617-6 Mountain Gun History?

[22hipower]

A few of us here have the 617-6 22LR Mountain Gun. I think all forty or so of them were bought in 2016 from an outfit called Outdoor Sports, mine definitely was, but I don't remember where that company was located EDIT (probably was Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore in Hebron, Ohio as BD notes in his post below). At the time I called the company and the salesperson confirmed they had some left and had had about 40 of them but he didn't know, or claimed not to know, from where they had gotten them. We've had some discussions here about how and why they came to be and apparently were built by S&W in 2013. I've never seen an explanation as to why they would have sat in someone's inventory for three years or so before being offered for sale.

So, fast forward to today. There's one listed in the Classified section along with a Lew Horton letter confirming 42 were built in 2013. I would think when building such a small number the SNs would likely be sequential but the SN on the one for sale is CTR6594 and mine is CSP7706 which would seem to be rather far apart. Anyone have any insight on:

1. Would S&W build as small a run as 42 units?
2. Are the serial numbers reasonable to both be from a run of 42 units?
3. If S&W built them for Lew Horton, why would they sit for three years and then be sold by some other distributor?
4. Any other info on the 617 Mountain Gun history?

And here's mine again.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2n8PdAs https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[lscocoa]

Can’t answer your questions but I and a lot of others would be if they made them again. But as a full production run !

 

[erikpolcrack]

Have to use up another of my dumb question allotment here. What exactly is the purpose/concept behind a 22LR Mountain Gun?

 

[LittleCooner]

Well how much are they asking for this rare mountain gun?

 

[22hipower]

Have to use up another of my dumb question allotment here. What exactly is the purpose/concept behind a 22LR Mountain Gun?

No purpose that any other 18/17/617 wouldn't fulfill as far as I can tell. The half lug barrel is kind of cool though. Why S&W would build only 42 of them though makes no sense to me. When some here have kicked around the idea of asking S&W to make a special run of whatever the assumption has been it would take a commitment of several thousand units to justify S&W's expense of designing and producing a non standard item.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[22hipower]

Well how much are they asking for this rare mountain gun?

I thought it was here in the Classified section that I saw it for sale but don't find it now; $2499 as I remember. Which is a deal compared to the pair that were offered here a year or two ago for $20k.

I like mine a lot but if someone wants to offer $10k for it I'll mark it "sold." Won't even charge for the shipping.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[bdGreen]

Lew Horton received 42 of these in April, 2013.

They were sent back to the S&W factory, all.

Smith and Wesson sat on them until April, 2016.

They were all sent to Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore in Hebron, Ohio.

One of mine was ordered and delivered to Gun and Bow Outpost Inc. Baroda, Michigan.

It was received by Gun and Bow Outpost and transferred to the new owner on 04-08-2016 for the princely sum of $649.99.

My data started with Earl at Lew Horton. He verified the number of units at 42.

I spoke with a gentleman at Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore regarding the numbers they received and the disposition of all of them. In other words, they are all gone.

Now, if you will note my serial numbers and the others that have been published already here, I see no rhyme or reason for the SN range. Beats me.

My question, and has never been answered, is why did Lew Horton choose to send them back to Smith and Wesson and why did S&W choose to sit on them so long before brokering them all out to Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore?

They are a great design, and I am happy to be the owner of them.

Listed on the Transfer Invoice:

"Item= Smith & Wesson Model 617 Mountain gun. 22LR, 4.125" stainless steel barrel and frame. 10 shot revolver"

I am open to corrections or additions. I still have my notes from these discussions and the transfer and sale documents.

I am very pleased that the documents followed the sale to me. It's a big plus.

I, at this time, can't think of anything more to add, except pictures.

The stocks on the one pictured below are back in the box. They were on the gun when I bought it and put the factory stocks back on it.

enjoy,

bdGreen

 

[S&W ucla]

I got mine from Sportsman's Superstore. Does yours have the tight chambers? If they shot one and extraction was difficult, maybe that's why Horton sent them back. I sure do miss the Horton special editions, they designed some really neat guns! Nice laminated camo grips.

 

[22hipower]

Good info, but leaves me wondering why would S&W agree to build just 42 guns of any design that wasn't a standard product for them? I can't imagine calling S&W and saying, "hey, I want to buy 50 xyz guns with x barrel length with a design you don't currently make. When can I have them?" And S&W saying, "ok, we're working on it" and then delivering them. . . .and then taking them back when I say. "oops, changed my mind, sending them back."

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[bdGreen]

Good info, but leaves me wondering why would S&W agree to build just 42 guns of any design that wasn't a standard product for them? I can't imagine calling S&W and saying, "hey, I want to buy 50 xyz guns with x barrel length with a design you don't currently make. When can I have them?" And S&W saying, "ok, we're working on it" and then delivering them. . . .and then taking them back when I say. "oops, changed my mind, sending them back."

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Without researching, isn't the requirement in some non-USA locations that the barrel exceeds the four-inch length to be legal?

That's plausible, right?

Or, it's Lew Horton. Why wouldn't they?

Or, it's not who you know...

