New to me 17-3 opinions

[Nframe_is_no1]

Just added another K-22 to the stable today. Today's addition is a model 17-3 equipped with the 3Ts. It also came with the original box! The box lists the 3Ts but doesn't specify smooth targets, which is what it came with. Surprisingly, this poor K-22 sat in the case unwanted at the LGS for almost two months! I guess everyone wants polymer framed autos these days. I already have a 17-4 and a pre-17 in 6" and a 17-3 in 8 3/8", so I resisted initially. I figured my 17-4 was close enough, but it does not have the 3Ts. After being marked down twice, still no one wanted it. My resistance gradually wore down after looking at it several times and I finally ended up taking it home today. It looked so lonely and unloved sitting there waiting for a good home. I have $829 out the door into it with the markdowns. I hope I didn't overpay too much but the condition is immaculate! I figured I didn't go wrong because a new one from the classic series or a King Cobra 22 would both cost more anyway and can't compare in craftsmanship. Looked barely fired, just a slight turn line and light flash marks, but clean inside. Serial number is an 8K, dating it to 1975 according to SCSW. This revolver was a tack driver in it's initial test fire this afternoon! With CCI Mini Mag, I held an inch and a half group perfectly centered at 25 yards! I did not have to touch the sights at all either. I find the K-22 to be the most addictive of all! I love shooting them the most. Now I'm up to 3 17s and a pre-17 and I didn't even talk about my 18 or the 617s! Anyone else have multiple K-22s? This addiction is terrible! Here are the pictures. Apologies that the prop rod conceals the target trigger, but at least you can see the target hammer. I really like the feel of the target hammer and trigger and the trigger on this one is a true .500", not the later .400". Enjoy!

 

[series guy]

Very nice. I have to agree that the .22 caliber models are quite addictive. I'm in the same boat with pre model marked examples as well as Model 17s and various 617s. East one is very accurate. Then there is the Model 41. Back in the days when prices were low I couldn't figure out why anybody would pay center fire magnum money for a .22 caliber revolver. As a result most of my S&W rimfire were $800 - $1k and worth every penny.

 

[Truckman]

One of my favorite .22's is also a 17-3...Like yours it also has the target trigger and hammer which are not verified as original because it's still in the yet-to-be-lettered pile......Ben

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

Thank you gentlemen! Truckman, that 17 is gorgeous!

 

[GSP Fan]

I have a M17-3 with the three T's and it's a favorite. I also have a K22 Outdoorsman, 2 K22 from 1952 (birth year guns), one from 1948 as well as 3 M18's (one NIB) and 2 M617ND a 4 and 6 inch.
You just can't beat a K22. My 357's,41 & 44's are very much neglected because the K22's are so much fun

 

[weatherby]

The Smooth grips on it are Rosewood.
So a nice + in my book.

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

Thanks guys for the great responses! weatherby, Thank you so much for the information on the grips. I did not know they were rosewood but I was wondering why the wood looked a little different!

 

[CajunBass]

A 17-3, 3-T gun was my first S&W 22. Wish I'd held onto it. Yours is a beauty.

I do have this one, a 1951 K-22. Great shooter, and about as close to a birth year gun as I'm likely to get.

And I just picked this one up. It cost an arm and a leg, but I haven't seen a Model 18 at all in years, much less one in this condition. It has the 3-T's and the diamond target stocks were on it from the factory (at least according to the end tag on the box). I had it to the range for the first time over the weekend and could have shot it all day.

It's an 18-2 from about 1965. It shoots as good as it looks in both DA and SA modes. SA trigger breaks at 3.5 pounds. My scale only goes to 8 pounds, but I'd guess the DA is about 10 or so, and is very smooth.

It had the box with it, but no papers.

I'm considering getting rid of most of my "collection." These two and a Colt Python will stay.

 

[rct269]

Some K-22's are good, more are better, and too many are just right!!

I'm one of those lunatic fringe collectors, target guns in my case, who's seldom fired a single one of them. In the K-22 department, I had every single one of them---just because they are what they are---and you need to make sure you have all of them!

My inventory went like this: Two K-22 first models, because one of them had a King Cockeyed Hammer; one K-22 second model which turned out to be living proof there is a GOD!! It's letter said, "--------your handgun was shipped from our factory on March 21, 1940, and delivered to Mr. Philip B. Sharpe, South Portland, ME." "This revolver was shipped on an advertising account at no charge to Mr. Sharpe. This is a very important revolver." It is such as these that give rise to the need to change your pants for dry ones!! Two K-22 third models because one was a "one liner", and the other one was a "four liner". One K-22 fourth model----and that's the end because all that followed are inferior products---according to me; but it's like I said----"lunatic fringe"------and we're different. Not necessarily better, just different----some might say weird, and if not that then picky-----VERY picky!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[RKmesa]

Just added another K-22 to the stable today. Today's addition is a model 17-3 equipped with the 3Ts. It also came with the original box! The box lists the 3Ts but doesn't specify smooth targets, which is what it came with. ... I already have a 17-4 and a pre-17 in 6" and a 17-3 in 8 3/8", so I resisted initially.... I find the K-22 to be the most addictive of all! I love shooting them the most. Now I'm up to 3 17s and a pre-17 and I didn't even talk about my 18 or the 617s! Anyone else have multiple K-22s? This addiction is terrible!

