Picked up a nice SW 17-2 today

usmcsgt

usmcsgt

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I had been wanting one of these for years but just never came across any in my local gun stores. It's a 1960's serial number in great condition and shoots very nice groups. Funny the kids that work in the gun store where I teach we're looking at it- hey this only has 6 holes it's it supposed to hold 10 LOL. The quality of these older S&W are just fantastic compared to what you see today. Jeff
 

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I picked up a 17-2 online several years ago. Pictures were crummy. Got sellers name and called him. He assured me that it was NICE! The 1st time I shot it, couldn't believe how accurate it was. Mine has a lower serial # than yours... K5622xx that shipped 1964. In the mid 70's I ordered 1 new. S&W backlogged, got a call a call from gun shop telling it came in a few years later. At that time did not want it.
Enjoy your 17-2!!! Bob
 

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JP@AK said:
Good for you, Jeff.

It probably left the factory in 1966 or early 1967. I have a 14-2 at K750876 that shipped in February 1967.

I'm sure you know those stocks are not original. Functional though, if you like them.
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Thanks, yep I knew about the stocks but I buy guns to shoot or carry. The book says serial number range K658987-K715996 was 1966 manufacturing. I could never be a collector that never shoots them.
 
That's a really nice 17-2 you found usmcsgt, congrats! I found my one-n-only 17 six years ago now at my LGS and haven't seen another one come in there since!
 
firefighterjohn said:
That's a really nice 17-2 you found usmcsgt, congrats! I found my one-n-only 17 six years ago now at my LGS and haven't seen another one come in there since!
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I've been looking locally for years with no luck- seems to be lots of SW older revolvers starting to hit the market- guess everyone is getting old.
 
usmcsgt said:
I've been looking locally for years with no luck- seems to be lots of SW older revolvers starting to hit the market- guess everyone is getting old.
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In my era of the desert southwest, I come across very few older used revolvers for sale. Used to see lots more when I lived in the northeast for some reason. The few I do see are priced high, often what I consider " mint in box" prices for shooter grade guns. I am also one to buy guns to use so actually tend to avoid mint collector grade specimens because I am going to shoot and carry them!
 
MajorD said:
In my era of the desert southwest, I come across very few older used revolvers for sale. Used to see lots more when I lived in the northeast for some reason. The few I do see are priced high, often what I consider " mint in box" prices for shooter grade guns. I am also one to buy guns to use so actually tend to avoid mint collector grade specimens because I am going to shoot and carry them!
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THATS THE RUB!

I see a lot of shooter grade guns offered at collector grade prices both locally or especially on gunjoker, or even sometimes here. Saw one revolver that may be a rare bird but it was stainless and scratched all over with a random cross hatch pattern. Not lightly either, like it got slid across a concrete bench on the regular. I'd be embarrassed to offer it for sale let alone at exorbitantly high price like a collectible.

The other dumb thing I see in shops is anything old gets "rare" added to the tag. Heck I saw a 4" model 10 marked rare. I had to stifle myself.
 
MajorD said:
In my era of the desert southwest, I come across very few older used revolvers for sale. Used to see lots more when I lived in the northeast for some reason. The few I do see are priced high, often what I consider " mint in box" prices for shooter grade guns. I am also one to buy guns to use so actually tend to avoid mint collector grade specimens because I am going to shoot and carry them!
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Yep, I just passed on a model 66 3 inch bbl NiB Lew Horton gun for $1600 - that's a crazy price.
 
usmcsgt said:
Wow, didn't even think about that-I was only thinking how good it would fit my hand. I paid a bit more ($750 all in with shipping) than I planned, but the gun is in very good shape and is a dream to shoot.
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they are OEM for 17-6 full lug stocks (from the 1990s). Probably put on others models of this era as well. And yes, they run 200-250 on ebay, and are very comfortable - I have then on several 17s and are a pleasure to shoot with! Target shooting requires SB stocks, IMHO and the finger grooved are more comfortable and hold better than the regular Target stocks...
 
usmcsgt said:
Yep, I just passed on a model 66 3 inch bbl NiB Lew Horton gun for $1600 - that's a crazy price.
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yes, Lew Horton's command premium across all models, as most are RB, CS and 3", even the N-frames. They were ahead of their time, IMHO - now 3" RB is a standard config. It is the min barrel length to make sure a 357 hollow point would fully expand as, and they have full length extractor rods, and extraction is much easier than the 2 1/2 M19/M66s for instance. RB conceals better than SB. One of my EDCs is that exact configuration for those exact reasons.
 
