Smith and Wesson revolver question
- Thread starter drill702
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- Durham Region
I'm stunned. NM- sorry
That's a little like asking "What's the difference between a Ford F150 and a Ford F150 built after 2015.
617 is the model ( a K frame SS .22 introduced in 1989) The 10 shot version was introduced in 1996 with the 617-2. As with a S&W's the dash numbers indicate when significant engineering changes were made. 617-6 is a post 2001 with the internal key lock on the 10 shot frame. The 617-5 is the same changes in a 6 shot.
617 is the model ( a K frame SS .22 introduced in 1989) The 10 shot version was introduced in 1996 with the 617-2. As with a S&W's the dash numbers indicate when significant engineering changes were made. 617-6 is a post 2001 with the internal key lock on the 10 shot frame. The 617-5 is the same changes in a 6 shot.
Found this for you. I can't vouch for it's accuracy.....
"no-dash gun should be a 6 shot with the S&W wood finger groove grips and a "no-lock" gun. At some point S&W tried using an aluminum cylinder on the 617's. I think it was a -2 or somewhere in there. They then went back to using a stainless steel cylinder. I think this was on the 10-shot models. Sometime after that they were into the "safety lock" on the guns produced.
617-0: flash-chromed forged parts, non-drilled&tapped frame, 6-shot stainless cylinder
617-1: color case hardened forged parts, drilled&tapped frame, 6-shot stainless cylinder
617-2: CCH forged parts, D&Ted frame, 10-shot aluminum alloy cylinder (transitional, later ones started to have MIM triggers and stainless cylinders)
617-3: MIM hammer/trigger, D&Ted frame, change to integral frame lug, 6-shot stainless cylinder
617-4: 10-shot stainless cylinder
617-5: 6-shot stainless cylinder, internal lock system
617-6: (current production) 10-shot stainless cylinder, ILS"
M
"no-dash gun should be a 6 shot with the S&W wood finger groove grips and a "no-lock" gun. At some point S&W tried using an aluminum cylinder on the 617's. I think it was a -2 or somewhere in there. They then went back to using a stainless steel cylinder. I think this was on the 10-shot models. Sometime after that they were into the "safety lock" on the guns produced.
617-0: flash-chromed forged parts, non-drilled&tapped frame, 6-shot stainless cylinder
617-1: color case hardened forged parts, drilled&tapped frame, 6-shot stainless cylinder
617-2: CCH forged parts, D&Ted frame, 10-shot aluminum alloy cylinder (transitional, later ones started to have MIM triggers and stainless cylinders)
617-3: MIM hammer/trigger, D&Ted frame, change to integral frame lug, 6-shot stainless cylinder
617-4: 10-shot stainless cylinder
617-5: 6-shot stainless cylinder, internal lock system
617-6: (current production) 10-shot stainless cylinder, ILS"
M
That's all very close (with some minor info omitted) to what's in my copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson 3rd edition. The catalog also gives dates for each change... 617 no dash 1989...617-1 1993, 617-2 1996, 617-3 1998 (6 shot), 617-4 1998 (10 shot), 617-5 2001(6 shot), 617-6 2001 (10 shot)
other changes that did not result in a new dash number.........2002 8 3/8" barrel discontinued, 2003 new design extractor star.
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I think the 6 and 10 shot guns were being produced simultaneously for much of the time. For example I think the 617-3/617-4 and the 617-5/617-6 indicated engineering changes made at the same time to both the 6 and 10 versions of the 617.
