17-5 4”?

[45Smashemflat]

Hey folks,

I have a 5 screw K22 Combat Masterpiece already. It’s a decent revolver, but definitely a shooter, not a safe queen.

Looking at a 17-5 4” that just happened to pop up on my radar. Is this a “transitional” kind of model S&W made when they discontinued the Model 18? Is it “special”? Or just a good 22?

Trying to decide if I should make an offer on it. I don’t “need” it, but it looks in great shape.

 

[JP@AK]

I don't know that I'd call it "transitional."

The Model 18 was discontinued in 1985. In 1986, a 4" barrel was added to the options for the Model 17 (dash 4 at the time). So, while the barrel profile was different, the 4" Model 17 picked up the slack created with the disappearance of the .22 Combat Masterpiece (Model 18). The dash 5 appeared in 1988.

 

[Engine49guy]

The 6" K22 began shipping again in 1947 after WW2 ended in 1945.
The post war versions were very different than the pre war versions and had a new raised narrow rib barrel, the K32 and K38 had the same narrow rib profile until abt 1950 when they widened the barrel ribs as an attempt to weight match the three, ( think bigger .38 holes in the cylinder = lighter gun, widening the rib added weight).
Around 1948 a 4" version is tested and becomes regular production by 1950 but with the narrow rib because they wanted to keep it lighter.
The narrow rib 6" guns fade out of production by 1955, from that point the 6" K target guns used different style barrel and frames, that continued until the end of the dash 4 revision.
The 18 line was discontinued and the 17-5 was instead offered in 3 barrel lengths with a new wide rib heavier barrel basicly matching the lines of the old Model 14.
That's where the 17-5 you are looking at fits in.
The 17-6 used that same barrel for a short time until it was changed to the full underlug barrel during 17-6 production.

Here's where it gets weird, the Model 15-5 continues as it's own line but now with the old wide rib barrel of the Model 14 in 4" and 6" ( maybe an 8 3/8" ? Never seen one)
And the Model 14 line gets a full underlug barrel in the various lengths...weird?

There was a recent thread showing a rare varient called the 617 Ashand gun which is a stainless copy of the 17-5 you are looking at.

As for it being "Special" ? I think so because it's unique and didn't have a very long production run so to a K22 collector it's different and needs to be acquired to fill the slot, in reality it won't do anything your old 5 screw won't.
Post some pics if u get it,

If you are interested in the Model 18 evolution here's a link to a pictorial essay outlining it's evolution. ( scroll down to post #25 to begin)
Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy

 

[bobsguns]

T

Here's where it gets weird, the Model 15-5 continues as it's own line but now with the old wide rib barrel of the Model 14 in 4" and 6" ( maybe an 8 3/8" ? Never seen one)

Model 14 or 15 in 8-3/8"?

I have a 14 in that barrel.

 

[JP@AK]

The 8 3/8" became an option on the Model 14 in 1959 (during the dash 1 period). It remained available until 1982, when the Model 14 was discontinued.

 

[glenncal1]

OP, I had a 17-5 4" that I sold when thinning the herd. Excellent gun, if the gun you are looking at has the box and docs you should be real interested. While the -5's are not "rare" they are not as plentiful as the -2,3,4 guns.

 

[Engine49guy]

Just to clarify, the Model 14 was briefly discontinued in 1982 but resumed production in 1991.
The 15-5 was supposedly offered in 4,6,8 3/8" in 1986 although I've never seen the 8 3/8" in real life.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Hers one of the 17-6 4” with the partial under lug. It has the heavy barrel unlike the 18’s tapered barrel. It’s my understanding the partial under lug 17-6 was only produced for 6 months. No idea how many were produced but I’ve only seen a couple others.