Model 17-4 8 3/8" Barrel

[mainegrw]

Happy Saturday all,
I picked up a used, but decent condition Model 17-4 with 8 3/8" barrel today. It's been shot a bit, and has a turn line on the cylinder, but the action is perfect, and the bluing is otherwise 95% or better. The gun was made in 1981, and came to me with the original box, albeit in rough condition, and paperwork.

The questions I have for the group are: I don't see alot of the 8 3/8" barrel K22s and 17s around, and I am wondering how rare they are. I've only ever seen two, this one, and another LNIB at another gun shop priced at $1500. Is there a premium for this barrel length? Also, was there a specific shooting discipline best suited for the long barrel 17s? (like the long barrel centerfire revolvers for silhouette shooting).

Thanks! Range report and pictures to come later...

Edit: Picture added. The gun came with what I am assuming was its original set of target stocks, however I swapped them, at least for now, with a set of Hogue fancy wood grips. They just fit my hand better.

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[sophie]

The Model 17-4 with 8 3/8" barrel may be a little scarce when it comes to the 6" barrel because they didn't make quite as many but I don't consider the longer barrel rare by any means. I bought a Model 17-4 new in about 1980 in the 8 3/8" barrel to shoot small bore Hunters Pistol Silhouette and I still have that gun. Always very accurate.

 

[bmcgilvray]

By all rights it should be a worn out clunk. Most fired firearm in the collection since purchased new in January 1980. It soldiers on.

 

[jaymoore]

Happy Saturday all,
I picked up a used, but decent condition Model 17-4 with 8 3/8" barrel today.....
....(W)as there a specific shooting discipline best suited for the long barrel 17s? (like the long barrel centerfire revolvers for silhouette shooting).....

It's not a bad choice for small bore Metallic Sillouette, Revolver Class, although I prefer the full underlug versions in either blue or stainless. It can also be entered in Smallbore Standing to good effect. Shooting partner LisaG has recently started getting comfortable with an 8 3/8" barreled 17-4. If she takes to it like she did her Anschutz pistol, there may be a new IHMSA state champion in those classes in just a short while!

The long barrel .22 revolver also seems to be a natural small game getter! I've hunted with a 8 3/8" barreled 617 for about 20 years.

 

[Beecherkid]

This thread needs a picture.

 

[OldChief]

I have a 17-4 that's a great shooter.

 

[sophie]

I don't know how well this will work trying to upload these photos because I haven't tried this since I got Windows 10 several years ago and its not as easy for me to understand.
Pictured is my S&W 17-4 with the 8 3/8" barrel with 3 T's that I mentioned in my earlier post. I had lots of fun shooting this gun in Smallbore Hunters Pistol Silhouette matches. The Silhouette Matches faded out here a long time ago. That Leopold Gold Ring 4X EER Scope has been on the gun since 1980. Those engraved scope mount rings are or were made by Redfield and were unusual at the time. In these pictures I have removed the Herrett Target grips and put the relieved target grips the gun came with when I purchased it new in 1980. I have shot many rounds through this gun in the past. I have a couple of S&W 17's with the 6" barrel and enjoy shooting them all but I think this is my favorite to go out and shoot some paper.

 

[k22fan]

[...] I am wondering how rare they [8 3/8"] are. [...] Is there a premium for this barrel length? Also, was there a specific shooting discipline best suited for the long barrel 17s? [...]

I love pre-full lug 8 3/8" Model 17s. However, not only are they not rare, they are not even uncommon. While 6" 17s are far more numerous than 8 3/8" Model 17s and 4" Model 18s there are more people who want them so in my area in similar condition they all sell for the same price. Top dollar in retail stores is $700 + tax. Any model 17 priced at $1,500 is only being displayed. It is not seriously for sale. I'd bet a nickel that gun has bids on a site like Gone Broker.

8 3/8" Model 17s were introduced around 30 years before silhouette competition achieved any significant popularity. S&W chose 8 3/8" rather than 8" or 8 1/2" because 8 3/8" gave the 10 inch maximum sight radius allowed in off hand bullseye competition. Also the 8 3/8" barrel was made light enough to be held up one handed. While it gladdens my heart to read members did well with them in Silhouette competition that's not what they were originally designed for.