I used to have an FFL back in the 1980s and had an account with Lew Horton and other wholesale dealers - most of those cool guns we're on allocation for dealers. You had to buy so much $ to get one. I only scored one time, I was placing my phone order and the sales rep said hey you can get an allocation gun with your order. But the only thing they had was a colt anaconda 5 inch in 45 long colt- nah I'm not a colt guy I'll pass- the sales rep said hey it a good deal only $250 I think. Oh ok maybe I can sell it. My bother still has it.
 
usmcsgt said:
I used to have an FFL back in the 1980s and had an account with Lew Horton and other wholesale dealers - most of those cool guns we're on allocation for dealers. You had to buy so much $ to get one. I only scored one time, I was placing my phone order and the sales rep said hey you can get an allocation gun with your order. But the only thing they had was a colt anaconda 5 inch in 45 long colt- nah I'm not a colt guy I'll pass- the sales rep said hey it a good deal only $250 I think. Oh ok maybe I can sell it. My bother still has it.
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Wow, thats a story! Anaconda in 45 LC is rare, let along a 5" one...I bet your brother is still thankful for that purchase!

I know most of their S&W runs were in the 3-4,000 ranges, but there are some in the hundreds. And then, on the Colt side, they were in the hundreds, I think, so Lew Horton Colt must carry a significant premium - I barely see online (but I don't recognize them in the Colt configs as easily - just know SWs much better due to the SWSC). Wish Jim Supica and his peep would publish a Colt Catalog!

I lucked out last December at an LGS and managed to get a NIB 66-3 3" LH for a decent price. I ain't carrying that thing...:-)
 
CKPOMEH said:
Wow, thats a story! Anaconda in 45 LC is rare, let along a 5" one...I bet your brother is still thankful for that purchase!

I know most of their S&W runs were in the 3-4,000 ranges, but there are some in the hundreds. And then, on the Colt side, they were in the hundreds, I think, so Lew Horton Colt must carry a significant premium - I barely see online (but I don't recognize them in the Colt configs as easily - just know SWs much better due to the SWSC). Wish Jim Supica and his peep would publish a Colt Catalog!

I lucked out last December at an LGS and managed to get a NIB 66-3 3" LH for a decent price. I ain't carrying that thing...:-)
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Yep, my brother called me a while back and said hey you know that Colt 45 you sold me? Is there anything special about it? I was at the range with it yesterday and some guy offered me $5k cash for it.

Nice purchase on the 66- I'd kill for one of those.
 
usmcsgt said:
Yep, my brother called me a while back and said hey you know that Colt 45 you sold me? Is there anything special about it? I was at the range with it yesterday and some guy offered me $5k cash for it.

Nice purchase on the 66- I'd kill for one of those.
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yes, I think I had read somewhere that they would be in that $5K range with the 5" being so rare on top of the 45 LC.

Be patient on the 3" 66 and one will turn out. Got lucky on a 3" 65-5 Ladysmith as well two months ago - paid $500 or so for it, in E condition...too bad it did not have the special case that comes with it. Deals like that pop up, as long as you know a rare one when you see it, and be patient - it will come to you!

A real story: First time I saw a 3" M66 was at a gun show a couple of years back. It had a pinned barrel (don't recall if it was 66 or 66-1), guy was selling for $1,500, no box, in VG condition at best (shot and carried). I laughed at it (thinking the thing was grossly overpriced) and went back to my table (had some newer revolvers I wanted to sell / trade). Looked up the SWSC and a 3" was not even mentioned in the pinned barrel dashes. I thought the guy had some frankenstein there - someone must have done something in there. Go back to tell the guy he had a frankenstein there, and he had already sold it! Even to this day I do not know what exactly he sold - a non-catalogued gem or some frankensteined gun...but he sold it within the first hour of the show!

Here is a pic for an inspiration. The longer extractor rod makes a ton of difference!
IMG_2015.webp
IMG_2016.webp
 
Best PPC scores I ever shot during my LE days was with a Model 13 3 inch heavy bbl. All thought the same ragged hole.
 
I found my 17-2 a few years ago on GB, serial K6589XX puts it at the end of 1965. Almost flawless finish, mechanically excellent and little indication it was shot very often. I was clueless at the time and did not know the stocks it was wearing were not original but the much earlier non-relieved diamond targets. A nice bonus I do believe. I was the only bidder at the reserve and won at $600. I guess I did OK, didn't I?IMG_20250509_153332921.webpIMG_20250509_153402985.webp
 
MTC(SS)Ret said:
I found my 17-2 a few years ago on GB, serial K6589XX puts it at the end of 1965. Almost flawless finish, mechanically excellent and little indication it was shot very often. I was clueless at the time and did not know the stocks it was wearing were not original but the much earlier non-relieved diamond targets. A nice bonus I do believe. I was the only bidder at the reserve and won at $600. I guess I did OK, didn't I?View attachment 786262View attachment 786263
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Right tine right place, you did great.
 
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