A friend and I went out to a few local gun shops today. In a used case I found a Model 617 (don't know the dash) with an 8 3/8 inch full underlug barrel. It is a square butt with the S&W square butt finger groove target grips (with beautifully figured wood). It has a stainless steel, not alloy, cylinder. I believe it was a 6 shot. It has the original style cylinder stop.

The gun is in excellent condition, although it has been fired. It has the box with it. They were asking $700 for it.

My question, was I an idiot for not buying it?

See photos in last post.

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Bill

Only if you do not have a blued series 17,
with the 8.375" barrel.

Wish my 17-4 had a full underlug.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Yes you should have bought it…quick, go back.

Did you go to Half-Priced Guns?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

What is the actual value of the gun I described?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

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Bill

If it's in top condition, and is either a 617 no dash or 617-1, with original combat target grips, it's worth $900+. GO GET IT at $700!

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ken
SWCA #1959

Idiot? Only if you don't go back and buy it. Whether a no dash or a -1 I wouldn't expect to find it where I shop for less than $1k, probably tagged higher but perhaps could negotiate to $1k. Haven't seen one for $700 for a number of years. Last one I actually bought was a -1 for $900 but that was four years ago. This one.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I bought my S&W 617 no dash Lew Horton unfired box and papers. It is not the long barrel. Seems most of that generation had the combat grips. You know what they say, condition, condition, condition. Find out if it is a no dash. I paid $1,200 for mine last year.

It is worth at least 700 for being an 8 3/8 in barrel 617 alone. It doesn't matter if its a no dash or a 617-6. If I am wrong please find me one for less.

The longer barrels are likely less popular than the shorter 6 inch for most unless you are a collector. Most of us on this forum are willing to pay more for older Smiths because we are such Enthusiest . Then general gun population not so much. I have been able to buy some 8 3/8 revolvers for less than the shorter guns and they are great range toys or hunting guns. My long barrel blue 17 is a tack driver. Not worth a damn for carry.

I would have bought it.

I paid a good bit more than that for my no dash 617 long tube. The combats alone are worth $250. Mine came with box and docs but regardless $700 is a definite buy and flip. I will say the long tube is a bit silly on a .22 when the 6” makes much mose sense in every regard but if you have the 4” and 6” it’s required you also purchase the 8 3/8” as well.

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$1200 to 1400.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I'm pretty well equipped in the S&W .22 revolver area so it would not be something I'd need or want to get - but if you don't have one or more of these, I'd sure consider the deal.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

At $700 it would have been gone in a min around my area. Any 617 no dash or dash 1 is $1200 + I have a extra 4in 617 barrel that I picked up somehwere in my travels.

Buy it now

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Buy it only if you really want it. People on this forum including me always say buy it. Remember most of us have the disease pretty bad

Very true!

I would have jumped on it just to have one to use for competition. Lots of sight adjusting required for zeroing at 25/50, 75, and 100 yards. I prefer to leave the sights alone on my squirrel hunting 8 3/8" barreled 617. My full underlugged 8 3/8" 17-6 isn't quite as accurate as the 617 (looser chambers on the 17) so it hasn't gotten much use.

I took the collective advice of the group and went back and bought the 617.

Its a no dash and in excellent condition. The box with it is a plastic clamshell box, but unfortunately it does not have the end label. I am not sure that this is the original box. Would anyone here know what box it should have shipped in?

Best news, I got it for $650 OTD. Comps are difficult to come by as few long barrel examples have sold recently. A friend, who manages an LGS in the area said he would put it out for sale for $1500 and negotiate from that number.

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Bill

Good call on the buy!

This is likely the original, correct style box. The lack of the end label may explain the low price. . Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Great buy! The grips alone probably sell for over $200. I have a 4" and 6" 617 and I would have been all over that 8 3/8" at $700 let alone $650!

All I have seen sell have gone for $1000+. That includes all models from no dash to 617-6 with rubber grips. All except two now🙂

Very sweet revolver and a screamin deal. I have seen more than one label fall off the plastic boxes. Plastic off gasses for years.

Well we are all jealous now I don't really care for full lug guns over 4", but a no dash at $650, would be in my safe if I had found it. I think you could probably double your $$$ on GB pretty easily.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

If you like the long barrel, go for it, it is priced right . I have a 4", and a 6".That is plenty long for me.

I think he could double it as well.

I bought the gun to "harvest" the grips and then flip it. Then my son, a 35 year old police officer, saw it and "claimed" it. There goes the plan.

I will get to use the grips on another gun because his first comment was that it would be a great target gun if I got rid of the wood grips and put rubber grips on it. There is no accounting for taste.

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Bill

I think the 8-3/8” 617 is rare…I don’t know when I last saw one…pretty cool. I have the same gun in the 6” and it’s about as long of a heavy under-lug I care to carry although, I do own a Ruger single six convertible with the 9.5” which I also think to long for me to hike with….but maybe a cool chest holster would be a game changer. Great squirrel and gopher pistols for sure. I’d say you did very-very well on your price….I paid $600 about 8 years ago for my 6” and thought I got a great deal with rubber Hogue’s…(I prefer them anyway although many swoon over those wooden combats’) congrats and cheers!

Most of my competition revolvers have rubber grips. And my 8 3/8" 617 has a beat up set of "regular" K frame targets. Those "combat" grips feel wretched! It just depends on what your hand(s) like.

I have small hands and usually the finger groove grips don't fit me. These are the exception. They fit perfectly. I have a set of round butt K frame finger groove grips, that while beautiful, don't fit my hands at all. My N frame round butt finger groove grips don't fit me at all.

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Bill

I have owned 3 different 617 revolvers. My first was a 617 no dash 8 3/8 inch full underlug barrel. The revolver had full target trigger and hammer and I purchased it new. I loved the revolver but it was too heavy and cumbersome so I traded for one exactly like it only had a 6 inch barrel. Both revolvers had the original wood combat grips. The six incher was by far my favorite, but true to my bad habits I eventually sold it, only to instantly regret it. A few years later I remedied my error as best I could and bought an as new 617-1 4 inch barrel revolver complete with box and all paperwork. This revolver does not have full target hammer and trigger, and it does not have the wood combat grips, has Hogue rubber finger groove grips instead. While I do like the shorter 4 inch barrel I do miss the wood combat grips and the full target hammer and trigger. Still miss the 6 incher.

I would like to have a 4 inch 617 myself.

Great find! I don't get it. Every local gun shop and pawn shop I go to wants 50% more than Gunbroker. Congrats.

I have a 6" 617-4 with a six and 10 shot cylinders with it. It is a nice gun. I shot Bullseye with it using Double Action and keep them on Thier toes.

A grip for every hand and a hand for every grip. My custom 616 wears a 617 cylinder and 4” barrel, both rebored for 327 Fed Mag. In its previous life as a Model 66 it was quite comfortable with the smooth finger groove combats. Eventually I discovered Thai combats made of very dark rosewood (looks like ebony) which I prefer because they enclose the back strap. Pictures before and after.
Froggie

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I'd agree 100%.
In my area, $700 is a BUY IT NOW price for that one.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

In today's market you stole it for $650! GREAT BUY!!! I would have snatched that up in a heartbeat at that price.

One doesn’t often see 617s with 8.375” barrels.
With combats, I’d say $1300 to $1500 is more accurate.

$700 is a steal!

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213th FBINA

I bought mine in 1994. It came in a cardboard box with all the matching documentation on the end of the box. It’s a keeper.