I know that the N-Frame is No 1, but I have to agree that the K-22s are SOOO Addictive... Very nice gun. Thanks for sharing!

Some K-22's are good, more are better, and too many are just right!!

Ralph Tremaine

True... so very true... They are addictive... VERY ADDICTIVE!!!

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

That's amazing that you got a K-22 shipped to Phil Sharpe! It's also amazing they sent him the gun for free! They sure treated gun writers well back then. Thanks for the really interesting post!

 

[rct269]

That's amazing that you got a K-22 shipped to Phil Sharpe! It's also amazing they sent him the gun for free! They sure treated gun writers well back then. Thanks for the really interesting post!

Gun writer, yes; but also the one they credited with the development of the 357 Magnum cartridge. Of course they'd already rewarded him for that with Registered Magnum #2 and whatever else along the way. I saw that gun---once, and that's as close as I ever got.

Some folks got it, and other folks ain't got it---it's the way of such things!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[boykinlp]

Some K-22's are good, more are better, and too many are just right!!

I'm one of those lunatic fringe collectors, target guns in my case, who's seldom fired a single one of them. In the K-22 department, I had every single one of them---just because they are what they are---and you need to make sure you have all of them!

My inventory went like this: Two K-22 first models, because one of them had a King Cockeyed Hammer; one K-22 second model which turned out to be living proof there is a GOD!! It's letter said, "--------your handgun was shipped from our factory on March 21, 1940, and delivered to Mr. Philip B. Sharpe, South Portland, ME." "This revolver was shipped on an advertising account at no charge to Mr. Sharpe. This is a very important revolver." It is such as these that give rise to the need to change your pants for dry ones!! Two K-22 third models because one was a "one liner", and the other one was a "four liner". One K-22 fourth model----and that's the end because all that followed are inferior products---according to me; but it's like I said----"lunatic fringe"------and we're different. Not necessarily better, just different----some might say weird, and if not that then picky-----VERY picky!!

Ralph Tremaine

Ralph, did you know this K-22 had been shipped to Mr. Sharpe before you bought it, or was it an extremely pleasant surprise when you received the letter?
Larry

 

[pharmer]

....... I have $829 out the door into it with the markdowns. I hope I didn't overpay too much .......

Like I always say, 5 years from now that money will be long gone. Instead, 5 years from now you will have a firearm that hasn't been made in that configuration for 40 years and you can shoot it until someone else inherits it. Joe

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

Well said pharmer!

 

[rct269]

Ralph, did you know this K-22 had been shipped to Mr. Sharpe before you bought it, or was it an extremely pleasant surprise when you received the letter?
Larry

All I knew was this one was better than the one I already had---and that's all it takes!!

Then the letter arrived, and I let out a shriek loud enough to bring the Boss Lady in to inquire as to the nature of the problem. No problem at all my dear, no problem at all!!

The really sad news is the fellow I bought it from had owned it for TEN YEARS--------and never lettered it!!

I lettered every single gun in my collection. True to life, most of them were shipped to such and such distributor----plain vanilla. That said, more than a few, especially those on pre-war guns were shipped to individuals, and turned out to be more than interesting and on in to informative-----which is to say I ended up knowing things of value I didn't know before. One in particular, also on a K-22, was from a nit-picky engineer type who'd ordered a K-22 (Outdoorsman) and a 38-44 Outdoorsman, and wanted to know about heat treating. Now this sort of thing isn't in a letter, but if/when you ask the SWHF (Historical Foundation) to see what if anything they have on a particular gun, you can hit the jackpot every now----AND again!! They almost always have the invoices, and this time they had ALL the correspondence, from the original order on through ALL the back and forth between our engineer type and D.B. Wesson (HISSELF!!). I ended up learning a bunch more about heat treating than how to spell it! It's like I didn't know anything besides how to spell the words, and now I are an EXPERT-------done been plum edumacated!!

There was another one, this time on a Registered Magnum, which gave you a detailed look at, and understanding of the whole RM program---talk about an edumacation!!

Ralph Tremaine

Oh, and it's a good thing I didn't know anything about the Sharpe 22/40 when I bought it, 'cause it fetched damn near triple what I'd paid for it when it was sold along with the rest of my collection---and at that price, I never would have had it! Well, I might have had it, but the Boss Lady would've had my scalp!!

A belated addition to this tale: In the beginning--when I bought the Sharpe gun: I'm prowling around in the gun room at a SWCA annual meeting, and here's this 22/40. It's accompanied by a like new box and a screwdriver. Now I already have one of the screwdrivers, and the box is an A box rather than THE box. I ask for a price without the extras. David Carroll has arrived on the scene by this time, and pokes me in the ribs---whispering, "That's a thousand dollar box, DUMMY!!" The seller doesn't want to break up the package, and knocks a bit off the price. At that point I get another poke in the ribs and another message from David---providing incentive to stop shopping and start buying: "That's a steal! If you don't buy it, I'm going to!" Now I know David is one of THE dealers in collectible guns, which is to say his business is to buy low and sell high----and that message is all the added incentive I needed----that message is to "Fish or cut bait!----NOW!!"