Difference between models 17 and 18

[waelkhntr]

I thought the difference between a K 22 Masterpiece and a K 22 Combat Masterpiece was the barrel length 6" for the MP and 4" for the CMP?
Is that correct?

 

[Muley Gil]

That's correct, though there are variations in the Masterpiece line, such as rib width & weight.

 

[RdrBill]

4 inch K frame

OP
Mostly correct, but S&W has a room full of exceptions.
2 early post war 4 inch K frame 22 LR

1. 4 inch lettered Model K22, not many of these around
2. 4 inch pre Model 18, lots of these.

Bill@Yuma

 

[ameridaddy]

While there may be outliers, (S&W, after all) another difference is Mod 18 being a Combat Masterpiece has a Baughman ramp front sight, and the Mod 17 Target Masterpiece has a Patridge front sight.

 

[waelkhntr]

I have a Model 17-6 Masterpiece w/ 4" barrel and wondering why it isn't considered a combat masterpiece

 

[toad67]

The model 18 has a tapered barrel. Basically, the same difference between model's 14 and 15.

 

[Engine49guy]

The 6" post war k22 was introduced with a new raised narrow rib barrel abt 1946.
There was a small amount of 4" versions made by SW around 1948 to test interest and or fill a small order, those early 4" guns had the same barrel and front site as the 6" which is the one on the left in Rdrbills two pictured above.
Sw made the 4" a regular cataligged item in 1950 and introduced it with a longer fs ramp and Baughman blade like the one in Rdrbills right picture, at the point in 1950 the 4" and 6" still had the same narrow barrel rib and frame .
Around 1954-55 Sw introduced a new wider rib 6" and since it's rib was wider at the back they no longer "Notched" the frame, IIRC the frames top is slightly bead blasted vs polished to match the barrel rib as well, at this point fwd the 4" and 6" had different frame styles and barrel styles.
This continued into model numbers all the way until the end of the 17-4 and 18-4.

After that the Model 18 was dropped and the 17-5 was offered in 4" , 6" and 8,3/8" with a new wider rib barrel with a thicker profile.
During the 17-6 revision it changed to a full underlug barrel in different lengths.

If you are interested in the Combat Masterpiece here's a link to a pictorial essay,
Scroll down to post 25 to start.
Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy

 

[waelkhntr]

Thanks Engine guy.

Terry

 

[Aukula1062]

Either way if you have a 17 or 18 or better yet both, you're a working piece of art and craftsmanship. Engine, thank you for your input on the 17 and 18. I had no clue the 17 was in production after the 18 was discontinued. I thought the 617 just reintroduced the K frame to rimfire. My 18-3 is a little scuffed up but my 34-1 are my favorite revolvers of all time.

 

[CALREB]

17-5 and 15-5 and a few 6s with no lug make a nice 22/38 combo. The 6" are easier to find in both 22 and 38 calibers. The 22 is a bit heavier than the 38.

 

[Engine49guy]

Just a side note, SW did briefly bring back a 4" "Classic" blue K22 during during the iL era,
My old SCSW 3rd edition doesnt cover those so not sure how they were marked, would make sense to pickup the revision where they left off but then the 17 and 18 revisions wouldnt align.
Perhaps someone here has one and can enlighten us.

 

[CALREB]

Without looking I seem to remember that revision 4" had a patridge sight.

 

[murphydog]

Just a side note, SW didn't briefly bring back a 4" "Classic" blue K22 during during the iL era,
My old SCSW 3rd edition doesnt cover those so not sure how they were marked, would make sense to pickup the revision where they left off but then the 17 and 18 revisions wouldnt align.
Perhaps someone here has one and can enlighten us.

Yes, the 18-7 did have a Patridge front sight. As I recall the model 48-7 in .22 MRF was available for a longer period of time.

 

[waelkhntr]

I have a couple K38 masterpieces and K38 combat masterpieces. Have been contemplating adding a k22 masterpiece piece and a K22 combat masterpiece models to the herd and trying to figure out where my model 17-6 4" barrel would fit in. Guess I have been confusing Pre 1957 model names and latter model numbers.

I'm good at over thinking and complicating simple concepts.

Terry

 

[Engine49guy]

Just so we are all on the same page on
"Nomenclature" The standard Model 617 and late production 17-6 had a "Full underlug" barrel, the standard production Model 19 , 27, 28 etc had a "half lug" or "ejector rod shroud", the common Model 10, 15, etc had an exposed ejector rod without a shroud or underlug barrel .

Btw my autospell changed did briefly bring back the model 18 to didnt, i just corrected that.

If it was marked as a Model 18-7 they skipped over 18-5 and 18-6 , weird.

 

[waelkhntr]

E49G and everyone else I owe everyone a HUGE apology, The whole time I have been yammering about 17-6 4" half lug barrel I had the wrong revolver sitting on my desk. My 17-6 DOES NOT Have A HALF lug barrel, it has an exposed ejection rod.

Please forgive my.



I'm in the hunt for a 6-inch K22 Masterpiece (pre 17)

Thanks for all the input

Terry

 

[.38SuperMan]

I have a Model 17-6 Masterpiece w/ 4" half lug barrel and wondering why it isn't considered a combat masterpiece

I had a 17-6 4” as well and recently traded it back to the person I bought it from.

The only difference I was aware of between the 4” non lug barrel 17-6 and the 18 was the 17-6 non lug had a heavy barrel and the 18 was tapered.

Looking at models like the 10, it came with a heavy and a tapered barrel and was still called a model 10. Why did Smith change model numbers with the 17 and 18 4” models.

 

[DR505]

I had a 17-6 4” as well and recently traded it back to the person I bought it from.

The only difference I was aware of between the 4” non lug barrel 17-6 and the 18 was the 17-6 non lug had a heavy barrel and the 18 was tapered.

Like this (17-6 on top, 18-3 on bottom):

 

[Dan W. Cady]

I have a Model 17-6 Masterpiece w/ 4" barrel and wondering why it isn't considered a combat masterpiece

I believe it was made after the Model 18 was discontinued.