My Father's 17-1 K22

[NovaJoe]

I have the 17-1 K22 that my father bought from a coworker in around 1970 for $25. The SN K4265xx seems to indicate manufacture in late 1960.

It has original diamond magna grips numbered to the gun, the original box with SN in white grease (box damaged a little), paper wrap, a set of stag grips, and a hunter holster and gunbelt that has .22 LR. The gun is in very nice condition with normal signs of light use: turn lines, and slight wear on the sides of the barrel near the muzzle. I can't believe that it survived my teenage years looking so nice.

I don't want to sell my father's K22. But none of my kids/nieces/nephews are into guns, and I was inspired by recent comments from rct269 about leaving money rather than guns.

So I'm looking through GB for comparables, and out of about 216 K22s and M17s listed, I don't see a single 17-1. Looking in SCSW4 I see that 17-1s are scarce and carry a 25%-50% premium. What's a fair price to ask for it?

 

[Retired W4]

What a nice family gun. It is a shame you don't have any family interested in it. Just to help you out with comps, this past February I bought a really great example of a 17-1 for $1150, gun only. I was very happy with that price. I will see if i have a picture of it. Mine shipped January, 1962.

BTW, SN: K427934

 

[Retired W4]

Found some pictures. It came to me with these period correct targets. I guess I need to get a letter to find out if it left the factory with them on. Possibly not, but only the letter can tell. It will be difficult to find recent sale prices, as they don't come on the market often.

 

[steelslaver]

I wouldn't worry to much about the stocks as those diamond K frame targets would sell for $200 or more so kind of a wash if not orginal

BTW, I am adoptable

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I don't want to sell my father's K22. But none of my kids/nieces/nephews are into guns, and I was inspired by recent comments from rct269 about leaving money rather than guns.

I am another Senior Citizen in the same situation. None of my children are interested and my granddaughters don't care because they are following their parents.

I highly recommend cruising. My wife and I love it.

 

[bullmack]

If I remember correctly there weren't a lot of 17-1's produced in comparison to the others.

 

[Retired W4]

If I remember correctly there weren't a lot of 17-1's produced in comparison to the others.

I don't know exactly when S&W went to the left hand threaded ejector rod started in 1959 but the -2 came shortly after. SCSW annotated "scarce" when describing the -1 change. Personally I think Novajoe should get at least $1400 for his package. They definitely have collector interest. Am I off on my estimation? It's hard to tell with so few changing hands.

 

[Truckman]

I am another Senior Citizen in the same situation. None of my children are interested and my granddaughters don't care because they are following their parents.

My two nephews are my only heirs, and although both like their own guns, they have little interest in older S&W revolvers...They both know mine have some monetary value, but both admit they wouldn't have a clue how to liquidate them for fair value...One of my oldest friends is an avid gun collector, albeit his safes are full of Kimbers, Glocks, Sigs and various police long guns...He does like Smiths though, and through helping me at the gun shows understands their value...

So, after surviving my extended hospital stay via Covid a few years ago, I wrote a new will designating my buddy as the recipient of all my guns and related paraphernalia, while my nephews get everything else...After explaining my reasons to all concerned at a gathering, everyone was in agreement that my decision benefited all, and after some resistance to the idea even my buddy agrees that it's the right decision...

So between now and whenever the hole gets dug for my dirt nap, I'm free to enhance, decrease or change direction of what I collect and enjoy as I please......Ben

 

[NovaJoe]

Got my letter the other day

Thanks for your comments so far. I got my letter the other day from Mr. Mundell. It states that my 17-1 shipped with "square butt target stocks with silver Smith & Wesson medallions". How do I reconcile that with the magna stocks numbered to the gun?

 

[22hipower]

Thanks for your comments so far. I got my letter the other day from Mr. Mundell. It states that my 17-1 shipped with "square butt target stocks with silver Smith & Wesson medallions". How do I reconcile that with the magna stocks numbered to the gun?

First thing I would do is send Don an e mail (or PM) and ask him to check the particulars of the letter. Did you mention to him in your letter request that the gun had magna stocks numbered to the gun? If not, do so via e mail. I've had a few letters with minor errors and the letters were corrected. On the other hand, the invoice may indeed state target stocks. If so, it is what it is. Correct target stocks are not numbered to the gun and aren't all that expensive to acquire if you want the gun to match the letter.

If selling the gun I'd point out the magnas as likely being correct.

As a buyer, that particular discrepancy would not bother me at all given that you have the correct numbered magna stocks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[series guy]

If the stocks were already numbered they probably installed the target stocks and put the originals in the box with the gun.