My saddest moment is an understatement

I would've offered him $200 less just for that one mistake.

Maybe even less for that matter. If it was never fired and he just did that, I'd offer him the same amount I do for any used gun, $400

The one I recall was a (externally) pristine Colt Commander 9mm.
Untying it and racking the slide revealed a frame ramp apparently attacked with a rattail file. I clamped my hand over my wallet and backed away.

MY .22.Combat Masterpiece was on the counter behind the dealer's showcase.
I asked and he told me that when cleaning it after it was traded in, he found the barrel bulged. It was waiting to be returned to Smith for a new barrel. I reserved it when returned and bought it. Well, Dad did, I was about 17. I still have it even though the replacement barrel finish does not match.

Got_Lead? said:

Hello all,

A couple of years ago, when the world still existed, my son and I were at the gun show, and lo and behold, a pristine, if not ever fired S&W model 17 for around $700, with box.

I had already spent my limit and passed, only to come back on Sunday to right my wrongs. After waiting some time for the dealer to finish with another individual, I expressed my interest in the piece, thinking to myself, after 20+ years of looking, I found a deal on a 17. He asked if I would like to have the zip tie removed to inspect the piece, and I said yes. He then searched around and mumbled that he couldn't find his side cutters. His hand then slid into his pocket and retrieved a pocket knife, sirens started going off in the back of my head. I was thinking, you can't do that without scratching the finish. He then proceeded to slip the blade between the cylinder and zip tie and give a scissors twist. The zip tie wasn't giving up that easily, and he was now levering the tip into the recoil shield to break it free. It finally let loose, leaving scratches in the cylinder, and a sizable gouge in the frame. When he offered it out, I just said "no thank you", and walked away broken-hearted. Maybe someone could post a few pictures of Model 17's to ease my pain.

Click to expand...

Here ya go, hope it helps-


Found this one after just passing on another which had been engraved- with the formers owners name, lol.

Sorry to hear of your pain...here are a couple I picked up in the not too distant past:

A NIB 17-6:


A very good 17-4

Years ago I went to an estate sale and found a very old colt semi-auto for sale at a low price. Not being familiar with old semi-autos I passed on it walked outside and looked it up on the internet (Gun Broker was one place I checked). I came to the conclusion the gun was worth much more than they were asking. I quickly walked back in with my money in hand to pay for it. But it was gone! I missed that one.

1959 made

OP, that ham-fisted result isn't the kind of honest wear I appreciate, but I'm just as happy, if not happier, with a gun with a little honest patina than I am with a pristine one. Not a Model 17, but here's my 1951 K-22.

You'd think a dealer would know better.

I have a Model 17 and a Model 17-2 and really enjoy them. One of them has larger grips which make for the gun feeling somehow better. The second from top and top are Model 17s.



Ron

How about a cute little Model 34...

I bought my Model 17-4 used at a LGS that I used to haunt regularly for used guns...but it's been sold to a tacticool semi-auto dude who is more into black guns and striker pistols so I'm not there very much anymore. The couple who previously owned the store said the gun was from the collection of a female Bullseye shooter of some fame who used it as her training tool. (Sadly, I forgot her name.)

It's been shot enough to have worn the bluing from the ejector rod and thinned it on some of the sharper edges and muzzle, but it's still accurate, tight as a drum and as smooth as glass both SA and DA.



The 317 I bought on a lark. It's a nice little backpack "kit gun", but the sights and trigger pull are a bit tough for very accurate shooting.



Another nice Wesson, just not a "Smith and Wesson." I bought the Monson, Mass. Dan Wesson .22 recently with the 6" V shroud after spotting the beauty hauled home by Nightlord40K. I then added a 4" VH shroud from CZ for a bit of versatility. It's a great shooter, but it is a bit on the large size for a 6-shot rimfire.


I also have a very nice looking Model 48-3 .22 WMR. It started binding up and then wouldn't fire at all, so it's back at S&W in Springfield for at least the next five months or so being repaired. (I thought I had a picture but I can't seem to find it.)

Nice Model 17's are out there, keep looking and you'll come across one that calls your name.

Stay safe.

I've seen so many people do stuff to guns and old radios, it's not a shock to me anymore when I see the dopes in action. I don't even get mad anymore, they've worn me down.

Found this very good example one day at my favorite shop. I walk in and the owners friend who works there said to go take a look in the used handguns case. I saw this 17-2 with $600 on the tag and I pointed down at it and said, “I will take this one today.”


A few weeks later I was back in the shop and the owners asks if I had bought a Model 17 Smith a bit ago and I said yes. He goes in back and returns with the original box. That made my day.

A few weeks back I came a cross what appeared to be a nearly pristene S&W Model 28. Barely vosible line on the cylinder, mirror bore, barely visible discoloration around the front face of the cylinder. Until you looked at the left side of the frame where the original owner put his initials on the gun, then oblitereated them with one of those vibrating electric engravers. You would have thought he was going for the stippled look, about the size of a quarter.Then, in an effort to make it not look so bad, he "finished" his handiwork with what appears to be a black magic marker.

If the gun was in pristine shape I would still have been interested---the buggering would be reflected in the price though.

The gun was on consignment, owner not willing to budge from $600. I offered $425.

I gave $500 for this one with poor finish and unoriginal grips. About 9 years ago.
I'd rather own a shooter than a safe queen.