Three 617 Questions

[one eye joe]

Which dash numbers of the 617 have an alloy rather than a stainless steel cylinder ? Are the alloy cylinders found only on certain barrel lengths ? Are there any problems associated with the alloy cylinders--for example, finish deterioration like the 642, etc ?

 

[GlossyTundra]

I have a 617-2 with an alloy cylinder. No problems with it so far.

 

[Hondo44]

according to some posts, there have been a few problems and if they go back to Smith for repair, sometimes they come back with a SS cylinder.

 

[Bosshoss]

Bringing this back to the top. I would also like to know if there is a break point when they switched to SS -2,-3,etc.?

 

[larryofcc]

I also have a M617-2 10 shooter with aluminum cyl. Bought it new in 1999 and have never had any problem with it. It is as accurate as my two M617 no dashes. Actually, one of my favorite shooting S&W's. Big Larry

 

[valkyriekl]

The only 617 with an alloy cylinder was the S&W 617-2, which was a 10-shot cylinder.

Edit: copied from another post:

617 no-dash: forged hammer/trigger, 6-shot, non-drilled&tapped frame
617-1: forged hammer/trigger, 6-shot, new-style rear sight leaf w/ drilled & tapped frame
617-2: forged hammer/trigger, 10-shot, new-style rear sight leaf w/ drilled & tapped frame (all later 617s have the new-style rear sight and D&Ted frame). The cylinders on these started out aluminum alloy; by the end of the -2, S&W had figured out how to make a 10-shot stainless steel cylinder and were shipping 617-2s with SS cylinders.
617-3: MIM hammer/trigger, 6-shot
617-4: MIM hammer/trigger, 10-shot
617-5: same as 617-3, w/ Internal Lock System
617-6 (current production): same as 617-4, w/ Internal Lock System

 

[5Wire]

The dash two was the introduction of the alloy 10-round cylinder according to SCS&W, 3rd Ed. However, I did own a 617-2 with a stainless cylinder:

Nothing wrong with the alloy cylinder, it just didn't sell well, presumably for cosmetic reasons.

 

[snubbiefan]

Wasn't there some story, or rumor, or information circulating around at one time concerning the SS 10-shot cylinder? Seems to me they had issues getting 10 holes in the stainless and switched to the aluminum in which they could, eventually working out the tooling/machining issues resulting in the "workable" 10-shot SS cylinder. Since the first 10-shot was aluminum...maybe there is some truth to some of this.

I don't know...but they apparently got the 10-shot SS to work. Maybe the whole issue was that shooters just refused to accept the aluminum cylinder and they dropped it.

I have two 317's that take the same pill as the 617 and have shot the snot out of them. NO issues at all with the aluminum cylinder. I would take a 617 10-shot no-lock with an aluminum cylinder any day of the week over any IL in stainless.

 

[jughed440]

.....
Edit: copied from another post:

617 no-dash: forged hammer/trigger, 6-shot, non-drilled&tapped frame
......

what about target hammers and triggers?
are they standard on the no-dash?

just curious... most no-dash 617s i've seen have the TH & TT

 

[Bosshoss]

Looking for a 617 10 shot for uspsa practice and to shool steel challange matches with. All double action, speed shooting. Thoughts on Alum. holding up for 1000's of rounds of this.
Will S&W warrenty take care of the gun and any problems even if I'm not the original owner and purchased gun used?
If I find a used gun online and its a 617-2 is their anyway to tell Alun. vs SS in pictures or have the owner check it to see which it has?
Thanks for all the input.

 

[Hondo44]

Looking for a 617 10 shot for uspsa practice and to shool steel challange matches with. All double action, speed shooting. Thoughts on Alum. holding up for 1000's of rounds of this.
Will S&W warrenty take care of the gun and any problems even if I'm not the original owner and purchased gun used?
If I find a used gun online and its a 617-2 is their anyway to tell Alun. vs SS in pictures or have the owner check it to see which it has?
Thanks for all the input.

1. No problem standing up. Those few that had problems showed up right away.
2. Yes, Smith will warranty it and replace it with a SS cylinder.
3. It's as obvious as a terd in the punchbowl! A nice stainless finished gun with a dull grey cylinder, can't miss it!

 

[5Wire]

Also, stainless is slightly magnetic.

 

[snubbiefan]

I agree with both the above....even in a picture of the gun, you can usually tell. I believe you only need to be concerned about it if it's a -2. Anything I read concerning the dash number tells me they were only in the -2. That would be the first "clue".