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S&W K-17 ?

47studebaker47studebaker Member Posts: 2,251 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited July 2013 in Ask the Experts
Long story short I bought a S&W K-17 6 inch (no -#'s) ser. # K401xxx last week. It's very nice with some minor blue loss on both sides of muzzle. Believe it has original grips (small diamond around screw) Paid a decent price as I had a S&W 22 (unknown model but 6 inch) years ago and left it get away.

Today the former owner showed up with a blue S&W box, has K-22 in white or silver stamped on end of box over K-38 Masterpiece, 6" Barrel and Blue Finish, but ser. #K401xxx written on bottom of box in white. Box contains Smith & Wesson paperwork for K-22 Masterpiece Revolver Model No. 17, cleaning rod and 2 jags?, and screw driver. Date inside box is April 15,1955.

I know pictures would help but it took me almost 15 minutes to type this, have no idea what it would take to do the picture hosting thing.

I know it's a good one just looking for some confirmation. I checked GB but didn't see any K-17, but some K-17 with -#. I take this to be a "first issue"?

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your post is very confusing? The serial number you have given would date to 1960. It should have been marked "17-1", at that point in time. Similar to the one in this photo I got off the net.


    ModelMarking.jpg
  • 47studebaker47studebaker Member Posts: 2,251 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    marked MOD K-17 with the serial number above it and there is a "1" above the serial number just below the barrel but it is sideways.

    check auction 350934466, picture #4. on my revolver the bottom line is MOD K-17 above it is serial number, above that where you see the "0" is were the "1" appears sideways.
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 47studebaker
    marked MOD K-17 with the serial number above it and there is a "1" above the serial number just below the barrel but it is sideways.


    Appears OK. The -1 was a engineering change on the threads on the extractor/ejector rod. Probably yours was already built and in the warehouse, and they reworked it and put the new parts in.
  • Laredo LeftyLaredo Lefty Member Posts: 13,451 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 47studebaker
    marked MOD K-17 with the serial number above it and there is a "1" above the serial number just below the barrel but it is sideways.

    check auction 350934466, picture #4. on my revolver the bottom line is MOD K-17 above it is serial number, above that where you see the "0" is were the "1" appears sideways.


    There is no model K-17, its a "model 17". The K is part of the serial number and is also the designation of the frame size.
  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 1960 date is real close. You mentioned a blue box and a 1950 date, before 1957 there where no model 17s, they where K 22 Masterpiece's. The model number system was adopted in 1957.
    As has been stated, the -1 is the first mechanical change, or update made to that model.
    W.D.
  • 47studebaker47studebaker Member Posts: 2,251 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm sorry for so much confusion. I was wrong on the posts above. On the crane is MOD-17, above that is the serial number and above that in the portion just below the barrel is the number "1" sideways.

    So I believe as Rufe Snow said I have a MOD-17 from around 1960 which was "improved" at the factory before shipping out.

    The box is blue with "silver" corner pieces holding it together. One end is stamped "S&W" and the other end is stamped "SMITH & WESSON", under that is "K-38 MASTERPIECE" with a "K-22" stamped over top of the "K-38 M" of the letters, below that is "6 inch Barrel" to the left and "Blue Finish" to the right. The inside top of the box has "Directions for use" in English on the left side and in Spanish? on the right side. The inside bottom of the box has a "Statement of Liability" and "Warranty" under that with a date of April 15, 1955 on the left side bottom. On the bottom of the box outside someone wrote in white crayon or chalk the serial number of the revolver. Tools appear to be aluminum or an alloy and are 22 size. I now see the paperwork/parts list I found inside the box is for a "K-22 MASTERPIECE REVOLVER, MODEL No. 17" and "Prices effective Janary 1, 1960" (why is January spelled wrong, never mind too many questions)

    Does this box belong to this revolver or could it have been a later purchase? The old gentleman said he only owned 1 S&W and he bought it 50 years ago.

    Thanks for the responses ! !
  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Considering the circumstances of you getting the revolver I would say the box is original. If you bought it from the gun show table of "Shifty Sam" I would suspect fakery in marking the box.
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