How desirable is S&W 617-2

[PbRx]

Hi all,

How rare/desirable is a S&W 617-2? It has a 6" barrel and a 10-shot alloy cylinder. What do they normally go for?

Thanks!

 

[5Wire]

The 617s are real popular. Here's my track on the model:

Smith & Wesson 617 Plus 6-in Bbl Revolver in .22, Long Rifle. Bluebook of Gun Values (33nd Edition) indicates between $326 in 95% condition and $631 in 100% condition for this gun. I have 58 recorded prices for this model gun from $350 to $760 over a period of 8 Yrs 11 Mos ending July 22, 2012. The average price as of that date was $503. No refurbs, no refinishes, regular sights. All represented as 95% or better. No distinction for import location or engineering revision, if any, no special editions, no distinctions for box, papers, tools. Current or last MSRP is $940.

Here's how the data charts out, a couple months and 5 prices behind. You can see the Average Price Trend was at about $640 as of March 2012. Better example would command better prices. especially with box, papers, tools, and so on.



Here's one I had, a 617-2 10-shooter with a stainless cylinder.:

 

[NZshooter]

wow... Bob, engineer or accountant?

are these based on sales at an LGS, GunJoker, S&W Forum, all the above?

 

[5Wire]

Ha! Neither, NZshooter. I spent a lot of time analyzing and setting competitive pricing.

I collect prices on completed auctions, forum classifieds in a number of different forums ('fora' just doesn't sound right ), local shops, when I feel like it. I have a database I cobbled together and look for trends in the prices realized and the number of them. It started out as an insurance backup if I ever (hopefully never) had a need for it.

It got away from me.

So now I track what I own, used to own, or lust after.

Not to hijack the thread.

PbRx, any S&W 617 is sought after. The 4-inch, in particular. The 10-shooters are a hoot to shoot. Everyone that has one, keeps one. That's why so few used 617s turn up. The aluminum cylinders were unpopular for cosmetic reasons. Nothing wrong with them. A number of forum members will attest to that.

The 617-2 pictured above shared a safe with a 617-6 4-inch. I liked it better and it was the same size as an L-Frame 686P. Both 617s were uncannily accurate, a reputation 617s seem to share. BTW, the internal lock is not a deal breaker as far as I'm concerned. Besides, it's not what you'd think of as a first choice personal defense firearm.

HTH

Are you thinking of selling yours? Are you looking at a possible purchase?

 

[snubbiefan]

The -2 was a transitional year. Some had aluminum cylinders and continued to have forged hammers/triggers and they transitioned to stainless cylinders and MIM parts. In the -3, they bounced back to a 6-shot stainless cylinder and also changed to the integral frame lug.

I happen to think the dash-2 with the 10-shot aluminum cylinder, forged components and replaceable frame lug will one day wind-up as a rare bird, which it already is I suppose. Right now....the poo-poo from some observers seems to be the aluminum cylinder, but I have no issues with the aluminum cylinder in 22.

Where I come from....you will be hard pressed to find any 617 no-lock 6-inch for anything under $650-$675 and the price escalates from there if it has the box and papers. The 4-inchers......add another $150-$200.

 

[PbRx]

Bob: wow! Thank you! I wish I'm that organized.

Snubbiefan: thank you also.

I bought the 617-2 on impulse a few year ago and it has been sitting in my safe. Haven't decided what to do with it yet. Maybe I'll shoot it and decide .

 

[snubbiefan]

You fully understand that it will almost always be worth more if never fired and in the box. I am sure the curves (shooting vs. collecting) have not fully developed and for the present time...the 617 rides the shooting curve for the most part. What I would consider is that you may have something (no longer made for sure) that could be more valuable from a collector standpoint. Only problem is....you may not live long enough to see it happen....bummer.

At the moment, if you lay down one with a SS cylinder beside one with an aluminum cylinder...most of the time a buyer would choose the SS cylinder. BUT...that may change in time. They only made a finite number with aluminum cylinders. Finite numbers usually mean an increase in collector value at some point in time. If it were mine and I had something else to shoot....I'd leave it in the safe.

 

[civil1977]

I'd say the 617-2 is third behind the 617 no dash and 617-4 in terms of desirability. Its certainly a desirable model and was only produced for a couple of years. In fact it had the shortest production run (number of years) of any of the dashes. The aluminum cylinder caused some problems and many were replaced by stainless versions, some before they left the factory. The 617-2 was replaced after two years of production by the 617-4 as the 10 shot version....the 617-3 (6 shot) and 617-4 (10 shot) were produced simultaneously.

Of course there are some other more desirable low production variations of the 617 such as the non lugged barrels from Ashland Shooting Supplies.

There's also the one off pictured below. It appears to be a 617 or early 617-1 but it has a 10 shot cylinder with ONLY SIX FLUTES. Note the way the cylinder was recessed....the individual chambers are not recessed. It's not mine but it's pretty interesting. This picture is from a 2002 S&W produced collectors edition magazine so this gun must have been a prototype.

There are so many variations of the 617, one could focus on that model alone for collecting.

 

[PbRx]

Thanks again to all. Really appreciate the info!

 

[Richard_]

Will a trigger job decrease the value? Assuming it was performed by a competent smith.

 

[retiredsquid]

Will a trigger job decrease the value? Assuming it was performed by a competent smith.

I have a 617 6" 10 shot. I sent it back to S&W to put target trigger, target hammer, sights and an action job. Having been done by S&W with documentation cannot hurt IMNSHO. Mine will not be sold in my lifetime, period.

I also have a six shot version. I really want a 4" 10 shot some day.

 

[NZshooter]

Ha! Neither, NZshooter. I spent a lot of time analyzing and setting competitive pricing.

I collect prices on completed auctions, forum classifieds in a number of different forums ('fora' just doesn't sound right ), local shops, when I feel like it. I have a database I cobbled together and look for trends in the prices realized and the number of them. It started out as an insurance backup if I ever (hopefully never) had a need for it.

as someone else said.... I wish I was that organized, and meticulous, tracking price trends of multiple types of guns, or investments, anything useful...

 

[clang444]

Many people do not like the aluminum cylinder so they usually bring less money than an all SS 617 pre-lock gun. Us S&W accumulators usually don't like cost savings techniques, and the aluminum cylinder was just that.

 

[fyimo]

Many people do not like the aluminum cylinder so they usually bring less money than an all SS 617 pre-lock gun. Us S&W accumulators usually don't like cost savings techniques, and the aluminum cylinder was just that.

+1 on what he said

 

[snubbiefan]

You guys could be right on the cost-savings and lord knows I am no expert. But, the story I heard was that Smith had all sorts of issues trying to make the first SS 10-shot cylinders work due to a machining problem and went to the aluminum cylinder in the interim until they got that worked-out. Gun rumors are as bad as who's-running-around-on-who rumors and it can sometimes be difficult to know what really happened.