S & W 617 - WHAT BARREL LENGTHS WERE MADE

[johnny blaze]

I found another 617 for sale. I have the 6 inch and 8 3/8 inch versions. Did they make any other barrel lengths?
This one that is for sale is listed as a 10 inch model. I have never heard of or seen a 10 inch model. I think this may be a mistake. I called the guy and he says it is a 10 inch model. He is waiting to hear from me.
I cannot find anything in my S & W catalogs on it.
Anyone know anything about these?

 

[GUNKWAZY]

They made a 4" 617

Jeff (Gunkwazy)

 

[dfariswheel]

Maybe he means it's a ten SHOT model.

As far as I know, the 617 was offered in 4", 6", 8 3/8" and in a very limited production half-shroud 6" version.

 

[johnny blaze]

Gunkwazy - is that you revolver? That is a nice one. What are those grips?

dfariswheel - That is what I gathered on the 3 different barrel lengths. Have you ever seen the half shround 6 inch model? That sounds very interesting.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

They are a vintage set of Badger grips. Not sure on the wood, but they are a good lookin' grain that's for sure. They have a very nice palm swell for a right handed shooter and feel great in the hand.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Nhsport]

Couple years back I went to the local range/gunstore to grab some odds and ends and found they were haveing a "S&W day". Lots of S&W goodness filling the cases at discounted prices with S&W reps manning the counters. I asked them what they had for a 6" 617 as I had always wanted one. "We sold all the ones we broght but you can order one at this price" I was going to do this as the prices were better than any around by at least $80 . As we are chating about the 617's he grabs a 4" out of the case and hands it to me saying I am allowed to dry fire it. I recheck the cylinder and procede to snap a couple off at the wall. The rimfire guns usually come out of the factory with ok to good trigger pulls but the rimfire needs a fairly robust hammer drop so they usually are not real light. (as compared to say the L frame 686).
I don't know if the factory had worked on these guns special or had just hand selected "special" ones for this event but this gun in my hand was really quite nice. The S&W rep had a glint in his eye when he handed it to me and he was really watching my reaction when I pulled the trigger so I know he knew this gun was kind of special. He got real evasive when I asked about this gun and how it came to be so nice so I would guess something wasn't stock. He even offered to give me the gun for free if I bought a hat,(S&W hats cost $500 that day).
I now own that 4" 617 and have found with my marginal 52 year old eyes
that if rushed for time (plate shoot competitions) I am actually faster with the shorter gun. I own a 6" 686 that I use in the centerfire plate and I will sometimes "lose" the sight picture when trying to go fast ,This 617 with the exact same sights (other than being closer together) just seems to follow fron plate to plate faster.

 

[Starter52]

Nhsport, the factory rep let you dryfire a .22 revolver? We were always taught dryfiring .22s was a no-no.

 

[dfariswheel]

johnny blaze:

The limited production half-shroud Model 617 barrel looked pretty much like a S&W model 66 with a 6" barrel.

In other words, it was simply a 6" barrel with the front of the under lug deleted and the ejector rod shroud left in place.

My brother-in-law bought a 6" standard, and since he wanted a gun that balanced more like his early 1950's K-22 Masterpiece, he asked me to convert it to a half shroud.

Looked pretty good.

 

[johnny blaze]

Thanks for all the information.
GUNKWAZY - Like those grips.
Dfarriswheel - That half shround would look pretty neat.
Nhsport - That 4 inch 617 sounds really good. The used ones are going for almost as much as you paid for yours.
I have a 6 inch, and it is really smooth.
I am going to look at the one that was listed as a 10 inch. it is probably a 8 3/8, but I may buy it any way.