Should I abuse my S&W 17-4?

[WNC Seabee]

I have a beautiful S&W model 17-4. Not a handling mark on it. Original target grips in "as new" condition. I do not have box/papers for it, but it is as close to 100% as you'll find. I've seen these listed on gunbroker for 6, 7 even $800.

Problem is, I really like to shoot it. It's incredibly accurate, way more accurate than me and I just have fun with it. So, I know I'm already harming the value with every shot.

Would I be insane to paint the sights? I have a hard time with the black front sight, black target at my indoor range. I'd like to paint the rear sight white and paint the front red.

I did this with a beat up Model 14 ((finish is beat up, mechanically it's rock solid) and my groups improved considerably.

 

[springmom]

Why do you have the gun? If it is an investment, then it should have been a "safe queen" from the first. If you love the gun, then think of the investment as one in your enjoyment of the hobby and do what you like. Sounds to me like it's the second, rather than the first, that is your choice, so enjoy the thing and keep it forever.

Jan

 

[MrBorland]

IMO, there are a few vintage S&Ws that, if in NIB condition, lose value with firing and would be a shame and a loss to do so, but Model 17s (and even their K-22 predecessors) aren't one of them. They're terrific guns, but they're just not that rare. Besides, simply shooting it isn't abuse. And IMO, neither is painting the sights, since it's not irreparable.

So I say, shoot it, keep it clean and rust free and enjoy it!

 

[Howard B]

Having accumulated various lovely revolvers over the years that I have been unwilling to shoot, I will share a recent life changing decision. In a recent monthly edition of Guns Magazine, there is a closing page article about keeping them pristine vs. the enjoyment of shooting them. I believe John Taffin was the author. His recommendation is to shoot them. If you bought it solely as a potential investment for resale - fine, put it away. But usually premium investment pieces have the original box, papers, tools, etc. My advice is to enjoy it and shoot it. Abuse - no, but you can shoot them and still maintain much of their value. In the end, the question is did you get X amount of dollars (depreciation) of enjoyment out of it by shooting it. I recently found a M24, 4", 44 spl that was a long time coming to me. A matter of finding a gun available when the budget allowed for the expenditure. I don't golf, bowl, motorcycle or have any real hobbies not related to shooting, so I'm going to shoot it and enjoy it. Merely the opinion of an old accumulector.

 

[rcmodel]

Shooting it is not abusing it.
If it's already been shot, and minus the box & papers, shoot it. It is no longer NIB, so shooting it more will not hurt it.
Just take care of it and don't beat it up with rough handling.

Painting sights is not an alteration to the gun.
Any paint you use can be taken off with acetone or lacquer thinner or fingernail polish remover without harming the gun in the least.

If I had a dollar for every gun I have taken sight paint off of (Can't stand it myself) I could buy another S&W.

rc

 

[krs]

It won't hurt the value unless you do something ridiculous like cut notches in your sights to install some silly colored thingy, but why not learn to shoot it with the sights it has?

Those black sights are some of the largest and sharpest ever installed on revolvers and they are like they are for a reason. If you need them to contrast on your target you could just lower your aiming point onto a light colored portion of your target and then adjust the point of impact upward by using the adjustments provided.

Almost every instructional for aiming in bullseye style pistol shooting recommends holding two rings below the black portion of a target in order to see the sights clearly and reduce the chance of optical distortions of the illusory type that make you think that you are holding center when in fact you are not.

I know it may sound foriegn and difficult to do but it IS the method for which the S&W target sights were intended.

Your pistol is capable of placing every shot fired into the exact same hole that a prior shot passed through, believe it or not. There may be ammo considerations, and there are certainly shooter considerations affecting that result but the pistols as designed and manufactured are capable if you and your ammo are also capable.

Black sights help make it possible.

(rant off)

 

[rcmodel]

+1

We spent big bucks on carbide lamps to blacken out sights in NRA Bullseye competition back in the day.

Colored or shiny sights will shoot all over the place, depending on sun angle changes or a cloud going over in the middle of a match.

rc

 

[WNC Seabee]

Thanks all. You've reinforced my desire to just shoot it.

I'm still on the fence re: sight paint. I'm getting ~2.5" groups at 20 yards as is. So the incremental improvement may not be worth the cost (making it less pretty!).

I have no problem at the outdoor range, it's just when I go indoors that it's an issue. I may just switch to those targets with the orange center, no matter how much I hate them.

 

[MrBorland]

If you're shooting for group size and you're not bound to a specific target, a "trick" I use is to match the size of the black bullseye to the distance I'm shooting. If it's too big, I aim too big and miss too big. More to the point, though, if the bullseye's too big (i.e. bigger than I can shoot), I end up holding the sights right at or even on the bullseye for a center hit, in which case, resolution of the black sights is tough to establish against the black bullseye. Too small a bullseye, though, and it disappears completely when I focus on the front sight. Experiment a little.

Good lighting helps, too.

 

[Iggy]

I bought this one in 1957 when I was a freshman in high school.

I have no idea how many rounds this thing has had down the pipe.

Does it look abused?
Take that there .22 outta the safe and shoot and enjoy it, then let your grandkids do the same.

BTW, if you look real close, you can see the red paint on the front sight.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Iggy....you just made my day! Thanks!

 

[cyclopsshooter]

i feel your pain/joy with my smiths- you CAN use testors hobby enamels to paint the sight- hoppes #9 or gun scrubber will remove the paint with out any ill effects- happy plinking!

 

[crawdaddy]

My personal opinion is shoot it and enjoy it, I don't own a gun I wouldn't shoot...that's what they were made for. There are guns I wouldn't shoot but i would have to have a good reason, like my father-in-law's Civil War era musket that's been passed down though the family. Other than that.. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.