I am a big fan of the 92/99 and someone on another board was talking about the 917. I know it takes the 92/99 mags but did it have the 900 series grip and a shortened 92/99 barrel?

Came here expecting to see a good picture of a well armed Patrol Torpedo Boat.    Disappointed.  

Correct, I believe the frames are the same as a PT-92, except some had shallow finger grooves on the front strap.  The interesting bit was the top end; the slide, barrel, and guide rod were, as a whole, 1" shorter.  I'm not sure about the recoil spring length, but assume it's shorter as well.  There were some variations, earlier frames had no finger grooves and no accessory rail, and later frames had finger grooves and accessory rails.  Later variations also had a dovetailed front sight.

I like those 90 series Taurus and happen to think the 917 was perhaps the best of them.  All that was missing was for Taurus to round off the front of the trigger guard, adopt the same magazine catch pattern as the Beretta, and to adopt the dovetailed front sight on all their 90 series, although they will probably be phased out in favor of the cheaper polymer framed pistols now that they've apparently learned how to make a decent one (ref the G3 series).  Unfortunately, Taurus USA currently only lists the full size 92 in black. The day they stop making the handgun that put them on the world map will be a sad day indeed.

The 917C is still available elsewhere, as indicated on the Taurus' Brazilian website.


https://taurusarmas.com.br/pt/produtos/pistolas/917c-9mm

I lucked onto a Taurus 92 POLICE model
It appears to be the same gun

Basically it appears to be a
Full size lower with a compact upper

Interesting! Hadn't heard of that one, but you're right, looks just like a 917C.  Did yours come with checkered wooden grips and a lanyard loop?