S&W 17-4 4" ??

[Engine49guy]

According to the SCSW the new heavy barrel was introduced in 1986 during the last two years of 17-4 production and was available in 6", 8 3/8" but also in 4" so the Model 18 was discontinued,
(Btw the one pictured above is the first one I've ever seen).
In 1988 the 17-5 has a new yoke retention system and radius stud package with the new style heavy barrel in 4", 6" and 8 3/8".

 

[Engine49guy]

Mrchic the SCSW says the dash 6 revision denotes the new heavy barrel but as evidenced by yours and two I own the early production 17-6 has same frame and barrel as the 17-5.
The full underlug 17-6 has the new barrel but the frame is also longer in the yoke cut area extending it lower to mate to the ejector rod shroud like the Model 53 and Combat Magnum

 

[mrchick]

According to the SCSW the new heavy barrel was introduced in 1986 during the last two years of 17-4 production and was available in 6", 8 3/8" but also in 4" so the Model 18 was discontinued,
(Btw the one pictured above is the first one I've ever seen).
In 1988 the 17-5 has a new yoke retention system and radius stud package with the new style heavy barrel in 4", 6" and 8 3/8".

Thanks. I missed that when I was reading my SCSW about the 4” heavy barrels. I didn’t realize it went back to the 17-4.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Is yours a 17-4? Mine is a 17-6 and was rumored to have only been made for 6 months.

You are correct, it’s a 17-6. My mistake. I had it confused with my 17-4 6”.

I’ll go back and edit it.

Thanks!
Don