Pre 17

[richcory]

At one of my favorite local gun shops I came across a Pre 17 today. I was in a hurry to get little man to ice cream after finishing 1st grade, but here's what I know from my quick look at it.

4 screw
Has the ribbed barrel so I'm thinking 1956
Has later model Target football stocks

They just brought it into the store & didn't have a price on it. Not in perfect shape cosmetically but mechanically felt tight. Maybe 80% give or take. They know me in there & made a point to show it to me. I'll go back tomorrow & look at it again plus they will have it priced by then. I'm already thinking I'll take it home. It would make a nice sibling to my Model 48 from them.

Cory

 

[richcory]

Did the deal. Here are some photos. Also did the deal on a Winchester pre 64 Model 70 in 338 Win Mag. I couldn't let her be alone at the store when my family would welcome her also.

Cory

 

[richcory]

Some more

Cory

 

[rjm6120]

Nice pick up! I hope they gave you a good price on it!

 

[Engine49guy]

Nice early 4 screw with older style High Speed hammer.
Enjoy

 

[richcory]

I felt it was fair. I am there often enough that we both decided on the price. Really anxious to shoot it. Although the stocks are not correct they felt great & a nice addition in my hands at least.

Cory

 

[cgt4570]

Nice! There weren't a lot of 4-screw pre-model # targets made (less than a year?). I have a K22 and a K38. Both are great shooters.

 

[richcory]

I have a habit of requesting a letter on most of the older Smith's I buy. My desire to know where they went makes me do it. This one will be no exception.

Cory

 

[JP@AK]

Unless they charged you an arm and a leg, that was definitely a good one to pick up. Looks to be in quite decent shape and will make a great shooter - practically guaranteed.

The serial number puts production in 1956, as you noted.

The one thing I didn't understand about your post, however, was this:

Has the ribbed barrel so I'm thinking 1956

All postwar K-22 revolvers had a ribbed barrel.

On the other hand, 1956 was the year the fifth screw was eliminated. And four screw guns with no model number were made for nearly two years (1956-1958). Numbers were assigned in June 1957, but no Model 17 shipped until sometime in 1958.

 

[richcory]

The ribbed barrel comment came from a mix up of what I was reading. I checked the serial number against the SCSW & it's a '56 gun according to that.

Cory

 

[MrG5122]

Nice early 4 screw with older style High Speed hammer.
Enjoy

...and the 10-line backstrap.

 

[richcory]

I certainly has that K frame balance going for it.

Cory

 

[richcory]

Letter arrived the other day & it shipped to Schwabacher Hardware Co. Seattle WA on December 12, 1956. Wholesale price was $46.72 & there was 10 of them in the shipment.

Cory

 

[pd1964]

Letter arrived the other day & it shipped to Schwabacher Hardware Co. Seattle WA on December 12, 1956. Wholesale price was $46.72 & there was 10 of them in the shipment.

Cory

Cool I have one close K282xxx so I guess I've got a 57.

 

[Art Doc]

You live in "Pac NW" so apparently that gun hasn't traveled very far in 62 years. I have a Highway Patrolman that shipped to Seattle in 1954. I was born there in 1955.

The stocks are incorrect but very nice looking.

I had a 17-3 but I found this K22 at a local show for $425 so I bought it and sold the 17. all things being equal I prefer the older ones. I guess I am the only who doesn't mind disclosing prices on guns I buy?

 

[richcory]

I paid $800 for it

Cory

 

[larryofcc]

That didn't hurt a bit, did it? Big Larry