Another oddball for me

[hkcavalier]

I recently won this Model 17 no dash via an online auction. Pics are from the auction; it just got to my FFL but I won't be able to take it home until after the New Year.

So...as you can see, it's far from original. Auction house states it's in .17HMR with a sleeved barrel. Looks like a new stainless cylinder with some really interesting machining work that I've never seen before. The rest of the gun appears to be hard chromed. Considering replacing the front sight with a plain black Patridge blade.

And yes, the clincher is the non relieved targets that will almost certainly end up on my 1953 K-38. I'm not quite sure what I'll put on this gun. Angling toward stag magnas with gold S&W medallions with a gold anodized T-Grip; I already have the T-Grip and I didn't enjoy making stag grips 2 years ago, so evaluating options there. But I might just punt and get some G10 targets and make this a "far afield" piece.

Not every day you see a 4 screw Model 17 in .17HMR. Any thoughts on who might have done the work?

 

[D Brown]

I can't help with who did the work, but it looks like it was very well done!

 

[A10]

Nice grips, and an interesting custom. Hard chromed? Should make a nice field gun.

No clue who would have done the work. Clearly someone's dream gun!

 

[CALREB]

Glad I didn't see it or we would have been bidding against each other. Looks very nice, please let us know how it shoots.

 

[mtgianni]

It says 22 lr on the bbl. Is it sleeved or are they firing a 17 caliber bullet through it?

 

[H Richard]

For grips, since it's non-original anyway, you might try something like these, from the Thailand guy off e-bay.


They fit my hand very well.

 

[Jim Watson]

It says 22 lr on the bbl. Is it sleeved or are they firing a 17 caliber bullet through it?

The sleeve is visible in the last picture.
I will be interested to hear how the cylinder was done.
There used to be an outfit making blank cylinders.

 

[hkcavalier]

Yeah, I don't know how it could be anything but a blank cylinder, unless the charge holes are also sleeved, since there aren't any K frame cylinders in any .17 variant. Hope to solve the mystery in early January!

 

[Dino44]

Model 647 .17 HMR is a K frame.

 

[s3dcor]

Like this one?

 

[hkcavalier]

Learned something new...how does the cylinder appear?

EDIT: Found a pic of the cylinder. I think now it's pretty clear that this is a 647 cylinder fitted to a Model 17. So not as crazy custom as I thought, but still very unique.

 

[Sevens]

I have a question…

Never seen any S&W rimfire revolver that doesn’t have the small pin up high that is part of the frame mount firing pin for rimfire cartridges, but this does not appear in your pictures.

 

[hkcavalier]

I have a question…

Never seen any S&W rimfire revolver that doesn’t have the small pin up high that is part of the frame mount firing pin for rimfire cartridges, but this does not appear in your pictures.

The pin is there, it's just ground flush. Probably when they did the hard chrome job. It's definitely a Model 17, the seller had a shot of that and the S/N that I didn't post here.

 

[hkcavalier]

Got it yesterday evening. Almost exactly what I expected, a 4 screw Model 17 with a 647 cylinder. Sleeving looks well done, though it might be a few days before I can shoot it (bad weather). Chrome job is excellent, though there were a few tiny spots that weren't buffed out. This might be a good thing as more buffing might have looked worse.

This thing is HEAVY. It feels like my full lug 686 in the hand, but naturally more weight toward the grip. While doing the stock switcheroo I found that it is considerably heavier than my K-38. I really got smitten with these tropical hardwood targets from my fav Thai maker, Vitoonmakers. They claim these are Padauk but they look a little light in color for that. They're well made and fit perfectly.

The sights are a little concerning. I simply used a permanent black marker on the backside of the front sight, but the rear is raised almost all the way up. I always thought that lighter, higher velocity projectiles meant it shot low, not high, but it looks like the previous owner had a different experience. I'll likely be on the hunt for a taller rear sight --- any suggestions?

And the K-38 is now "complete" as they're no realistic way to make it both better and period correct. It has the smoothest action of any of my S&Ws.

 

[Sevens]

The K-38 Masterpiece is gorgeous and you are skilled with the photography. At the same time, MAN, never will I be a fan of the trigger shoe. But it could be that I am the odd duck because I also cannot stand a wide, serrated target trigger either.

 

[hkcavalier]

I like the shoes on the target K frames. Have one on my K-22 and will probably get one for the new gal too.

I have some advantages when it comes to the photos. Wife is a school-trained photographer and I use her DSLR which is just a lot crisper than any phone, and it's "only" a 10MP. Our back porch area with the swing faces south for some really good natural light. I have a few other choice spots, but most are covered in snow right now.

 

[hkcavalier]

Range report: pretty good first shoot. Without any adjustments, it shot WAY high at 7 yards. I have no idea why the previous owner had the rear sight all the way up (in order to raise POI), but the silver lining is that I won't have to replace the rear blade after all.

It sticks a little in DA on one charge hole, and it took a little extra oompf to get the cylinder release to reset when I closed the cylinder. Things that some handling and dry fire will likely fix.

I also shot my shaved TL a little with .45AR. The Starline rims are juuuust a bit thick and it made it difficult to close and then fire that first round (rubbing). Once fired, everything seemed to settle into place and it was easy SA or DA from there. I'm guessing a trip to the gunsmith for some VERY light reaming is in order, but first I'll shoot with some .45ACP on moons.

And finally, fired this odd Bernardelli Model 80, a U.S. post-1968 import in .32ACP. Two safeties plus a magazine disconnect, but the trigger is actually pretty crisp. It shoots to the right, so I'll need to give it some TLC. It's 25 degrees outside, so not a great day to do a lot of sight adjustments. Another oddity is the factory mag is BHO while the one aftermarket mag I own is not. Like a lot of relatively heavy steel small-caliber blowbacks, if you limp wrist even a little it'll FTF. I feel like an Italian Polizia from the 1970s shooting this wee bugger.