I Blame You Guys!!

[J-Bar]

While I mostly play cowboy and hang out in the Blackpowder Forum, I stray into other areas of The High Road. And in this Revolver Forum I have seen pictures over the months and years of your Smith and Wesson Model 17s, reported by more than one to be the most accurate revolvers in the gun safe. So, in the words of Jerry Clower, "you flung a craving on me!"

This one came home with me this morning from a gun shop in a small town within an hour's drive. I did not get a terrific price on it, neither did the seller gouge me. It cost what they are being advertised on Gunbroker. The advantage to me was, I could inspect it and handle it before buying and not have to pay shipping or an FFL transfer fee.

I shot it this afternoon, but I am not going to post photos of the targets. They simply prove that my eyes are getting bad and my fingers are getting arthritic. The good news is, this 1967 Model 17-2 is a cheap date! My groups with the cheap bulk high speed stuff were better than the premium Eley target ammo!!

So today I got one of my Grail guns.

I gotta stop hanging out here!

 

[rpenmanparker]

Good for you. Enjoy.

 

[Sistema1927]

We certainly are a group of mutual enablers.

 

[BobWright]

That is one handsome specimen!

Bob Wright

 

[Sappyg2.0]

Congratulations! That's a nice looking 19. It's one of my grains too.

 

[WestKentucky]

It’s a beauty. Now on to making it better with a spring kit and polished innards.

 

[JeffG]

Very nice!!

 

[Dazen]

Gorgeous!

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice Model 17. They are nice shooters.

Now you need to get an 8-3/8" Model 17 and a 4" Model 18 to keep it company.

 

[J-Bar]

Nice Model 17. They are nice shooters.

Now you need to get an 8-3/8" Model 17 and a 4" Model 18 to keep it company.

I got the Model 18 in 1982; that's what started the Smith and Wesson obsession!

Followed by a 15, two 10s (2" and 4"), 19, 60, 36, and a 686. It's a small group compared to other S&W lovers, but I'm not in competition.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Is there a cheaper way to make the craving go away?!!!

 

[Jonesy814]

Very nice M17. A buddy of mine got one like that a couple weeks ago. His was made in 77. We shot it last week and it was sweet. I took my 4 inch 617 along and found it can hang right in there with the old classic

 

[cfullgraf]

I got the Model 18 in 1982; that's what started the Smith and Wesson obsession!

I started with a 6" Model 19 and a Model 18 purchased new back in the day. Recently, I've concentrated on getting an example of the commonly available barrel lengths for adjustable sight, blued, K frames. Except for Model 16s, which are as available as hen's teeth, I have done well filling the collection.

Again, you found a nice Model 17. Have fun with it.

 

[Jonesy814]

Is there a cheaper way to make the craving go away?!!!

NO! It's an incurable infection. The best you can hope for is temporary remission brought on by purchasing another revolver. The effects last 3 to 6 months then you have to start looking for the next one. Getting out to shoot your revolver can also temporarily help but don't shoot with a friend that has a model you don't have or else it will get worse

 

[bannockburn]

J-Bar

Congrats on finding such a nice looking Model 17! And yes, on behalf of all of us enablers here at THR, you're welcome!

 

[Tallball]

Nice!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Beautiful. Been wanting to buy one for a few years.

 

[doubleh]

I had nothing to do with so don't blame me.

That is a beautiful piece of machinery. I could easily find a spot in the safe for one of those.

Bad eyes and arthritic fingers? Bad enough but throw in essential tremors and you really have a mess---- with any fire arm. I have all three but I'm not giving up shooting.

 

[tbob38]

NO! It's an incurable infection. The effects last 3 to 6 months

HAH! Sometimes the 4473 is not even completed.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Blame me. J-Bar sent me a private message asking if I thought the price was OK and I said I did.

But now I have a question. I have a S&W product flier from 1966 and also one from 1968. Both clearly show the Model 17 with Magna grips, such as are on my 6" Model 17-3 from 1975, the lower revolver in the photo below. J-Bar's Model 17-2 has what used to be known as Oversized Target grips, such as are shown on my 8 3/8" Model 17 from 1963, the long barreled revolver at the top of the photo. Curious whether the grips on J-Bar's Model 17-2 are numbered to the gun. Usually stamped or penciled on the back side of one of the grips.






Also curious about the front sight. Looks like it has been customized. The rear face on the standard Patridge front sight blade on these revolvers was pretty near vertical. Looks like somebody added a red bead of some sort.






Don't worry J-bar, no matter what it is a really nice Model 17-2 and I don't think you paid too much for it. I'm sure you will enjoy shooting it.

 

[Iggy]

Congrats on a great little gun.. The only problem is there ain't no alibis when you're shooting one of those.. If there are misses on the target everyone knows it's not the guns fault.

 

[J-Bar]

DJ;

The numbers on the inside of the grip panels on my 17-2 are not the same as the serial number stamped on the butt and frame. I guess I will have to create a story about how the original grips were damaged when the revolver saved a bunch of lives, somewhere, sometime...

The gun did not come with box or papers and as you know I am not a collector. I will do my best to wear this one out before I die. The grips look good and feel good and I appreciate the information you shared with me. Thanks again for being a consultant.

 

[Jonesy814]

From what I have been told, the target grips were generally not stamped with the guns serial number. The magna was the standard grip with the targets being an option. Sometimes the targets were a factory added option and sometimes a dealer added option

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

The Oversized Target grips on that 8 3/8" Model 17 of mine are stamped with the gun's Serial Number.

 

[kBob]

j-bar,

Glad to be of assistance.

-kBob