Model 617 without a full lug barrel

[smitholdtimer]

The S&W Catalog, third edition mentions something of a 1991 limited production in 4" & 6" without the lug for Ashland Shooting Supplies. There is no mention of the total number produced nor how many were 4" and how many were 6", I'm hoping someone here is able give me more details as to the numbers. Is there any hope of locating one or are they under produced and rare?
Thanks for any information.

 

[bbqbob51]

You might find one but you will pay dearly for it. Smith and Wesson revolvers are expensive enough as it is, you add rare and limited edition to the mix and it just gets crazy. Besides, any 617 is hard to come by anyway. It took me 7 months to find one!

 

[TANZER]

617 full lug / semi lug

Attached is my semi lug 617.

 

[Neumann]

If you are willing to settle for a six-shooter, Smith & Wesson are making new M-17s. Like the classic K-22, they have a 6" barrel, Patridge sights with a simple lug rather than a shroud enclosing the ejector. The gun is polished blue, like the original, with a grooved ridge along the top of the barrel.

I recently landed an M17 no dash (c. 1957) - one of my bucket guns. What a sweet shooter. There's not an X-ring safe from that revolver.

Enjoy your 617, and don't give up the quest for the grail.

 

[ryxlyx]

There were 200 of the 4" and 116 of the 6" made. I got lucky and found a 6" last summer.

 

[smitholdtimer]

ryzlyx

I appreciate the information, will you offer a ball park cost figure for me to contemplate?

 

[colt22man]

I have a 6 inch M617 no lug. Label on the box is marked special. I was told only 116 of the 6 inch models were made. I pd. $795.00 for mine 8/2012. The last one I seen for sale, gun show in Ohio, the price tag was $3300. I seen one on GB go for $2300 May 2012. I haven't seen one since I bought mine. Deals are out there, just haver to be patient.

 

[varmint243]

I have a 6" model 17 modern classic and really like it and enjoy shooting it.
I would say it's a 9.5/10
quality, fit, finish, shootability, accuracy, trigger has finally worked itself in.
It compares very well to the guns of old.
I found it while I was looking for a 6" 617

Now if I just get my hands on a 6" 617....

If you are willing to settle for a six-shooter, Smith & Wesson are making new M-17s. Like the classic K-22, they have a 6" barrel, Patridge sights with a simple lug rather than a shroud enclosing the ejector. The gun is polished blue, like the original, with a grooved ridge along the top of the barrel.

I recently landed an M17 no dash (c. 1957) - one of my bucket guns. What a sweet shooter. There's not an X-ring safe from that revolver.

Enjoy your 617, and don't give up the quest for the grail.

 

[R.A. Rifleman]

Would it be a viable option to buy a regular 617 and have a gunsmith machine the lug off?

 

[ryxlyx]

I have a 16-4 orig 6" FL that was bobbed to 5" w/ a partial lug-- you can't tell it wasn't original. I've seen others done that well too. But you also have the finish issue-- the Ashland's are matte.

17-4/5/6 no lugs have the same tapered bbl that the Ashland does-- I s'pose you could nickle-plate one hehe....

 

[41collector]

Here are mine -





They are not for sale. My wife gets upset when someone makes me an offer. She bought them for my birthday many years ago. We stumbled across them in a gun shop in Georgia. I went home that Saturday and researched them. Called the shop Monday and had him hold them until the next Saturday.

 

[Engine49guy]

Would it be a viable option to buy a regular 617 and have a gunsmith machine the lug off?

The SS Ashland gun is actually just a SS copy of the Model 17-5 & 17-6 Heavy Barrel,

If you desperately desire an Ashland 617 but cant afford the hefty premium the easiest way to simulate one is to purchase a 17-5 (2nd from right ) and have it hard chromed.



One of my dream guns is a K22 look alike to the Model 19/66 but their frames are slightly longer in the yoke area to mate with the ejector rod shroud ,
For that reason the only K22 frame that would work for my project is the full underlug 17-6 and 617 no dash (left 2).

 

[RWJ]

-1

Well, the number of 4" guns must be down to 199, as I bought a factory 4" non-lugged .22 barrel with a matte finish off E*** a number of years ago for a "616"project that never happened; I don't believe that it was a replacement barrel, but it couldn't have many rounds through it.

 

[Dale53]

Smitholdtimer;
Here is that "new" Model 17:

Product: Model 17 Masterpiece

Dale53

 

[smitholdtimer]

Dale53

Thanks for the link but the "NEW" M-17 will not cut it for me, I'm too old to accept the hole in the side above the cylinder release and I am satisfied that the lug less M-617 is a stainless clone of the original M-17 or very close and I have accepted stainless as a viable material from which to fashion quality revolvers. When I view photos of new advertised revolvers from S&W and they do not include the left side view it causes me to think they are ashamed.

 

[Engine49guy]

Thanks for the link but the "NEW" M-17 will not cut it for me, ....I have accepted stainless as a viable material from which to fashion quality revolvers. When I view photos of new advertised revolvers from S&W and they do not include the left side view it causes me to think they are ashamed.

Are you specifically looking for an Ashland gun or just want a SS 617 no lock without an underlug ?

The SS Ashlands are pricey and hard to find,
You can still buy the SS 4" full underlug barrel and any competent gunsmith should be able to remove at least half the lug like a Model 66, If you want it lighter than that I would suggest having a Model 18 hard chromed.
The Model 18 has a tapered barrel and is lighter than the Ashland gun.
Interestingly they made a small run of SS 4" K22's marked as Model 65's in the early 70's but destroyed all but 1 that belongs to one of our members.

The Model 18 K22 Combat Masterpiece (left) shown with Models 17-5 HB (center) and Model 17-6 (Right)


A Model 18 in hard chrome would look just like the Model 67s below

 

[smitholdtimer]

Engine459guy

Your suggestion of "Hard Chroming" is intriguing because I do have a condition challenged Pre-M-18. Since the estimated selling prices suggested in the earlier replies seem excessive the "Hard Chroming" may be the sensible thing to do. Appreciate the interest and the information. Thanks to all who were kind enough to share their knowledge and advice.

 

[ryxlyx]

That would be SO cool!!

Here's a couple more to throw into the mix:

10-shot Ashland and a 9-shot 17-6

 

[smitholdtimer]

ryxlyx

Thanks, I just saw your 6" Ashland in the other post and had an urge to send you a PM with an inquiry to purchase until you mentioned it had been converted to a 10 shot in place of the original 6 shot. I admire the look but will do a wait & see for a while. One may even show up for sale but the Pre. M-18 will look even more impressive with all the screws in the side plate and a "Hard Chrome" finish!!

 

[ryxlyx]

I do have the original 6-shot cylinder assembly so it could replace the 10-shot, and in 6-shot mode would also then have the original gap. If the Ashland had even one mark on it I'd shoot it, but it looks like it left the factory yest'y-- so for now it sits....

To be honest, I think that a one-off like your Hard-Chrome pre-18 (or my 9-shot 17-6) is even MORE fun than something elusive from the factory.