I picked up a very nice 4 inch 17-6 this morning from a LGS in a neighboring town. It’s an early 17-6 with no underlug (looks very much like a model 18). According to the 4th edition SCSW, “some early 17-6’s reported without full lug”. I have no idea if there are few enough to make this a rare one. Unfortunately, it does not have the factory grips but came with a pair of Altamont faux ivories that actually look nice.
I stopped at the BLM land on the way home and put some rounds through it. It shot nice and I am very pleased.

Very nice aquisition! Didn't know that S&W made a 4" model 17 dash anything. I think the grip panels look good on it too.

Nice, I don't think there are many. I saw a six inch for sale awhile back but thought the price was too high for the condition. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Looks like a very clean one. I wasn’t familiar with the 4” without the under lug until 3 weeks ago when I picked up one at a LGS. Mines not a show piece but in very nice condition and has original stocks. I took it out this week and ran a couple hundred rounds through it and can say I’m very pleased. I’m so pleased I sold traded my 617 yesterday for an almost new 14-4 8-3/8”. I like the feel of the 17-6 better than the 617 I had. I always felt the under lug made it out of balance and front heavy.

Congratulations on a great find and I understand they were only made for 6 months. I understand the numbers are low as far as how many were made.

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Now I’ve seen two. I’m curious how many were made with this configuration. I like it a lot. It balances well and looks nice.

Nice pickup!

I looked a long time for a 17-6 full underlug, because it's a nice match for my Smolt. Finally found one here on the forum recently.



There's a no-underlug 17-6 4" on GB right now, but the price is on the (very) high side...

Very high is right. I got this one for less than $600…

I can't find a photo, but I also have one without the full underlug. My wife likes to shoot is and used it to qualify for her concealed carry permit.

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Bill

The 18-4 was the end of the old narrow rib tapered barrel four inch K22's until the later IL copies.

The 17-5 was introduced with a new wide rib heavier profile barrel (like the Model 14 barrel) and offered in 4", 6" and 8 3/8", this simplified production because the Model 18 frame was slightly different than the 17 frame to mate to the narrow rib barrel and offering a 4" Model 17 meant the 4" would have the same frame in the future.

The early 17-6 had the same barrel as the 17-5, there were also a handful made in Stainless steel known as 617 Ashland guns with the wide rib barrel and no underlug which are highly sought after by K22 collectors.

Apparently the decision was made to change the Model 14-5 to a full underlug barrel and offer it in 4", 6", 8,3/8" at about the same time the 15-5 got the old style 14 wide rib barrel offered in 4", 6" 8,3/8" and the old narrow rib barrel was discontinued.
The 17-6 also got the full underlug barrel as did the 617 no dash in all 3 lengths.

I did a thread on the Combat Masterpiece evolution that covers its changes,
if interested here's a link, scroll down to post 26 to begin:

Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy

Nice revolver mrchick good for you.I think the grips look great.Enjoy that great revolver.

Thank you for a fantastic thread. I have lots of reading to do

The pre-17 no-underlug looked the same. This is a 1947 with replacement grips. I do have the originals.

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Heavily armed old man.

Good score on that one! I have a 4" full lug 17-6 and it is one of the nicest shooting K-22s I have owned. I am sure your gun has a nice trigger as well, enjoy it.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

It does. I will have fun shooting it. Yours looks very nice as well.

NICE!! Just wondering if it got mis-stamped. Possible factory barrel swap?? Either way..... ENJOY!!!

Not according to the SCSW. I think it left the factory this way.

The earlier 17-6 had the same wide rib barrel as the 17-5 with no underlug.

What is interesting to note is that to have the full underlug barrel mate cosmetically to the frame it needs to be longer in the front of the yoke like the Model 19 frame.

In other words the early 17-6 frame is different than the ones with the full underlug.

my 4" 617-6 is a HUGE favorite. It gets LOTS of holster time around our lil chicken ranch here. It's a 10-shot so the first 2 or 3 rounds are snake shot when it's that season, then CCI 40gr solids for larger pests.

That is a sharp looking gun. The contrast between the gun & grips sets it off. Bob

Awesome score, My 617, 4 inch , 10 shot is one of my favorites.

Nice find!
I’ve heard of the non-lugged 17-6, but never seen one. I have a few of the lugged versions from Smith and Colt. I think my only non-lugged 22 is my 2” 63.

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213th FBINA

My 617-4, 6-inch, Pre-lock 10 shot is my favorites 22LR. It now has a standard rear site.