617 with standard weight barrell

[steamloco76]

I have a 1990 vintage 617 with the 8 3/8ths full underlug barrel.
Beautiful revolver and deadly accurate at the range, but HEAVY. I've wanted to purchase a 4 or 6 inch companion for field use, however, the small .223 hole in the full underlug barrel makes any 617's super heavy. People ask crazy high prices for used model 17's and so does S&W for its model 17 "classic", the only two options for a slimmer S&W .22 K frame.

Since S&W discontinued the model 32 and 63 in the 4 inch barrel ( 3 inches in .22 LR come on S&W)- I figure the time is right for a 617 with the quarter underlug barrel in 4 and 6 inch.

 

[Frank237]

There were a small amount of both 4" and 6" NON underlug 617's produced back in the early 1990's when SS guns took over from the traditional blued K-22's. Seem to recall 200 guns in each length.

I agree that the underlug guns are too heavy and the longer bbl lengths in my opinion do not balance well at all.

I've got one of the 4" non underlug guns...wish I could find a six incher!!

FN in MT

 

[Badkarma 1]

Count me in on this one too! I really prefer the standard barrel on the K frames, and wish they'd go back to the tapered barrel on the 67 as well! Dale

 

[Frank237]

I'd imagine the ONLY way to get a limited run of the SS traditional K-22's/M-18's would be for RSR or one of the big distributors to contract a 1000 or 2000 gun production run.

I fear that S&W is run by the Lawyers and Beancounters and not by a small amount of fans who want a small run of an odd item.

I confess I'm an old guy and as such an old style S&W Traditionalist. HATE the lock, disdain the full lugs, rubber grips and round butt frames on most everything.


FN in MT

 

[28Shooter]

I've got a 617 with a 6" underlug barrel and it's heavy to the point of clumsy. I never understood why Smith went from standard barrels to full underlugs.

 

[steamloco76]

Back in July of 1990 I decided to order a Model 17, 8 3/8th full target (After receiving a useless rusted pile of feces from the distributor when I order a Dan Wesson 22 LR pistol pack-but that is another story!!).
A month later, my gun shop called to say I could pick up my revolver. Well, I was in for a shock. S&W had sold out of the Model 17 standard barrel target and was only producing the then new to market model 617 in stainless with the full underlug barrel.
I only agreed to keep the gun for three reasons, I really wanted a long barrel .22, the price was the same as what I ordered (gun shop ate the difference because I was a good customer) and it had a PERFECT 2 3/4 lb SA trigger. Had a really beautifully figured set of combat grips too.

Twenty one years later, I still wish it had a regular weight barrel, hence my stating this "Wish" thread.