First S&W

Driftwood Johnson said:

Howdy

I'm surprised you say the cost of the Model 617 is 'about what the 44 cost.'

I just looked up the price of both the Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Magnum and the S&W Model 617. According to the manufacturer's websites, the Ruger's suggested retail price is $1159, the S&W is $853. This of course does not take into account what actual street prices might be.

Anyway, I bought a used S&W Model 617-6 a few years ago. It was apparently made in 2003, but I neglected to note what I paid for it.

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I gotta tell you, the Model 617 is my least favorite of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, and I own quite a few. You are correct, the 617 is built like a tank, and one of the things I do not like about it is the full length under barrel extractor rod shroud. Apparently S&W is putting that on all their new revolvers, but I think it makes them butt ugly. I read recently the full length shroud is on the new S&W Centerfire revolvers to help tame recoil, but that hardly seems necessary with a 22 Rimfire revolver. I bought it because I was participating in a steel match at the time and I had to be able to put 8 shots on target in 15 seconds. Could not do that with my other 22s, which are all six shooters. I stopped shooting that match a bunch of years ago, and frankly, I don't need a ten shot revolver. It just makes me burn up ammo faster than a six shot revolver will.

View attachment 987550




Six shots is all I need in any revolver.

View attachment 987551




Anyway, a little bit of history about the S&W Model 617.


The first full sized 22 target revolver S&W made was the K-22 Outdoorsman, in 1931. S&W had made 22 target revolvers on the slightly smaller I frame in 1911, but the K-22 was the first 'full sized' 22 they made. Called the K-22 because it was built on the K frame, which is the frame size S&W had developed in 1899 for 38 Special revolvers. Chambering a K frame for the 22 Rimfire only made sense.

This K-22 Outdoorsman shipped in 1935.

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In 1940 S&W updated the design by putting the modern 'click adjustable' rear sight on it. The updated model was called the K-22 Masterpiece. Only about 1067 of these were made before WWII broke out and S&W moved to war time production of the Victory Model (38 Special). After the war, K-22 Masterpiece production was resumed with the Postwar K-22 Masterpiece. This one left the factory in 1950. Note the large screw for the rear sight, and there is a thin rib on the barrel with this model. This one also has the post war short throw hammer.

View attachment 987553




In 1957 S&W changed over to a Model Number system of identifying their revolvers. The K-22 became the Model 17 at that time. I bought this Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975. Notice the barrel no longer has a taper, but is the same diameter for its entire length. Not easily seen in this photo but the barrel rib is much wider than on the Postwar K-22 Masterpiece.

View attachment 987554




Smith and Wesson puts the number 6 as the first digit of all their Stainless Steel revolvers. The Model 617 started out as pretty much a duplicate of the Model 17 in 1989, except it was made of Stainless Steel. The first Model 617 was a six shooter, just like the Model 17 and K-22s before it. In 1996 S&W introduced a 10 shot Model 617 with an aluminum cylinder. In 1997 S&W introduced a 10 shot Model 617 with a Stainless Steel cylinder because the ones with the aluminum cylinders did not sell very well. Various other changes over the years, including the lock and MIM parts. My 617-6 has the lock and MIM parts. Which are not the reasons I do not care for it, it is just butt ugly and not as refined as the earlier models.




Of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, this K-22 Outdoorsman that shipped in 1932 is my favorite. Despite how worn it looks on the outside, the action is the smoothest, and it is the most accurate 22 Rimfire revolver I own.

View attachment 987555




To Hannah42: Not sure if you expected a 22 rimfire revolver to be less expensive than a 44 Mag, but there really is not much difference in the cost of making a rimfire revolver vs a centerfire revolver. They both have pretty much the same amount of precision parts inside. This is what your Model 617 looks like on the inside:

View attachment 987556

Click to expand...

Driftwood Johnson said:

Howdy

I'm surprised you say the cost of the Model 617 is 'about what the 44 cost.'

I just looked up the price of both the Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Magnum and the S&W Model 617. According to the manufacturer's websites, the Ruger's suggested retail price is $1159, the S&W is $853. This of course does not take into account what actual street prices might be.

Anyway, I bought a used S&W Model 617-6 a few years ago. It was apparently made in 2003, but I neglected to note what I paid for it.

View attachment 987549




I gotta tell you, the Model 617 is my least favorite of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, and I own quite a few. You are correct, the 617 is built like a tank, and one of the things I do not like about it is the full length under barrel extractor rod shroud. Apparently S&W is putting that on all their new revolvers, but I think it makes them butt ugly. I read recently the full length shroud is on the new S&W Centerfire revolvers to help tame recoil, but that hardly seems necessary with a 22 Rimfire revolver. I bought it because I was participating in a steel match at the time and I had to be able to put 8 shots on target in 15 seconds. Could not do that with my other 22s, which are all six shooters. I stopped shooting that match a bunch of years ago, and frankly, I don't need a ten shot revolver. It just makes me burn up ammo faster than a six shot revolver will.

