Is there any mystique to Model 17 vs Model 18?

I have a pre 17 from around 1952 and an 18-4. As far as mystique my
old five screw pre 17 has more. But the 17 and 18 really do seem like
different guns. I tend to view the 6" gun as a target and small game
hunting gun and the 4" gun as a plinking and holster gun for woods
walking. My 18 does get shot more but I love them both.
 
I'm really glad so many folks seem to like the shorter barrels.

That just means more for me:
Because I love the 8 3/8" barrel.
A little more velocity, but a lot more sight radius. That's always nice when you actually shoot your guns.


Prescut
 
I have a couple of 17s and an 18. The 18 is probably my "most shot" .22 revolver for the simple reason that's it's an excellent practice gun for the centerfire adjustable-sight 4" K-frames.

SW_K-22s_zpswwuc51ti.jpg


Note the similarity of the 18 at the bottom to this Model 19. I think the popularity (and higher price) of the Model 18 stems from it being an excellent stand-in practice gun for the heavier hitters in that size.

John

SW_MODEL19-4_zps4zjh4wgk.jpg
 
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cmansguns said:
Is there any mystique to Model 17 vs Model 18?
Click to expand...
Interesting question. :)

I own one of each and would buy another one of each if the right guns in the right condition came along. I love them both. :)

But the Model 18 is very special to me, probably because I wanted one for so long... 11 years... before I was able to find one locally and pull it off. :)

While it seems like every old school shop around me has an overpriced 17 or two (or three) for sale... almost nobody gets in a Model 18 for sale. Those that own them, apparently tend to keep them. :D

Now, I'm talking the days before GB made it so much easier to just about buy anything you wanted as long as you had enough money and a cooperative importing dealer and were willing to take a chance on a used gun without first handling and inspecting it. :cool:

I'll also add that there is... surprise, surprise... a Model 18 listed for sale near me as we speak. :eek: Only thing is that our gun shops are all closed down indefinitely per order of our nasty anti-2A AG lady... so it can only be sold out of state at this time. :mad:

But if it is still around if/when the lockout ever ends, I'll be one of the first in line to see if that used Model 18 belongs in poor old TTSH's collection. :D
 
TTSH said:
Interesting question. :)

I own one of each and would buy another one of each if the right guns in the right condition came along. I love them both. :)

But the Model 18 is very special to me, probably because I wanted one for so long... 11 years... before I was able to find one locally and pull it off. :)

While it seems like every old school shop around me has an overpriced 17 or two (or three) for sale... almost nobody gets in a Model 18 for sale. Those that own them, apparently tend to keep them. :D

Now, I'm talking the days before GB made it so much easier to just about buy anything you wanted as long as you had enough money and a cooperative importing dealer and were willing to take a chance on a used gun without first handling and inspecting it. :cool:

I'll also add that there is... surprise, surprise... a Model 18 listed for sale near me as we speak. :eek: Only thing is that our gun shops are all closed down indefinitely per order of our nasty anti-2A AG lady... so it can only be sold out of state at this time. :mad:

But if it is still around if/when the lockout ever ends, I'll be one of the first in line to see if that used Model 18 belongs in poor old TTSH's collection. :D
Click to expand...

And just WHERE is this local gun shop?????
jk - hope you get to buy it.
 
I've had both guns for more than twenty-five years. Dashes or no dashes are not something I keep up with; I'd have to look at my guns to tell for sure how they are marked. I have never done a side-by-side accuracy comparison, but suspect the 18 will outshoot the 17.

Both are far from scarce, but the 18 has always been harder to find. I would guess there are fewer of the 18s around. The guns may shoot just as well as a Colt Officers Model Match or an original Colt Trooper .22, but here again, I've done no formal comparison.

At one time, Model 18s (and .22 Troopers) were used for law enforcement training prior to advancing to .38s, but that's been a very long time ago.
 
hdfinder47 said:
And just WHERE is this local gun shop?????
jk - hope you get to buy it.
Click to expand...
Ha!!! :) Funny thing about that Model 18: It appeared in the dealer's used gun listing during the virus but before the gun dealer shutdown order came. However, that dealer was so insanely busy with gun and ammo sales at that point in time that it would have been highly impractical and maybe even dangerous for multiple pre-existing conditions me to try to make a run up there. :(

These are strange times. It's just funny that an out-of-state person could buy it today, but I have to wait until our useless dud of a governor gives us our rights back. :o
 
I bought my 18 in 1980. One of the local police departments bought several 18's for low cost training purposes. They bought 6 of them. I don't know if their duty guns were 15's or 19's, but either way, it didn't work out for them, so the LGS bought them. That's where mine came from.
 
I’m not fond of 4” guns but have a 18, just sold another one recently. I’m thinning out and will keep one 17, the original one I got in 60s. I’m same way on other K and N frames. I like the 6” guns for shooting purposes. I trade off 4” and shorter guns.
 
A Model 18 went on my short list a few years when I'd renewed my interest in S&W revolvers. And one of the driving forces for my want was of all things my experience shooting a 4" Diamondback 22 almost 40 years ago. I could shoot that 4" Colt real well.

As for the 17, a 1948 K22 was my very first handgun. My late father purchased it shortly after returning from the Pacific theater of WWII, a naval officer. And a very generous forum member here gave me an incredible deal on the target stocks. And I was able to purchase the minty late '70's 18-4 a few years ago from an inheritance my Mom left me. It's a 29K prefix SN. Wasn't cheap but so glad I filled that spot in my collection.

qQnvORu.jpg


k7a4mbQ.jpg
 
Some folks believe the 18 was used (due to cheap ammo) as a practice, teaching revolver for law enforcement officers and others of the day that carried seminar guns of higher caliber. I have never seen any definitive evidence however.
 
Drm50 said:
In 1974 I traded my Diamondback for two m43 S&Ws NIB. Couldn’t say no to that deal.
Click to expand...

Good trade. I've had two 6'' Diamondback .22s for a long time. Neither compares in accuracy with an S&W .22 ( or old Model Colt Troopers or Officer Model Match guns).
 
To me,
my half a dozen Colt Diamondbacks are beyond compare. The finish is like a liquid blue that is so deep you can swim in it. The feel in the hand and balance is my favorite among many in either 4" or 6" barrel. It doesn't hurt that the factory grips are perfect and stunning in every way.
Mine shoot tiny little groups under 1" at 25 yards bench rested. They all shoot that well.

The same model comes in both 38 special and 22 lr.

I like them even better than my Pythons. The Diamondbacks are almost double what I pay for my S&W's. They are better, but not quite twice better.

Having said all that, I always take my S&W model 17 with 8 3/8" barrel on every shooting excursion; cause she's an old shooter with 5 decades of proof. I like smacking 100 yard plus steel and that long sight radius of hers just helps a ton when making that steel sing.

When only fondling, I still prefer my Diamondbacks.

Prescut
 
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