New 17-6

[Boxer rox]

A local shop I frequent posted this gun for sale two days ago. As soon as I could I got in there today, never figuring it would still be there. Sure enough there it was and it came home with me. It's in great shape with box and all the paperwork, cleaning kit, wax paper and cardboard with the little plastic plug for the trigger guard. It was getting dark when I got home but I put two cylinders through it out back. It recoils like a air gun.

I probably paid too much but I'm happy with it. The shop is more of a tactical type place. I never see revolvers in there for sale. I think that's why it was still there today, wrong crowd for .22 revolvers I think. I've gotten to know the guy behind the counter pretty good. He said the guy traded it in on a Glock 19!! I like my Glocks as much as the next guy but I couldn't believe it.

 

[rbmac52]

Nice score! I hope the guy who traded it in got at least two Glocks for that Model 17-6!

 

[Jim1247]

17

That looks like a really nice piece, if I were you I couldn't wait to take it for a range day, or just admire the history of it

have fun

 

[oysterer]

What's too much, I think you have a ways to go up before you paid to much...a real cherry and something I would also love to own. I am not tracking 22s but I have a sense that these are way expensive. Love the grips, the underlug and everything else. Well done.

 

[Sevens]

Interesting note for anyone that isn't (yet!) intimately familiar with the 17-6... this version of the famed K-22 saw a transition that is not reflected in the dash number! The earlier 17-6 looks exactly like all of the K-22's that preceded it back to the 1950's, with the standard ribbed target barrel and the three-T guns were shipped with Goncalo Alves Target stocks. At some point S&W decided it was time to put full lug barrels on these and the much loved combat stocks came with the full lug barrels.

Best I can tell, the dash-6 was split somewhat toward the full lug/combats rather than the standard ribbed barrels, but I've always found it curious that the mothership elected NOT to change the dash number. I've always figured that it was a very large change — the best explanation I've heard is that since the barrel screws in to place exactly the same way and there were no modifications otherwise necessary (or other non-compatible parts) then there was no need to make a dash-number change.

If I had been in charge, your revolver would be a 17-7.

 

[Boxer rox]

That's the stuff I come here for. I really just bought this because I liked it. I'm guilty of not doing my research sometimes. Is there a good way to nail down the exact build date on this? Am I correct in thinking these were from 1990 to 1994?

 

[Dieseltech56]

What are the first 3 letters of the serial number and we'll give you an approx date

 

[CH4]

Very nice find!
You definitely don't see many up for sale, especially the 4".
A couple years ago I wasn't familiar with the full lug 17-6 until I happened upon a 4" at the Reno Scheels. A few weeks later I found my 6" at the big Reno show. The 6" is a little muzzle heavy, but it would take a sweet offer for me to give it up - at least $1200 for the 6" (no box), much more to wrangle my 4".

 

[CH4]

That's the stuff I come here for. I really just bought this because I liked it. I'm guilty of not doing my research sometimes. Is there a good way to nail down the exact build date on this? Am I correct in thinking these were from 1990 to 1994?

Me too! At first glance I thought the 4" was a 586. I did some quick, on the spot google research and took it home with me. Still smiling.

 

[Boxer rox]

What are the first 3 letters of the serial number and we'll give you an approx date

The first three are. BHN

it also has spec.ord.1296 on the box. Don't know if that means anything?

 

[Sevens]

Hahaha it definitely means something. That's the 296th day of the year 1991.

October 23, 1991 is your born-on date.

My 6-inch 17-6 with the standard ribbed target barrel is a BBJ-prefix. I have the date somewhere but not handy. I believe mine is from 1988.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

that is gorgeous. Congrats

 

[OIF2]

I would have probably "paid too much" for that one, too. Awesome K22.
Bob

 

[Boxer rox]

Hahaha it definitely means something. That's the 296th day of the year 1991.

October 23, 1991 is your born-on date.


Thanks, that's the year I graduated high school so that's kind of cool and will be easy to remember.

Gun sales are slow around here right now. They had it listed at $750 and I paid $700 plus tax. I don't know if that was a good price or not but I figured I have paid that much for plastic guns. I definitely didn't need it but I knew I would kick myself if I didn't get it. I also figured it wouldn't have lasted through the weekend once they got busy.

 

[murphydog]

For a nearly NIB example with contents you did well at $700. Fortunately the tacticool shop guys didn't try to take all the red stuff off the stocks to get to the grey plastic underneath.

Enjoy!

 

[CH4]

You did very good!!!

 

[sodacan]

At $700, you paid roughly half of what a comparable gun has been selling for. The 17-6 is one the very few non-pinned barrel S&W revolvers I would like to own. It's a beauty. Enjoy it.

 

[Sevens]

Well, there is good news and bad news.

The good news is that you got a fantastic deal. The bad news is that since you seem to think that you paid closer to high end, you may be in for a bit of culture shock. You just bought a revolver that looks dang near NIB, with the box, and wearing a set of combats that look phenomenal. If you fall head over heels in love with it and that leads to you chasing down more pre-lock S&W revolvers, you will need to adjust your perception of what is "too much."

Collector/"value" pro tip: Those stocks. If you don't 110% love the way that they look and feel, carefully remove them now and safely stow them in the box. Put whatever K/L frame grips or stocks you like on the revolver. Those stocks all on their own are money and keeping them in top condition is part of that. By all means keep them on the revolver and enjoy them if you love the look and feel, but if they aren't perfect for you, take them off as soon as you can and keep their condition high.

Don't yank them and sell them. Just don't. But if you did... the stocks all by themselves go easily over $200. Really.

$700 plus tax was a steal for what you got. Major score, great snag!

 

[Walter Rego]

Sevens is right. I have fingers like Italian sausages and have yet to find a set of finger groove stocks that felt good in my hand. I put the Goncalo Alves Combat Stocks that were on my 17-6 4" back in the box and ordered a set of rosewood stocks from a Thai vendor on ebay. The comparison between the 17-6 and 586 is a good one. Here's a couple of pics.