View attachment 987550




Six shots is all I need in any revolver.

View attachment 987551




Anyway, a little bit of history about the S&W Model 617.


The first full sized 22 target revolver S&W made was the K-22 Outdoorsman, in 1931. S&W had made 22 target revolvers on the slightly smaller I frame in 1911, but the K-22 was the first 'full sized' 22 they made. Called the K-22 because it was built on the K frame, which is the frame size S&W had developed in 1899 for 38 Special revolvers. Chambering a K frame for the 22 Rimfire only made sense.

This K-22 Outdoorsman shipped in 1935.

View attachment 987552




In 1940 S&W updated the design by putting the modern 'click adjustable' rear sight on it. The updated model was called the K-22 Masterpiece. Only about 1067 of these were made before WWII broke out and S&W moved to war time production of the Victory Model (38 Special). After the war, K-22 Masterpiece production was resumed with the Postwar K-22 Masterpiece. This one left the factory in 1950. Note the large screw for the rear sight, and there is a thin rib on the barrel with this model. This one also has the post war short throw hammer.

View attachment 987553




In 1957 S&W changed over to a Model Number system of identifying their revolvers. The K-22 became the Model 17 at that time. I bought this Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975. Notice the barrel no longer has a taper, but is the same diameter for its entire length. Not easily seen in this photo but the barrel rib is much wider than on the Postwar K-22 Masterpiece.

View attachment 987554




Smith and Wesson puts the number 6 as the first digit of all their Stainless Steel revolvers. The Model 617 started out as pretty much a duplicate of the Model 17 in 1989, except it was made of Stainless Steel. The first Model 617 was a six shooter, just like the Model 17 and K-22s before it. In 1996 S&W introduced a 10 shot Model 617 with an aluminum cylinder. In 1997 S&W introduced a 10 shot Model 617 with a Stainless Steel cylinder because the ones with the aluminum cylinders did not sell very well. Various other changes over the years, including the lock and MIM parts. My 617-6 has the lock and MIM parts. Which are not the reasons I do not care for it, it is just butt ugly and not as refined as the earlier models.




Of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, this K-22 Outdoorsman that shipped in 1932 is my favorite. Despite how worn it looks on the outside, the action is the smoothest, and it is the most accurate 22 Rimfire revolver I own.

View attachment 987555




To Hannah42: Not sure if you expected a 22 rimfire revolver to be less expensive than a 44 Mag, but there really is not much difference in the cost of making a rimfire revolver vs a centerfire revolver. They both have pretty much the same amount of precision parts inside. This is what your Model 617 looks like on the inside:

View attachment 987556

Click to expand...

Driftwood Johnson said:

I don't need a ten shot revolver. It just makes me burn up ammo faster than a six shot revolver will.

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SwampWolf said:

Having a ten-shot (or a fifty-shot, for that matter) revolver doesn't make you do anything. If having a revolver with a ten-shot capacity makes you burn up more ammo than you want to, just load the gun with six (or one) rounds. "Problem" solved!

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Pat Riot said:

When I was in High School my Dad had a K-22 that I dearly loved. It had the 8 3/8” barrel and I swear it was and is the most accurate handgun I have ever fired.
After my Dad died one of my Dad’s friends managed to talk my Mom out of it. Try as I might I could never get that gun from the man. Who knows where it is now.

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tallpaul said:

that man is and was an asshat!

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Hannah42 said:

Just bought my first revolver, S&W 617 6" barrel. I went looking for a super redhawk 44mag with 8" or longer barrel. Couldn't find one around my woods. But I saw this 617 and couldn't believe it was a 22lr. It's built like a tank. Always wanted a good 22 revolver. I'm sure you that know about this gun know it was about what the 44 cost. I couldn't pass it up. Hopefully I made a good investment. Might go back and buy the matching 22 mag. Anyone have this gun. I can't find another one anywhere in stock here in GA. They said it was new.thanks

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Driftwood Johnson said:

Howdy

I'm surprised you say the cost of the Model 617 is 'about what the 44 cost.'

I just looked up the price of both the Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Magnum and the S&W Model 617. According to the manufacturer's websites, the Ruger's suggested retail price is $1159, the S&W is $853. This of course does not take into account what actual street prices might be.

Anyway, I bought a used S&W Model 617-6 a few years ago. It was apparently made in 2003, but I neglected to note what I paid for it.

