S&W 17-4 vs 17-6....can only keep on! Help!

sphen

sphen

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Ok, I recently picked up a 17-4 off the EE and then found a local 17-6 at a price I couldn't turn down. I'm not one to back out of a commitment so I went forward with the 17-4 and just figured I'd keep the one that I liked best. Both are in very good condition with only minor signs of wear in the usual places. I had them out yesterday for a look over and took some photos. What are the significant differences between these two, any real reason to pick one over the other? They both feel good in the hand, I'm leaning towards the 17-6 right now but don't want to make any decisions until I hear more about them and have a try shooting them.

17-4




17-6




Side by side


Any significant difference in value? Thanks!
 
If you aren't going to keep the 17-6, I'd be interested to buy it off you. Full-underlug and blued is a good look, in my eyes.
 
The big difference is the full underlug. The 17-6 also has a new yoke retention system with a radiused stud. Those are the only real differences. Your 17-4 is a post 1982 gun as it doesn't have the pinned barrel.

Auggie D.
 
The 17-6 is the rarer gun. The other sought after 17s are earlier than the 17-4, so I'd keep the 17-6 based on uniqueness and rarity alone.
 
That -6 is a stunner and last I looked those grips alone are worth a significant sum. However, the value in any gun for me is how well I shoot it. See which works best for you and stick with it.
 
Keep the 17-6. Much ###ier to me with the full underlug. Also you can later buy a 586 in .357 mag to pair with it.
I happen to own both the 586 and the 17-6 and like that «almost twins» feeling. There's nothing like a blued steel six shooter revolver...

Gilbert
 
There will be a significant weight difference between the two. Theoretically the 17-6 should be easier to control due to the extra weight up front. On the other hand it will bring on hand fatigue faster.

I have 2 model 14s with standard barrels and a model 14-5 with the full underlug. Love them all and shoot all three equally well. Great guns for training newbies on. I only paid $1200 for all three so I wouldn't consider selling any of them.
 
tjhaile said:
I like the 17-4 best of the two. Full-lugged 6" barels aren't my cup of tea.
Click to expand...

Agree. 6" full under lug is too muzzle heavy for me, especially in a 22 LR but even in .357. I've had both in .22 and .357.

YMMV. Shoot both, keep the one you like, regardless of whether your "like" is in the look or how it shoots for you. Have fun, both nice guns regardless.
 
Nice guns. You can't make a wrong choice. As many have already said, keep the one that feels the best when you shoot it or keep the one you think looks the best. For me, I would have to keep both. Tough choice you have to make.
 
While I really like my L frames with the full underlugs, I prefer my .22's without. Depending on how each shoots, I would hang onto the -4 and sell the -6. You will probably get a better price for the -6 anyway.

Auggie D.
 
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