http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-249332.html
Jim Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson will provide you all the information you are looking for.
Your local Barnes and Noble should have copies on hand. HTH
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jad0110January 20, 2007, 09:28 AM
Could someone please fill me in on the evolution of the Smith & Wesson model 17 and model 18 ? What changes were made with each dash number throughout the years, and when did Smith & Wesson introduce MIM parts to the K22 ? I'm looking for a classic heirloom quality blued K22 to compliment my Marlin 39A (1967 vintage), enjoy at the range, and to pass down to my son one day. Thanks for any input.
Tylden,
Kudos on your recognition of what a fine piece the K-22 really is. I haven't owned mine for long, but I will never part with it. Mine is a classic heirloom quality K-22 that will see a lot of use over my lifetime.
MIM parts were not used until the late 90s or early 00s in the stainless Model 617.
This website contains a bit of info that you may be looking for:
http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp
Also, the best information I've seen on K-22 model changes came from a very knowledgeable K-22 collector who is a member of THR.
The following quotation is NOT my words - they come from Hammerdown in a recent THR post:
Sometimes all the different changes can be confusing that transpired on the K-22's but here are some that make collecting and identifying a little easier.I hope this helps NEtracker, in his hunt for a good K-22 masterpiece as well. The Prewar 5 screw Model only made in 1940 Was the Second series of the K-22 Masterpiece model. This can range upwards of $2500.00 if found since they only made 1,067 revolver's in the second series, and all production was halted for the War effort on December 12, 1940, just Shy of a Year after it was released. This is the Rarest 5 screw K-22 Revolver to find, and can be identified easily by it's Fully round barrel,{Similar to The Older Outdoorsman model} and New Larger Micro-Click rear sights. The Post war K-22s were called the Third series and Now had the Ribbed barrel rather then the Older fully round tapered barrels of the Two previous K-22 series making the Third series weigh slightly more what it's other masterpiece series revolver's did from 1940 & the K-32 & K-38. The Early Post War models had Six Ribs on top of the barrel, along with the grip frame back strap and later it was changed to Ten. This Third series 5 Screw revolver is the Most common, being highly produced over it's Earlier variations and was released December 13, 1946. Along with this New Third post War model changes came the addition of the K-Letter in front of the serial numbers in 1946, which makes a Post war 5 screw easy to distinguish from it's Earlier models by the use of this K-Letter, along with the Ribbed barrel, Micro-Click sights and anti Backlash Target stop that was added as well, after the First series. In December 7.1955 The first Major design change we saw was the dropping of a side plate screw and all later models were called a 4 screw revolver. In 1957 we saw the addition of model numbers appear in the crane are and now instead of stamping numbers in this location it clearly showed what model it was as simply 17. All previous K-22s are commonly called Pre-17s as well before this design change. In 1958 was saw the addition of the 8-3/8" Barrel like member XavierBreath shows a fine example of. In 1959 we saw the first Dash series design change, when S&W changed the extractor rod threads from left hand threads to the now popular Right hand thread. This change occurred as some shooters were complaining that the extractor rods were shooting loose from recoil and binding actions on all S&W models, and now they called the K-22 a 17-1 series. In 1961 we saw the trigger cylinder stop spring screw removed, that was easily seen in front of the trigger guard. This design change was now called the 17-2 series and commonly now called the 3 screw series. In 1967 another design change occurred, that of being the relocation of the rear sight leaf screw, and in 1968 the dropping of the Famous Diamond center found on all previous K-22 grips was dropped, and this design change is called the 17-3 series. In 1977 we saw the next design change where S&W moved the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder. In 1982 we saw the Pinned barrel dropped, and in 1986 They introduced the 4" heavy barrel like the one shown, as this replaced the model 18 and was the Only Model 17 to ever have a 4" barrel through the whole model 17 series. This design change is called the 17-4. The last design change for the Non underlug Barrel Model 17 Masterpiece series came in 1988. This series was called the 17-5 series and in 1988 a new Yoke retention package and radius stud were added. In 1989 The Model 17 Non Underlug Barrel K-22 was discontinued for the model 17-6 series, and we had seen the last of the Non Underlug barrels. I hope this help's in finding a K-22 that would suite you, as there are many to choose from in the K-22 Masterpiece line. I have yet to add an underlug barrel model 17 as I like the feel and balance of it's earlier models, but hope to find a 4" model someday. Hammerdown
