Help Identifying Inherited Revolver

[GunDumbBlonde]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the site and new to guns. I inherited a couple and one in particular, I was hoping to learn more about. I tried to do research, but since I'm very ignorant when it comes to guns, I don't even know if I'm even headed in the right direction. I have added some pics.

Like I said, I inherited this particular gun from my Dad. It belonged to an Uncle by marriage and was passed down through my Aunt to my Dad and finally to me. There was no box or info with it. I'm guessing it needs a good cleaning and looks to be in decent condition with a few knicks.

I am kind of on the fence as to selling or keeping it, although I've already had it a few years now. Since I'm very new to guns and a woman, I would prefer a small, semi-automatic gun, so I don't see myself ever shooting this gun, but I'll save that for another time.

I would like to know a sort of guestimate as to it's worth, if that's appropriate and ok to ask here. Could this be a 1968 K22 17-3 Masterpiece? Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance for your replies.

It appears the Model & Serial are the same..
K846479 (on the butt of the gun, but that number also appears when the cylinder is opened).

Barrel appears to be a 6 inch and it's a 6 shot.

It also has 22 Long Rifle CTG stamped on it. It has 17-3 on it.

It's not a Tip-Up or Top-Break and appears to be Hand Ejector Post War Adjustable?

Sorry the pics are not so great. I have an ancient i-phone.

 

[MelvinWalker]

It looks like 1968 would be correctly in the middle of the ballpark. Nice gun by the way. In my area, probably $700 I would imagine, but the real experts will be in shortly.

 

[GunDumbBlonde]

Thank you Melvin.

 

[Truckman]

I would recommend hanging on to it unless money is an immediate issue...You'll surely wind up wanting one in the future if you let this one go...I probably have a dozen or so K-22 Masterpieces from about 1931 and up...A bird in hand as they say...And welcome to the forum......Ben

 

[Bruceboy]

I think you are doing fine. It's a S&W Model 17-3 and the ser.# you found on the bottom of the grip frame sounds right. These are wonderful shooters and hold their value well. They are also a close cousin of the Model 14 with identical size and features other than the Model 14 is a .38 Spl. The model 17 of course is much less expensive to shoot.
Sorry I can't give you an accurate value as I'm situated in Canada and values vary even in different regions.
Someone will jump in regarding value.

Best of luck,

Al

 

[MelvinWalker]

Thank you Melvin.

I doubt your screen name fits you.

You already figured out more than the average seller I meet...I would look at GunBroker closed auctions and see if one or two compare with yours in price, year and condition and that'll give you a much closer idea.

If you can afford it, I'd hang onto it..it won't go down in value. You can get a striker fired small high capacity 9mm like a Taurus G3C for a carry gun for a few hundred dollars.

 

[JP@AK]

The revolver you inherited is called a K-22 Masterpiece Model 17-3. I agree it dates from 1968, and the 17-3 variant was first introduced in 1967.

As others have said, the K-22 Masterpiece is a very fine piece of equipment, has some monetary value and is a pleasure to shoot. Also, even though the days of 500 rounds of .22 ammo for $10 are long gone, a .22 is still very inexpensive to shoot.

Your pictures are a bit dark, but I'd put the market value of that revolver somewhere in the $700 range or better. It appears to be all original and in pretty darn good shape.

 

[JP@AK]

Hey Ben
May I ding you a bit, just in fun?

I probably have a dozen or so K-22 Masterpieces from about 1931 and up

I don't see how this is possible, since the first K-22 Masterpiece wasn't made until 1940.

From 1931 until 1940, the K target frame .22 was called the K-22 Outdoorsman's.

 

[GunDumbBlonde]

Wow! Thank you all so very much for the replies and great info. This helps immensely. Can't thank you all enough.

 

[pasound]

The K-22 is the perfect example of a .22LR target/farm work/hiking revolver. Perfect to learn how to shoot correctly. Great acquisition. It's a keeper!

 

[oink]

Yeah, nice gun. Keep it, shoot it! You say you inherited it. If it's a family gun it makes a nice heirloom to pass on. Don't break the chain.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum and...............WAR EAGLE!!!!

Anyone who goes to a recognized source of information is certainly NOT dumb!

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum from another part of Bamaland.
You say you are new to guns and the Model 17 is a good one for a new shooter to learn with. Do you have someone to help you with handling and shooting a firearm?
It is different from a semi-auto but great for learning firearm safety and shooting. If you hang onto it and do some shooting come back and let us know what you think.
Oh, we have a lot of dog lovers around here also.

 

[Truckman]

Hey Ben
May I ding you a bit, just in fun?

OK Jack, pile it on, pile it on!...

Yes I was counting my K-22 Outdoorsman examples too, so sue me...So the stickler got stickled this time, but I didn't call them a "pre" anything either did I?......Ben

 

[Doug M.]

For someone who says she didn't know what she was asking, the research she obviously put in to the issue tells me she is no dumb anything.

I understand the preference for other platforms, but a nice .22 plinker is always worth having. You have one and it has not cost you anything to date. I'd keep it. .22s can be finicky about the ammo they prefer, but you can buy ammo relatively cheaply and try a bunch of different ammo to find something your revolver likes.

 

[Truckman]

.22s can be finicky about the ammo they prefer, but you can buy ammo relatively cheaply and try a bunch of different ammo to find something your revolver likes.

Yes, and be mindful of difficult extraction of fired cases...That can also vary between brands and types......Ben

 

[Abbynormal]

If you have any interest in shooting revolvers, use your K22 as an inexpensive learning device.
Many of us have honed our skills with a K22 shooting .22 LR
instead of having to spend a lot of money shooting .38's or .357's.

A K22 will always be in my gun collection until I die.

 

[Grayfox]

Don't sell that gun.
First because it has family history.
Second because they're just plain fun to shoot!

You have one of the best .22 revolvers ever made. Enjoy it!

 

[Engine49guy]

Very nice K-22 and welcome to the forum.

Only thing I have to ad is that the K-22 should not be dry fired with empty chambers.

The hammer on a rimfire will strike the cylinder bore edge where the rim of a .22lr round would be and eventually make a dent there.

Best regards from Florida.

 

[scooter123]

A couple of notes.

1) That model 17 is a highly desired revolver because it would be very difficult to find a better handgun than the model 17 for training a new shooter. Recoil is beyond mild and if you find the Double Action a bit too heavy it can be lightened to a 9-10 lbs trigger pull with a new mainspring. Quite simply it's a keeper and you should shoot it frequently.

2),Did you take Physics when you were in High School? If so that bit about Force being equal to Mass times Acceleration is in full force with a semi automatic handgun. What this means is that a light firearm will produce MORE Recoil than a heavier firearm. To be more specific a "small semi automatic pistol" can be a terrible choice for a new shooter if it's a 9mm parabellum or more powerful caliber. Basically if you insist on small only one caliber is useful for a new shooter and that is the 380. One pistol in 380 I would recommend is the Ruger LCP, it's small, reliable, and not very expensive.