By the way, I also prefer wood that is smaller around the bottom than 1981 Targets. Monogrips fit me well. They can be ordered with checkering and no finger grooves. That's how I like them best.

 

[mainegrw]

Thanks for all the replies all, I guess they're not all that uncommon. As I said, I've only ever seen two, and my friends at my favorite LGS (not the one I purchased this example from) said that they have never actually seen one themselves, so I'm a bit surprised. I actually see more pre-war K22s in my perusing then I do 8 3/8" model 17s, though any of the series can be few and far between around here...

Anyway, shes certainly not disappointing on range. The trigger is a tad more stiff than the last model 17 I owned, but still excellent. I love it!




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[k22fan]

[...] I actually see more pre-war K22s in my perusing then I do 8 3/8" model 17s, [...] The trigger is a tad more stiff than the last model 17 I owned, but still excellent.

Pre-war K-22s are quite a bit more valuable than early post-war K-22s which are in turn more than Model 17s. Those pre-war K-22s are worth a second look. Their rear sights are polished smooth together with the top strap. The exception is the last year or two of pre-war K-22s introduced the short action hammer and the adjustable sight that became standard on pre-17s and 17s. Those are rare.

Wolff sells packages of rebound springs of various weights. I usually wind up using their 13# spring. That makes the trigger less stiff with a simple inexpensive parts change. If 13# makes the trigger return sluggish then go with 14#. How much poundage it takes depends on how smooth and well fitted the internals are. My experience has been that reducing the main or hammer spring much at all leads to missfires, especially in double action.

 

[mainegrw]

Pre-war K-22s are quite a bit more valuable than early post-war K-22s which are in turn more than Model 17s. Those pre-war K-22s are worth a second look. Their rear sights are polished smooth together with the top strap. The exception is the last year or two of pre-war K-22s introduced the short action hammer and the adjustable sight that became standard on pre-17s and 17s. Those are rare.



Wolff sells packages of rebound springs of various weights. I usually wind up using their 13# spring. That makes the trigger less stiff with a simple inexpensive parts change. If 13# makes the trigger return sluggish then go with 14#. How much poundage it takes depends of how smooth and well fitted the internals are. My experience has been that reducing the main or hammer spring much at all leads to missfires, especially in double action.

Changing the springs always has me a little concerned, especially with rimfire revolvers. I have used the Wolff mainsprings in other revolvers with mixed success, one leaving a model 27 of mine nearly unshootable. The springs are cheap enough though so maybe I'll give a lighter spring a try.

I do however find often with older S&W revolvers that a careful action disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly with a quality synthetic grease can vastly improve performance and lighten the trigger some just by virtue of a reduction of friction. I can tell that the side plate has already been off this gun, so I have no qualms about poking around inside myself.

Don't get me wrong, I love the pre-war K22s more than anyone could know, however the price point is a barrier to my ownership of one. There is a prime example available from the same dealer I mentioned in my initial post trying to sell a 17-4 similar to mine at $1500, also priced around $1500, though this seems to be in line with valuation in the SCSW. It's just a bit too much for me. The other example I've seem recently is actually priced much lower, but the gun is in significantly worse condition. It's priced at $850, and has very little finish left on it. Further it appears to have been dropped on pavement, and someone went through the trouble of cutting off the gold bead on the front sight. Still, I wouldn't shy away from it, however the action just doesn't feel right to me. She's had a hard life and it shows.

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[D Brown]

8 3/8" Model 17's are great!

I love my 8 3/8" Model 17-4! To me it's perfect for shooting targets of opportunity at any reasonable distance. Mine is extremely accurate, and that's the rule with K-22's, not the exception.

Others have mentioned it; the 8 3/8" Barrel K-22 is nigh onto perfect for NRA Hunter's Pistol Silhouette Competition. I used its big brother, an 8 3/8" Model 14 (.38 Special) to win my class at the 1989 Texas State NRA Hunter's Pistol Championship in Lubbock, Texas, shooting in the Centerfire Open Sight Division.

My 8 3/8" Model 17-4, Shipped 1978-79.