Posted: 6/14/2010 8:44:34 PM EDT
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I feel like a kid on Christmas opening up some brand new whizz bang toy....
I just got my handgun permit and went to the store to check out some revolvers. I've only shot a revolver maybe 3 or 4 times in my life and when I did it was only a couple rounds. I've always thought they looked "cool" though and figured I should have a couple in my collection. So I went to the store intending to check out some Taurus .22 LR and some S&W/Ruger .357s. I didn't want to spend a ton on the .22 since one of the main reasons I wanted it was so I'd have an easy gun to shoot when I take newbies to the range. Well, while I was there the clerk brings out this used S&W Model 17 and had me dry fire it next to the Taurus .22 the difference was like night and day. I guess I'm a geek, but I just loved the way you could feel your finger pressure working the action of the revolver, which you don't get with a semi auto pistol. And the Taurus was rough and clunky with an uneven trigger pull. The Smith was smooth as hell and felt awesome. So now I'm seriously thinking about this Smith Model 17. It had a couple of minor dings in the bluing but nothing major. It looked a lot like this one. Maybe the barrel was a little skinnier. Is $600 a fair price? 
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I don't know how prices are in your area, but typically a Model 17 in very good condition will sell in the $400-$450 range. S&W reintroduced the M17 a couple of years ago, and the new ones sell for more.
Buy an older one if possible. ETA: dry firing a rimfire handgun or rifle will damage it. The firing pin will peen the edge of the chamber, making loading difficult or impossible. |
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I have a S&W 17-8. They are very nice guns. Mine is very similar to the one you pictured, but it has a full lug running the length of the barrel and rubber grips. I highly recommend it. It is very accurate, and even more so since I switched out the front blade with a hi-viz fiber optic site.
The S&W 17 and 617 will run you twice as much as most other .22's. But they are worth it. The price you were quoted seems to be in the ballpark with what's out there on gunbroker.com auctions. Check and see if he'll throw in a brick of .22 into the deal. If he doesn't, buy it anyway. One of the great things about the model 17 compared to other .22 pistols is it will eat anything you feed it. .22's are notoriously finicky about what kind of ammunition they prefer. That is no problem with a 17. It will shoot anything and everything. |