S&W Model 17 Masterpiece

StoneHorse

StoneHorse

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For quite some time I've wanted a nice, classic looking 22LR revolver. So last week I took delivery on a Smith & Wesson Model 17 Masterpiece. Too bad about the laminated wood grips on a pistol with a street price of around $1000 but that can be easily remedied. The grips are not bad looking but I will change them out for some nice walnut or some exotic hardwood sometime in the future. The bluing is not that deep royal blue that I've see on older revolvers of decades past but still pretty nice none the less.

I took it to the range over the weekend and shot a couple of cylinders each of Winchester T-22 & CCI standard velocity target loads. Seven & ten yard groups were decent in spite of the trigger pull, oh the trigger pull :sok2. The model 17 is the second revolver I have purchased. The trigger on my first revolver (S&W 686) had a trigger job and lighter springs installed. The double action trigger pull on the 686 is oh so sweet. The model 17 in contrast is like night & day. Talk about lawyer triggers, ugh.

So have I already thought about sending it out for a trigger job but before doing that, I ordered online a reduced power spring kit. The kit comes with a reduced power hammer spring and three rebound springs of #13, #14, #15 weight. A quick Youtube video on how to change out the springs; took only a few minutes to replace the springs from start to finish. Dropped in six snap caps and tried the double action pull and what a world of difference. Not quite as light and silky smooth as my 686 but pretty damn close.

Now here is hoping I will not have any light strikes on the primers. I'll know by the weekend.

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I'm outraged that you haven't posted a series of good quality photos of your new gun. I've wanted to take a close look at one of those for a while. (This site needs way more review threads with pictures.)

Could you take some glamour shots for those of us who don't have one? A real good scoping out of the gun would be nice.

PS: Cool gun! Congratulations!
 
skimmer said:
I'm outraged that you haven't posted a series of good quality photos of your new gun. I've wanted to take a close look at one of those for a while. (This site needs way more review threads with pictures.)

Could you take some glamour shots for those of us who don't have one? A real good scoping out of the gun would be nice.

PS: Cool gun! Congratulations!
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I hear ya; the above picture is straight off the S&W website. I'll see what I can do but I'm no glamor photographer.
 
Now that's beautiful!

What frame are those things made on? It looks small but I thought it was the same as my 686, which I believe is the K/L. How does it feel in the hand?
 
For the money one may have considered buying used. They are many nice examples of 17- series on the EE for under a grand. I got a mint and mean a mint 17-2 three T’s for $800. It has the famous smooth S&W trigger pull they were famous for. I can put 12 shots within the diameter of a dime at 10 meters, resting of course:p Bottom line if you are happy with your purchase, that’s all that matters, now go shoot it dirty:)
 
Beautiful revolver, I think It's worth a few more bucks for a trigger job.
I am looking into a Model 17 with a 4 inch full underlug barrel.
They are not very common.
 
the model 17's are K frame, the 686 is a L frame
Keep your standard springs as light springs don't always work in a 22, but you may be fine.
A super trigger is not about putting light springs in a gun.
 
skimmer said:
Now that's beautiful!

What frame are those things made on? It looks small but I thought it was the same as my 686, which I believe is the K/L. How does it feel in the hand?
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Its a K-Frame square butt. The grip feels fine to me but I don't have big hands.

johnl said:
For the money one may have considered buying used. They are many nice examples of 17- series on the EE for under a grand. I got a mint and mean a mint 17-2 three T’s for $800. It has the famous smooth S&W trigger pull they were famous for. I can put 12 shots within the diameter of a dime at 10 meters, resting of course:p Bottom line if you are happy with your purchase, that’s all that matters, now go shoot it dirty:)
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I considered the used market but this time around I wanted new. I paid $997.00 to the door so not that much over most used guns. Now that I changed out the springs, the trigger pull is much, much better. I will consider a trigger job later. Now for some range time.
 
