18-3 22lr revolver question w/ PICS!

[nate-dogg]

Was browsing the lgs this morning and seen this gun in the display. It is in near mint condition. At least to my standards. Of course I bought it. I know that the model 18 was only available with the 4 inch barrel. This gun has a 6 inch barrel on it and also comes with the original 4 inch barrel. I also own a 17-3 with 6 inch barrel. My question is: Would S&W have sold this gun to the original owner with an extra 6 inch barrel? Or would this 6 inch barrel have been aquired and put on after it left the factory off of a different gun? I noticed the fonts on these 2 barrels are different. Both of these fonts are also different than the font on my 17-3. Where did this 6 inch barrel come from?

 

[Camster]

Same gun that you mentioned on rfc?

S&W never provided that barrel as an extra back in the day.It's a much more recent barrel with that font style.(The blue would appear differently as well)The previous owner wanted a longer barrel.It came out of the S&W parts dept.I'd look for a three digit date code on the butt frame.That would indicate if S&W did the work.

 

[nate-dogg]

Same gun that you mentioned on rfc?

You must have me mistaken as someone else. I do not know what "rfc" is. This post is the first I have made of this gun.

 

[Camster]

You must have me mistaken as someone else. I do not know what "rfc" is. This post is the first I have made of this gun.

RFC is Rimfirecentral.com
A 6 inch Model 18 was mentioned on there recently.It could have been a mismarked 17.Such things do happen.
Yours is clearly an 18 that was rebarreled later in life.

 

[nate-dogg]

RFC is Rimfirecentral.com
A 6 inch Model 18 was mentioned on there recently.It could have been a mismarked 17.Such things do happen.
Yours is clearly an 18 that was rebarreled later in life.

I will have to check out that website. It sounds interesting. I know mine is a model 18 and that it originally came with a 4 inch barrel. I was just hoping to find out where the 6-inch barrel came from. I didn't know if the barrel was ordered from Smith & Wesson or if it came off of another gun. And if it did come off of another gun, I was curious to what model it may have came off of. I am not familiar with what barrels are interchangeable between different models of 22 long rifle revolvers. Thanks for your comments.

 

[steelslaver]

Most K frame 22 barrels will interchange with some fitting. The 22 Jet barrels are able exceptions l as the model 53 uses a longer cylinder. There are some differences in the ribs,markings etc. If you go to the 4" barrel the 6" on would be worth about a $100 or so.

 

[chief38]

My money would be on the M18-3 originally came with the 4" bbl and someone swapped out out with a 6" tube. You got both.

 

[SweetMK]

Heck, the OP was double lucky,,
he got two barrels,, and a WHOLE "3"

I only got one barrel,, and HALF of a "3",,,

 

[Camster]

I will have to check out that website. It sounds interesting. I know mine is a model 18 and that it originally came with a 4 inch barrel. I was just hoping to find out where the 6-inch barrel came from. I didn't know if the barrel was ordered from Smith & Wesson or if it came off of another gun. And if it did come off of another gun, I was curious to what model it may have came off of. I am not familiar with what barrels are interchangeable between different models of 22 long rifle revolvers. Thanks for your comments.

The six inch barrel is the same one used on the current production 17-9.
A non pinned barrel,fitted to your pinned barrel gun.

 

[steelslaver]

I have a 18-3 that came without the pin.

 

[K Frame Keith]

My model 29 came from the factory with the 8-3/8 inch barrel. The previous owner had the factory change it out to a four inch. I still have both. Probably a similar situation. Nice .22.

 

[ken158]

My model 29 came from the factory with the 8-3/8 inch barrel. The previous owner had the factory change it out to a four inch. I still have both. Probably a similar situation. Nice .22.

Exactly - and this happened a lot... not really a mystery. I have had a 29, 19 and 66 with 2 barrels that were switched by the factory.

 

[alcotune]

I also have a model 18 with a swapped 6" barrel. Mine is a 18-2. Very accurate gun.

 

[Engine49guy]

As others have stated your Model 18-3 came with the 4" barrel (guessing sometime around 1970).
The shape, contours and style of the 6" barrel on your gun are a dead giveaway that the 6" barrel was made in the last 10 years or so.

If you are lucky someone took the time to make a groove in the the 6" barrel to utilize your original set pin, the easier way is to crush fit the barrel then drive in two short filler pins.

IMO your gun is worth more wearing its original barrel for two reasons, first is originality is important in a collectible gun, the other is that a 4" K22's tend to sell slightly higher than 6" versions.

 

[nate-dogg]

IMO your gun is worth more wearing its original barrel for two reasons, first is originality is important in a collectible gun, the other is that a 4" K22's tend to sell slightly higher than 6" versions.

I don't have the tools or knowledge to swap it back to 4 inch properly and don't care to pay someone to do it. I will just keep it how it is. I may end up selling it because I already have a 17-3 6". This gun was kind of an impulse buy because it is in such good condition and it's not often you see the 18 wearing a barrel other than 4". Thanks everyone for the information.