Rogue686
Member
I have to ask...what is the difference between the 17 and 18? Both are K-frame 22s...and am unsure of the difference.
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May be a silly question...Model 17 versus Model 18
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TAROMAN
US Veteran
Model 17 = Target Masterpiece. Choice of 6" or 8-3/8" barrel. Usually issued with patridge front sight. There are known exceptions, however.
Model 18 = Combat Masterpiece. 4" barrel usually issued with a ramp front sight. There are known exceptions, however.
Model 18 = Combat Masterpiece. 4" barrel usually issued with a ramp front sight. There are known exceptions, however.
OP
Rogue686
Member
Thanks for the information!!
The M17 K-22 is more of a target revolver. It is just like the M16 Target Masterpiece in .32 Caliber and the M14 Target Masterpiece in .38 Spl.
The M18 Combat Masterpiece is the same revolver as the M15 Combat Masterpiece except for caliber. The M15 is a .38 Spl. and the M18 is a .22 LR. The M18 was initially designed as a training gun for Police Officers who carried the M15.
Jim
The M18 Combat Masterpiece is the same revolver as the M15 Combat Masterpiece except for caliber. The M15 is a .38 Spl. and the M18 is a .22 LR. The M18 was initially designed as a training gun for Police Officers who carried the M15.
Jim
Titan
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I wish they'd offer stainless versions of the 17 and 18. Yes, I know about the 63 & 617 - one's a j-frame, and one is an unnecessarily heavy L frame.
Titan,
But still your point is well taken; it is a K frame but 617s are too heavy with that lugged barrel. I'm about 'this' close to installing a 17 barrel after having it refinished in one of the plethora of hi tech finishes out there, whichever most closely matches the stainless steel!
But still your point is well taken; it is a K frame but 617s are too heavy with that lugged barrel. I'm about 'this' close to installing a 17 barrel after having it refinished in one of the plethora of hi tech finishes out there, whichever most closely matches the stainless steel!
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Robinett_11B
US Veteran
Or you can try and find a factory non-lugged 617 from one of the Ashland runs....might be better off searching for a Unicorn though
Someday, when I'm old and retired, I'm going to buy a pre-lock 4" 617 and send it off to have the lug professionally milled off.
Or you can try and find a factory non-lugged 617 from one of the Ashland runs....might be better off searching for a Unicorn though
Someday, when I'm old and retired, I'm going to buy a pre-lock 4" 617 and send it off to have the lug professionally milled off.
Ashland model: I didn't even want to go there.
I've had that lug removal in mind as well, but I don't know if someone will taper the barrel as well. I like the sleekness of the early tapered barrels.
Robinett_11B
US Veteran
I've thought the exact same thing...it'd probably be tricky for a machinist, even one familiar with revolvers, to taper the barrel. I think I'd live with it though...IIRC, the Ashland guns had heavy barrels and still looked alright. ETA: Your idea of hard chroming a M17 barrel seems like a good fix, but if I was going that route; I'd probably just find a rougher M17 to hardchrome all together.
And, to the OP...sorry for cluttering up your thread; but if you wanna see a cool factory K-frame .22, look up the Ashland 617's.
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mkk41
US Veteran
Though I knew the difference , I always wondered WHY the two different model numbers. After all , a Model 19 is a Model 19 (or 27,29,)whether it has a 2 1/2" , 3" , 4" , 6" or 8 3/8" barrel , ramp or patridge front sight.
Also , there have been Mod.18 stamped guns with 6in barrels and Mod.17s with 4in tubes.
Also , there have been Mod.18 stamped guns with 6in barrels and Mod.17s with 4in tubes.
An 18 with a 6 inch barrel would be a factory error.A 17 with a 4 inch barrel would be a specific model-either with a lugless heavy barrel,or full lug barrel-a different animal than an 18.
Still, I understand your point.
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sunday bill
Member
My 17-6 has the 4" lugless, heavy barrel, that Camster alluded to. In poor light, its ramped front sight is harder for me to see distinctly, but in good light the 4" tube is extremely accurate.....I remember someone saying in a discussion on this forum that the 17-6 resulted when S&W dropped the M-18 and installed left-over 4" barrels on M-17 frames. Don't know if that is true or not.
I have one of the full lugged four inch 17-7s.I was almost disappointed when the clerk first brought it out as NOS,as my mindset was for 6 inchers.I bought it,and in time,realized how nice it was,what a bargain it was too-especially since it came with a beautiful set of combats.
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When the Model 18 was discontinued in 1985. Any subsequent 4" .22s were called 17s or 617s if stainless with different dash numbers.
17-4 was a 4" heavy barrel with no heavy lug,
17-6 was 4" w/full lug,
617 had the full lug 4"
and there was an "exclusive" 617 made only for Ashland Shooting Supply.
None of these 4" models were made for very long.
Most Models do not have a different model # because of a different barrel length. Another was the Model 34 22/32 Kit Gun in 2" and 4". But in 6" it became the Model 35. Go figure!
17-4 was a 4" heavy barrel with no heavy lug,
17-6 was 4" w/full lug,
617 had the full lug 4"
and there was an "exclusive" 617 made only for Ashland Shooting Supply.
None of these 4" models were made for very long.
Most Models do not have a different model # because of a different barrel length. Another was the Model 34 22/32 Kit Gun in 2" and 4". But in 6" it became the Model 35. Go figure!
sunday bill
Member
My 17-6 does not have the full-lug barrel.
Engine49guy
Member
This topic comes up once in a while,
Here is a link to the last time as it covered alot of the questions at hand.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/194357-m-17-4-a.html
( 1985 ) The Model 18 line was dropped with the 18-4 ,(until its recent revival with internal lock).
(1986 to 1989) ...Realizing a 4" K22 was still needed they offered a 4" version of the Model 17-5,
at that time it had a heavier no underlug barrel .
Some transitional late 17-4's , early 17-6s and early stainess 617's ( sometimes marked 17-6)
are found with the heavy no underlug barrel.
Here is a link to the last time as it covered alot of the questions at hand.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/194357-m-17-4-a.html
( 1985 ) The Model 18 line was dropped with the 18-4 ,(until its recent revival with internal lock).
(1986 to 1989) ...Realizing a 4" K22 was still needed they offered a 4" version of the Model 17-5,
at that time it had a heavier no underlug barrel .
Some transitional late 17-4's , early 17-6s and early stainess 617's ( sometimes marked 17-6)
are found with the heavy no underlug barrel.
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wheelgun28
Member
4" 17 humm...
so just when you think you have it figured out
This was my dads, he got around 1968. I dont know the history other than this is the way he got it.
My guess is it was rebarreled at some point, I dont know for sure or why?
so just when you think you have it figured out
This was my dads, he got around 1968. I dont know the history other than this is the way he got it.
My guess is it was rebarreled at some point, I dont know for sure or why?
wheelgun,
The only way to tell for sure is to get a letter, but I highly suspect that the factory used a 17-2 frame to use up a 4" barrel in inventory. It's not that uncommon. Sometimes they overstamp the model # with the correct # but I've seen cases where they didn't.
mkk41
US Veteran
Obviously not an overstamp. But it is not all that uncommon to find a wrongly marked model as I understand they make and mark frames prior to them becoming complete revolvers. I guess they sometimes neglect to re-stamp the model number.
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