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S&W 317 Airlite Ti
vega75
Member Posts: 132 ✭✭
Can't seem to find any info on this .22 pistol. Not in Standard catalog of S&W, not in any of the price guides either. I think they were only made a year or 2 around 1999 but can't find out for sure. Would also like to know what it is worth. Gun is 99%, serial # LGT49xx, factory rubber grips, titanium cylinder, grey finish. deep groove on bottom of trigger guard and on back of grip to save even more weight. 8 shot, black trigger and hammer. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Harry
Comments
Seems like a rare unit in Ti. Perhaps S&W could help you out with info.
Never seen or heard of a TI. As light as they are I don't see the need to add titanium to it.
I bought this consecutively numbered pair back in the mid 90's. They are so light, you could almost wear one around your neck on a cord.
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There would be no reason to use titanium on a rimfire, since the strength of titanium is not needed. Titanium is also heavier than aluminum, so that is another reason, along with cost, why it would not have been used on the Model 317, which was intended to be as light as possible (hence the reason for the hollowed-out back on the trigger, trigger guard and butt frame.)
Titanium has never been used on the Model 317. The linked article is in error in that regard. Smith & Wesson puts a "Ti" symbol on its models with titanium cylinders, and the Model 317 does not have such a symbol.
What the original poster assumes is a titanium cylinder is an anodized aluminum alloy cylinder. Other than the two extra shots, the idea of an alloy cylinder on a .22 Kit Gun is not new, having been introduced in 1955 on the Model of 1955 .22/.32 Airweight Kit Gun ("Pre-Model 43").
EDIT #1, If S & W can't help with verification and production figures, likely it's not common and was only made for a short period of time.
If you still have the original factory box it came in, there will be a 4 digit number on it giving actual year and julian date of manufacture.
Potentially it might have substantial value to a S & W collector? Earlier low production .22 revolvers, like the Models 35 & 45 are really big buck collectors items nowadays. Your Ti might fall into the same category?
But, had you posted a photo of your gun initially, that would have made this easier for us, because we would have known that it was marked "Ti". Even at this point, it would be helpful; unlike the light gray color of Lefty's guns, a titanium cylinder will be dark gray.
It would also be interesting if you could post the weight of your gun, so that we can compare it to the 9.9 oz of the standard 317.
Neal
Please post pictures of the subject Model 317, and of the box end label. I am very anxious to see a picture of this gun, since it seems so illogical to build a .22 rimfire with a titanium cylinder when the strength is not needed, and such a cylinder would add weight and cost.
One possible explanation would be a mis-marked frame. Mis-marked Smiths & Wesson guns are fairly common. There is a mis-marked Model 617 (I think it is) that has been up on the auction side for ages with no one interested in paying the premium the owner attaches to the mistake.
As Mr. Myers says, a true titanium cylinder on a Smith & Wesson is dark gray in color. The pictures we hope you will post should reveal the color of the cylinder.
As far as the weight, that should be weighed on a good digital scale without the stocks on the gun, since they can vary in weight. I have always taken the 9.9 ounce weight to be a nominal figure, perhaps fudged to get the advertised weight under 10 ounces.
I look forward to seeing this Model 317 with the Ti markings. No matter what the photos show, a factory letter is warranted. I urge you to get one.
I have the 337 Ti, that's in 38 spl +P, great gun to shoot, even with the +P's! Weighs in at a whopping 10.8oz, and 12.5oz loaded with 5 rounds of Blazer aluminum shell 38 +P's 125gr!
I tried to post photo but was unsucessful. I can send pic to anyone who would like to see it via email thru GunBroker. I guess you have to contact me thru my listings on GB. The photo shows the atomic symbol and just below that the Airlite Ti. It weighs 9.1 oz without the grips. The cylinder is the same color as the rest of the gun, not dark grey like the centerfires. Is it any wonder I am confused? Thanks! Harry
Doesn't seem correct to me. As Neal noted Titanium is different, color wise from aluminum. If your cylinder is the same color as the frame, doubtful that it is Titanium. No mater the markings.