The barrel is the only thing they had to produce to make it a Model 617-6 Mountain Gun. Right, or wrong? I also can't believe they just made enough barrels to fill that one order.

bdGreen

 

[SweetMK]

I guess this thread needs more pics,,
in case there are two members here that have not seen mine several times before!!

Mine were only opened by the LGS to check the serial numbers,,

That was last time the cylinders were opened other than one time for pics,,

I bought one, Sportsmans had a "one per day limit" on them.
The next day, I happened to check,, they still had them,,,
I ordered another,
I checked the 3rd day,, (and the 4th day),,, GONE!!

 

[toad67]

Without researching, isn't the requirement in some non-USA locations that the barrel exceeds the four-inch length to be legal?

That's plausible, right?

Or, it's Lew Horton. Why wouldn't they?

Or, it's not who you know...

The barrel is the only thing they had to produce to make it a Model 617-6 Mountain Gun. Right, or wrong? I also can't believe they just made enough barrels to fill that one order.

bdGreen

That's the reason they came out with the 5" model 60, IIRC, so they would be legal in Canada.

 

[Engine49guy]

I remember when these popped up originally,
Kind of a mystery.
IIRC there was some discussion at the time that they were either used or previously fired more than the original factory test fire.
Don't recall anything else but always wondered if they were sent back and all test fired and tuned to fix any issue.
I had hoped some spare barrels would pop up for sale on one of the parts sites since there are sometimes overruns after filling a special order run, in hindsight I kinda regret not just getting one but the IL is a no go for me, had thought ok maybe get one and do a barrel swap onto a 617 no dash but by then they were gone.
Only other K22 with a half shrouded barrel I can think of is the Model 53 with .22lr cylinder.
Seems S&W doesn't want us to own Combat Magnum 22 look alikes.

Someone asked what was the purpose of a 22 Mountain gun,
Short answer is there is none, Except as a rare variation to those that collect all K22 variations.
On a side note I seem to recall seeing a Model 15 advertised on the S&W website sometime around then, like the 617-6 MG it also had a shrouded ejector half lug like the Model 19 and at the time I assumed it somehow simplified production, those Model 15's disappeared quickly and have never seen one in the wild but that was also an IL gun.
S&W does not seem to care that a small group of enthusiasts would gladly snap up small runs of these types of variations as they are likely too busy filling the needs of the masses.
Years ago I posted a query to test the interest in a group purchase of a special SW collectors assoc varient in a stainless reg mag copy with the IL hole deleted to comemorate the Reg Mag or SWCA anniversary, perhaps better yet a matched set with one in 22lr as well,
one can dream.

 

[1911-10MM]

Hello
Very interesting read, yes I too would like to be the owner of one of these 617MG's to complete my MG set.
As someone spoke of the 5" variants in the J frame.
I acquired this pair several years ago. Not rare but also not seen often. Thanks for all the interesting info.

 

[Jebus35745]

Don’t have a mountain gun just an Ashland. Only 200 made with a 4” barrel. Just thought I would add another rare 617, Larry

 

[wproct]

I can definitely see the advantage of a Mountain revolver if you are going to carry your revolver in a holster, less weight. However, I one who loves the looks and heft of a revolver with the full length under lug. I think that my 617-1 with 4 inch bbl with full length lug is just perfectly balanced. Now I do kind of wish mine had a target trigger and target hammer, but the action on mine is so perfect I'm not gonna mess with it.

 

[boykinlp]

Years ago I posted a query to test the interest in a group purchase of a special SW collectors assoc varient in a stainless reg mag copy with the IL hole deleted to comemorate the Reg Mag or SWCA anniversary, perhaps better yet a matched set with one in 22lr as well,
one can dream.

That would be AWESOME! IIRC, groups like “All About Pocket Knives” and “Blade Forum” have a different manufacturer make a custom made knife every year. They take input from the members for a period of time and then vote on it. It would be cool to be able to do that with a S&W. Of course the knives were around $100-150, and not around $1000 or more.
Larry

 

[CH4]

No purpose that any other 18/17/617 wouldn't fulfill as far as I can tell.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I agree. It’s cool because they only made a few, but if you want a 4” 22 with tapered barrel and don’t care about the shroud, there are plenty of beautiful blue 4” 18s.

Does the 617 MG have a one piece or two piece barrel?

 

[22hipower]

Does the 617 MG have a one piece or two piece barrel?

One piece.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[3/4Flap]

No purpose that any other 18/17/617 wouldn't fulfill as far as I can tell. The half lug barrel is kind of cool though. Why S&W would build only 42 of them though makes no sense to me. When some here have kicked around the idea of asking S&W to make a special run of whatever the assumption has been it would take a commitment of several thousand units to justify S&W's expense of designing and producing a non standard item.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Seems like the idea of the MG's was to take an existing model and fit a tapered skinny barrel to trim down weight approximating the older styles like the 1950 Target .44, etc. I think the idea was great. I have a 29-9 Heritage sort of like the old Wolf and Klar .44 Special which fits the similar concept and I have nothing but good to say about it. My use is literally in the mountains and every ounce gone bye-bye is a benefit.

That .22 of yours is a real peach!