Just got a S&W Model 17-1.

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UnderDawgAl

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I already posted this on www.smith-wessonforum.com, so I apologize to those of you reading both. On Thursday, I stumbled across a Model 17-1 on consignment at the local gun shop. $300 out the door. No box or papers. S/N K4256XX.

It has the original grips (matching serial number), yet it also has "M" stamped inside the yoke 3 times. What would explain the M stamping?

Color case-hardened hammer and trigger, faint cylinder drag line, excellent barrel and bore. Only negative is that the part of the frame nearest the grips has some minor corrosion marks, as well as in/on the trigger guard. I just cleaned a lot of it off with some solvent and ~careful~ use of a bronze brush. Per advice from those at www.smith-wessonforum.com, I'll start using something else besides the bronze brush. I'll take it in baby steps over time and see if I can get more of it off.

Frame screws are perfect, grip screw has a little marring.

Went straight from the gun shop to the range, fired Remington .22 HV HP's flawlessly and very accurately at 15 yds, mostly double-action. Double action is still stiff. Single action is nice.

Been wanting a Model 17 for sometime now, but others I've stumbled across were in much worse shape and were priced $450-650.

Here it is:
Model17-1.jpg

And here's a picture of the crane, showing it as a 17-1. You'll notice my fine graphic arts skill in marking out the last two digits of the serial number.
Modelnooncrane2.jpg
 
All of the -1 models are very rare given the short manufacture time.

Nice gun.
 
Not only a nice gun but a pretty nice price. Cleaning the innards of a d/a revolver that hasn't been attended to in a while might resolve the "stiffness" problem.
 
very nice . not sure on the MMM but it may have been personilized by Marilyn Monroe when she was married to Mickey Mantle.
 
Hmmmmm, Marilyn Monroe Mantle...good guess. If that's the case, I'm willing to part with it right now, with opening bid at $2,500. Any takers? :)
 
If you are referring to the marks above the 17-1 designation and below the serial number on the yoke area, it isn't 3 Ms, it is MOD which is the abbreviation for Model.

If there are 3 Ms stamped on the crane itself, the revolver was probably upgraded to 17-1 by adding the new crane, star ejector and ejector rod assembly.
17-1 revolvers have the left hand, counterclockwise threading to prevent the ejector rod from backing out and tying the gun up.

The;
MOD
17-1

Looks roughly stamped and appears to actually bleed over onto the serial number in your picture.

These are great revolvers, I have an earlier K-22 and enjoy it immensely.
 
I thought Marylin Monroe was married to Joe DiMaggio, not Mickey Mantle. In fact, I know it.
 
Thanks for the compliments, all. I'm rarely the guy scoring the good deal, so it's nice for a change.

I should clarify my comment about the 3 M's. They are not stamped sequentially (as in "MMM"); rather, it appears that whoever was stamping the crane and yoke was inattentive or careless. The 3 M's are scattered about. Should have taken a pic of it.

Onmilo is right on: all the stamps are roughly done. If the S/N hadn't been stamped onto the bottom of the grip frame, I would have had difficulty making out the last two digits of the S/N. As is readily apparent, the "MOD 17-1" stamp does indeed bleed over the S/N.

Any idea of the gun's book value, with it being in 90-95% condition?
 
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