View attachment 987549




I gotta tell you, the Model 617 is my least favorite of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, and I own quite a few. You are correct, the 617 is built like a tank, and one of the things I do not like about it is the full length under barrel extractor rod shroud. Apparently S&W is putting that on all their new revolvers, but I think it makes them butt ugly. I read recently the full length shroud is on the new S&W Centerfire revolvers to help tame recoil, but that hardly seems necessary with a 22 Rimfire revolver. I bought it because I was participating in a steel match at the time and I had to be able to put 8 shots on target in 15 seconds. Could not do that with my other 22s, which are all six shooters. I stopped shooting that match a bunch of years ago, and frankly, I don't need a ten shot revolver. It just makes me burn up ammo faster than a six shot revolver will.

View attachment 987550




Six shots is all I need in any revolver.

View attachment 987551




Anyway, a little bit of history about the S&W Model 617.


The first full sized 22 target revolver S&W made was the K-22 Outdoorsman, in 1931. S&W had made 22 target revolvers on the slightly smaller I frame in 1911, but the K-22 was the first 'full sized' 22 they made. Called the K-22 because it was built on the K frame, which is the frame size S&W had developed in 1899 for 38 Special revolvers. Chambering a K frame for the 22 Rimfire only made sense.

This K-22 Outdoorsman shipped in 1935.

View attachment 987552




In 1940 S&W updated the design by putting the modern 'click adjustable' rear sight on it. The updated model was called the K-22 Masterpiece. Only about 1067 of these were made before WWII broke out and S&W moved to war time production of the Victory Model (38 Special). After the war, K-22 Masterpiece production was resumed with the Postwar K-22 Masterpiece. This one left the factory in 1950. Note the large screw for the rear sight, and there is a thin rib on the barrel with this model. This one also has the post war short throw hammer.

View attachment 987553




In 1957 S&W changed over to a Model Number system of identifying their revolvers. The K-22 became the Model 17 at that time. I bought this Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975. Notice the barrel no longer has a taper, but is the same diameter for its entire length. Not easily seen in this photo but the barrel rib is much wider than on the Postwar K-22 Masterpiece.

View attachment 987554




Smith and Wesson puts the number 6 as the first digit of all their Stainless Steel revolvers. The Model 617 started out as pretty much a duplicate of the Model 17 in 1989, except it was made of Stainless Steel. The first Model 617 was a six shooter, just like the Model 17 and K-22s before it. In 1996 S&W introduced a 10 shot Model 617 with an aluminum cylinder. In 1997 S&W introduced a 10 shot Model 617 with a Stainless Steel cylinder because the ones with the aluminum cylinders did not sell very well. Various other changes over the years, including the lock and MIM parts. My 617-6 has the lock and MIM parts. Which are not the reasons I do not care for it, it is just butt ugly and not as refined as the earlier models.




Of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, this K-22 Outdoorsman that shipped in 1932 is my favorite. Despite how worn it looks on the outside, the action is the smoothest, and it is the most accurate 22 Rimfire revolver I own.

View attachment 987555




To Hannah42: Not sure if you expected a 22 rimfire revolver to be less expensive than a 44 Mag, but there really is not much difference in the cost of making a rimfire revolver vs a centerfire revolver. They both have pretty much the same amount of precision parts inside. This is what your Model 617 looks like on the inside:

View attachment 987556

Click to expand...

Hannah42 said:

Oh that's cool and a must. Thanks

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Jonesy814 said:

The one downside to a 10 shot 617 will appear at cleaning time. Having 10 charge holes to clean can be a pain in the butt.

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Driftwood Johnson said:

I gotta tell you, the Model 617 is my least favorite of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, and I own quite a few. You are correct, the 617 is built like a tank, and one of the things I do not like about it is the full length under barrel extractor rod shroud. Apparently S&W is putting that on all their new revolvers, but I think it makes them butt ugly.

View attachment 987550

Click to expand...

Of all my 22 Rimfire revolvers, this K-22 Outdoorsman that shipped in 1932 is my favorite. Despite how worn it looks on the outside, the action is the smoothest, and it is the most accurate 22 Rimfire revolver I own.

View attachment 987555

Click to expand...

Paul7 said:

It affects the balance too and not for the better.

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SwampWolf said:

I guess it depends on what kind of shooting you're doing. I compete in Bullseye and find the full-length under-lug shroud to be an asset in terms of "balance" when it comes to shooting offhand. Many pistols intended for Bullseye competition back in the day came with various weights to be attached to the barrel for that reason.

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DS-10-SPEED said:

I also added a weight to my Buckmark for the same reason, very little front sight movement when the slide comes back.
View attachment 990526

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Paul7 said:

A non-issue with a revolver.

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