Back in the day every self respecting gun collection had to have a "K38" [aka Model 14] .38 Spl & a "K22" [aka Model 17] in .22lr. :cool:

Getting a nice Model 17 in decent shape for under $1K of the EE is certainly "do-able". :)

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NAA.
 
NAA said:
Back in the day every self respecting gun collection had to have a "K38" [aka Model 14] .38 Spl & a "K22" [aka Model 17] in .22lr. :cool:

Getting a nice Model 17 in decent shape for under $1K of the EE is certainly "do-able". :)

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NAA.
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My K-38 is a 1957 and my K-22 a '49. Both sourced on the EE and both well under $1,000. They are superb guns and I'd personally choose them over any BNIB S&W made today.

In fairness I admit I'm biased and that I am predisposed to prefer older,more traditional stuff whether watches, cars, guns or boats.;)
 
marshall said:
...Keep your standard springs as light springs don't always work in a 22, but you may be fine.
A super trigger is not about putting light springs in a gun.
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True. I did a lot of internal polishing on my used Model 19-4, GP100 and SP101 as well as slightly lighter hammer springs and according to my Timney gauge, they still run around 10 lbs. DA but they are very smooth. My old 14-3 OTOH has a superb trigger and I don't think it has been tinkered with. (I read that 14's got some special TLC from the factory before shipping.) However, it had also probably been shot quite a bit in the ~40 years before I got it, and that will tend to smooth things out nicely.

StoneHorse, a brand new one should probably have a better trigger out of the box than it has, but a small investment in snap caps and a lot of dry-firing aside from range time will likely help things along. If not, a trip to Murray Charlton Enterprises on Vanc. Island might be in order, although it seems a shame to spend yet more on a brand new gun.
 
josquin said:
StoneHorse, a brand new one should probably have a better trigger out of the box than it has, but a small investment in snap caps and a lot of dry-firing aside from range time will likely help things along. If not, a trip to Murray Charlton Enterprises on Vanc. Island might be in order, although it seems a shame to spend yet more on a brand new gun.
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Everything is a trade-off or a compromise when it comes to buying new vs used. As others have said, there are nice offerings on the EE but I like to touchy-feely before I buy so I decided to purchase new this time around. Snap caps I have and a trip to the Island may be in the future. I don't mind spending a little more to make it 'mine'. Overall, I am quite happy with my purchase. My big problem now (lol) is sourcing out some nice exotic wood panel grips from a retailer that will ship north. Anyone know of any Canadian grip makers?
 
StoneHorse said:
Everything is a trade-off or a compromise when it comes to buying new vs used. As others have said, there are nice offerings on the EE but I like to touchy-feely before I buy so I decided to purchase new this time around. Snap caps I have and a trip to the Island may be in the future. I don't mind spending a little more to make it 'mine'. Overall, I am quite happy with my purchase. My big problem now (lol) is sourcing out some nice exotic wood panel grips from a retailer that will ship north. Anyone know of any Canadian grip makers?
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Check Ebay. Some people have had very good luck with the exotic hardwood grips from Thailand.
 
Enjoy you new 17 and give us a range report when you have time please

In trucks I like to buy new but for S&W revolvers I prefer older. I think I paid $375 for my 17-3 and it will be handed down to my nieces or nephews when I have climbed my last hill.
 
sailor723 said:
Check Ebay. Some people have had very good luck with the exotic hardwood grips from Thailand.
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I think one of the names to look for is "Jaruwan". I got a nice set of grips from Thailand (not Jaruwan, AFAIK) for my Ruger SP-101, although this style wouldn't suit your S&W. (I also refinished them with tung oil as I wanted a non-gloss finish). But the workmanship was very good.

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The GP 100 has grips from Altamont (replacing the Hogues it came with), who actually make many of the grips for both S&W & Ruger. They're in the US but they do ship to Canada (or if you're near the border you could save some postage and have them sent to a mailbox/agent just across the line.) They have some very nice grips, although perhaps not particularly "exotic."
 
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