This is a variation I have not seen in person and I'm curious as to how many of these are out there. It came to me with full target hammer and trigger (serrated) but with PC magnas. I would think it came out of the factory with targets stocks, but only a letter would say for sure. To those of you that own a long barrel 17-3, did yours come with target stocks? I will get some pics after I clean it up. 3K prefix from ~1972.

I don't have a 8 3/8 17-3 but I do have a 8 3/8 14-3 and suspect the standard configuration of both would have been the same. It has target hammer and serrated trigger and non-diamond target stocks. It's a recent acquisition though so can't guarantee that those stocks were on it when it shipped.

As an aside, I have a 27-2 8 3/8 from roughly the same period and it, oddly enough, came with magnas. And I bought that one new.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I bought my 8 3/8" 17-3 new in the late 70s. It came with target hammer & trigger, but no target stocks. My 14-3 8 3/8" is the same way. The boxes are so marked.

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ken
SWCA #1959

I have had several M17s and M14s since early 60s and all had just Magna
grips. There has been some controversy over my first M17 that I got NIB
in 63 or 64. I got it on a trade deal with local gunsmith. In the box with the gun was a set of K Targets wrapped in paper with S&W logo. I always thought that’s the way it came from factory. Never thought much about it
until I got on form. At which time my gunsmith had passed, he probably wouldn’t have remembered the particulars anyway.

I have no idea about #10K8741, shipped 7-77. It has the 8 3/8" bbl. and 3 T's. Came to me 13 years ago in a trade for a beater Python. No box, no papers, but one good looking 22. Big Larry

This one is wearing PC magnas which made me scratch my head some more. It's in pretty decent shape. It came in a one piece blue box (w/no label) which is way too late for the gun. Still, I'm betting it is really accurate. It's on my list of guns to deep clean so when it's done I'll post pictures.

From what I'm hearing here, magnas on the long barrel K frame is common.

Pic from '81 G&A mag.
I bought a new 8.375" 17-4M in '79 and it came with Target stocks.
Drilled and tapped it for scope/red dot mounts just to see how accurate it really was.
Still in use with irons.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Sounds perfect for a head shot on a coyote.

According to SCSW the 8 3/8" barrel was introduced in 1958 (4 screw). I just don't see them out and about.

Both of my 8 3/8" Model 14-3 came to me with matching stocks in 2023.


They shipped in Dec 71 and Jan 73.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Bought two 14-3, a six and an 8 3/8, from an FFL that walked them back after he received them properly and asked that they fix both with a red ramp and a white outline. He had the 8 3/8 smoothed to a S/A.

He had removed the grips before taking them over there. Both guns had Target Smooth presentation grips wrapped in paper, as the boxes were four ring, when he got them back.

Still have that pair with no stars, unfired past factory.

I have never seen but the magna grips in a four ring, with anything target in a five ring box.

I have seen 14-2 versions with the 4" barrels wearing the PC magna grips, though.

I had thought the 8 3/8" started on the 1959 Model 14. Don't know about other models. That is what is written in the SCSW 3rd Edition, anyway. I have seen one from 1959 with the 8 3/8" barrel, which is why you don't see that one out and about.

Both my 17-5 and 48-3 long tubes came with 2 T's and magna stocks. They now wear targets, I can not use magna's at all.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

One thing we can be certain of, 4 screw 8 3/8" Pre M14 and pre 17 guns are very scarce. Not so with the M48. There seems to be lots of them for sale. Big Larry

8 3/8" 17-3
4" 18-3
3" 43

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Wish I could see a non-model marked Pre 14 or Pre 17 lettered with the 8 3/8" barrel. Anyone have a factory lettered one they wish to share? I'd love to see them. My Model 14 four screw with lettered 8 3/8" barrel shipped
May 1, 1959. The letter states walnut checkered grips, which is lettered that way on several of those I hold. It is my guess if the term magna or target is not present, they must be magna style. I'll have to dig it up and clean it for a picture or two one day.

The 3rd Edition does state, "checkered walnut Magna style grips".

Seems a lot was going on around 1957-1959. The 3rd Edition shows on the Model 14 a lot of changes.
1957: stamping of model number.
1959: 14-1 change extractor rod from right-hand to left-hand thread.
1959: Introduce 8 3/8" barrel.

I need to buy a 4th Edition while waiting on the fifth.

The Model 17 lists walnut magna grips.
1957: Stamping of the model number.
1958: Introduce 8 3/8" barrel.

Here it shows 1958 for the Model 17 8 3/8" barrel, while the 14 shows 1959. I wonder what the fourth edition shows?

My 17-3, 6" shipped in April 1972 per Roy. According to SCSW 4th the serial number (3K4468) falls within the 1971 range so this one sat a little bit in the vault.

They are Target grips, however the left panel has a real deep relief.

Nice and accurate shooter.

I bought this gun from the original owner and was the only gun he ever owned. Seldom used, no box or docs, but he said it was just the way he bought it back when.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

When did the football relief end and the speedloader start? Not hijacking the thread. Were the stocks on the above available when the gun was shipped? Just curious.

I have a 17-3 8-3/8", sn 6K49xxx, purchased in 2003 and shipped in June, 1975 per RJ. It has the 3T's; target stocks with foorball relief. I don't have the original box and haven't lettered it, so I can't say for sure that the targets are original. The 17-3 is a joy to shoot compared to my 617-1 8-3/8" which is way too nose heavy. -S2

PC or modified Magnas would not have been standard on a Target sighted K frame, with the exception of the 2” model 15. If yours are numbered to the gun just ignore this.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I took the stocks off yesterday and these PC magnas are not numbered at all. I think originals would be numbered, as it is pre-1979. Because of that I'm thinking it needs some targets.

There is a little cold blue on the muzzle and light handling marks on the barrel but otherwise it's in great condition.

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Couldn't find any nice period correct targets for it so it's wearing some late 1940's magnas now. Same treatment I used on my nickel 2" 15-3. Very classy look.

Photo added

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