


I bought a S&W Model 17-4 4" on GB to help train new shooters. Paid under $600 for it. Was plenty good enough for what I planned on using it for, even with a little wear. I needed a shooter, and she fit the bill. But upon closer inspection, even though the serial numbers matched, that barrel says "38 S&W Special Ctg" and my eyebrows went up.



Anyway, it's accurate as can be even if it's a swap/sleeved/gunsmith's project gun. I just maybe wanted to see if anyone had any input on this ol' girl.



Thanks in advance, and you all have a great one!


DOL

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A incorrect stamped 15-4 ???
It does happen

The rear sight appears to be a Millett - not factory.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Do you think this might've been some kind of project gun? Sounds like more than one swap might've happened on it...

Is the cylinder a 22 caliber? It could be a mis stamped barrel or is it really a 38 special? The end of the barrel seems a little odd, did someone bulge a bbl then sleeve a 38?

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Front sight and squeeze

Yep sorry I reached my limit for photos on that initial post but yes the cylinder is .22 caliber. Since the markings by the yoke indicated 17-4 I initially was like, "ah! good to go!" It sure seems like someone didn't want an 8" 17-4 so they took a 4" .38 barrel and sleeved it. That's *my* best guess...

It looks like nice work on a .38 to .22 LR conversion. The question of why someone did this instead of buying or trading into a model 18 is out there but the result looks good.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Very strange. Marked a 17 then a sleeved barrel from .38 down to .22 …. I guess as long as it shoots good.
And welcome to the Forum !!

The only practical way to get a frame with a rimfire firing pin is to start with a rimfire revolver...The sleeved .38 barrel and Millet rear sight are later changes......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Definitely a frame mounted firing pin, as in 22LR (M-17). Yes, it sure would have been a lot easier to buy a M-18.

I believe someone just sleeved a model 15 bbl and mounted it on a model 17 so they could have a 4” model 18-ish type instead of the 6” or 8-3/8” the 17 probably originally had. The bbl to frame is slightly different between the two models(where tapered model 15 bbl meets “17” frame) and would be a fairly easy mod. It may be a total caliber revision which includes sleeving the cylinder as well but probably unlikely. Sometimes in gun smithing, parts is parts.
Cheers to a cool mod either way, enjoy it!

Thank you!

Theory- a standard model 17 (6” or 8&3/8) sustained some sort of barrel damage, and for whatever reason, a gunsmith substituted a 38 barrel with a 22 rimfire sleeved insert. If it works and does what it needs to do accuracy wise, no problem. Definitely qualifies as a frankengun

Generally I have same theory EXCEPT a mod. 18 barrel as a part wasn't used. Maybe could not find one. Did have a much more plentiful used mod. 15 barrel and could sleeve to .22 LR. As the OP states, works fine.

I have seen this type of mod performed when a customer wanted a Model 19 or 66 barrel with the shrouded ejector rod fit to their K22.
It's a little more difficult on the Magnum barrel conversion because the barrel is shorter at the rear so the insert has to protrude further back to fill the void.
In your guns case would have been much easier to fit a model 18 barrel but if someone had the model 15 barrel and an old .22lr rifle barrel to turn down on a lather it just cost them time.

As mentioned the Model 17-4 frame is not tapered at the front like the Model 18 does because it was meant to mate to the wider barrel rib on the Model 17-4.

I would say you do. Obviously the 38 caliber Model 15 barrel got sleeved down to 22 caliber. You did not have to pay too much so that is one thing. But I think you paid near the market value for a real one.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

Dangit! Haha well, now I'm a member here so my NEXT S&W purchase will be WAY more informed! As for this one, well...what'd PT Barnum say? ��������‍♂️

Just an afterthought but while the model 15 and 18 barrel have the same profile the Model 18's front sight is shorter in height.
That model 15 sight has not been shortened leading me to suspect that's why it has the aftermarket rear sight.

While the 17-4 only came in 6" and 8 3/8" lengths if you wanted to have a factory 22 barrel you could always swap a 6" barrel back onto it, another neat option would be to swap a 4" 17-5 heavy barrel, saw one for sale here a few years back.
If it shoots good probably just enjoy it as is.

Here’s my factory original 4” 17-6 (edited) for comparison. It’s my understanding the 4” without underlug was only produced for about 6 months. If I’m wrong please correct my infor.

Edit: The barrel is a 1 piece unsleved.

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Is yours a 17-4? Mine is a 17-6 and was rumored to have only been made for 6 months.

According to the SCSW the new heavy barrel was introduced in 1986 during the last two years of 17-4 production and was available in 6", 8 3/8" but also in 4" so the Model 18 was discontinued,
(Btw the one pictured above is the first one I've ever seen).
In 1988 the 17-5 has a new yoke retention system and radius stud package with the new style heavy barrel in 4", 6" and 8 3/8".

Mrchic the SCSW says the dash 6 revision denotes the new heavy barrel but as evidenced by yours and two I own the early production 17-6 has same frame and barrel as the 17-5.
The full underlug 17-6 has the new barrel but the frame is also longer in the yoke cut area extending it lower to mate to the ejector rod shroud like the Model 53 and Combat Magnum

Thanks. I missed that when I was reading my SCSW about the 4” heavy barrels. I didn’t realize it went back to the 17-4.

You are correct, it’s a 17-6. My mistake. I had it confused with my 17-4 6”.

I’ll go back and edit it.

Thanks!
Don