S&W Questions

[Woodyed]

I have 2 questions concerning S&W revolvers.

No.1- The model 617, 22LR revolver I've been told has an cylinder made of some sort of alloy or other metal other than stainless steel. Is this true? And why would S&W even do this when the rest of the revolver is SS?

No.2- Did S&W make the K-38 with a 4" barrel? All I've ever seen this model have is 6" barrels.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[ScotchMan]

I'd be surprised if the 617 didn't have a SS cylinder. Mine looked and felt identical to the rest of the frame. Someone will be along to provide a more authoritative answer. If they did do this, it would be because the .22LR cartridge wouldn't require the strength of steel, and using something else could provide a cost/weight savings while still being safe.

 

[Winchester_73]

Did S&W make the K-38 with a 4" barrel? All I've ever seen this model have is 6" barrels.

The model 15 is also known as the K38 Combat Masterpiece. If you mean did they make K38 target masterpieces with a 4in barrel, later the model 14, the answer is yes. First, they were available by special order, even in the 1957 days. If you had the money, S&W had the gun. Of course a 5 screw 4in heavy barrel K-38 would be a rare gun today. The principle difference between the 15 and 14 is that the model 15 has a lightweight taper barrel, where the model 14 has the heavier target barrel. Later, there were model 14s ordered with 4in barrels. I think they were ordered by a PD, in the 1960s, but I don't remember anything specific. I want to say "Dayton PD" - maybe? They are rarely seen today.

 

[Zhillsauditor]

Very early versions of the 617 (along with the 17-8) were made with an aluminum cylinder. I have a 17-8 with an alum cylinder and it functions fine, although it hasn't worn at the same rate as the steel, so it doesn't look as good as the rest of the gun.

From what I understand, S&W did not produce alum cylinders for very long.

 

[carguychris]

The principle difference between the 15 and 14 is that the model 15 has a lightweight taper barrel, where the model 14 has the heavier target barrel.

The other principal difference is that the M14 usually had a vertical Patridge front sight whereas the M15 usually had a Baughman Quick Draw serrated ramp. This is arguably a more consistent difference than the barrel configuration, as a number of oddball M15 barrel variations exist.

Of course, a major exception is...

...there were model 14s ordered with 4in barrels. I think they were ordered by a PD, in the 1960s, but I don't remember anything specific. I want to say "Dayton PD" - maybe? They are rarely seen today.

It was Dayton Police Supply. These guns are very distinctive because they have the same basic type of barrel as a heavy-barrel M10-6, which has a rounded cross-section without the distinctive flat top rib of the normal M14 and M15 barrels.

You are correct about the rarity, however. This is one of those guns that's rarely encountered in the hands of a seller who doesn't know what he or she has.

 

[Winchester_73]

The other principal difference is that the M14 usually had a vertical Patridge front sight whereas the M15 usually had a Baughman Quick Draw serrated ramp. This is arguably a more consistent difference than the barrel configuration, as a number of oddball M15 barrel variations exist.

Yea, good point, I wasn't thinking about the sights. However, the sights IMO don't define these guns as much as the barrel type. The combat masterpieces, regardless of any "oddball" barrel, will have a taper barrel. IF you "special ordered" a taper barrel K38 8 3/8 in with a patridge front, its a model 15 due to the lightweight barrel. If you ordered a 4in K38 with ramp, with a heavy barrel, its a model 14. IMO the barrel is actually more definitive. If you look around, you will see target masterpiece (6 in) guns with ramp front sights. On the other hand, you will never see a model 14 with a taper barrel, and only a model 15 snub nose has a standard (heavy) barrel, any other original model 15 barrel should be tapered, even if its long. IMO, the model 15 snub, while not having a taper, is also not really a heavy barrel, because its a snub. The best way to explain this is that simply the sights were a byproduct of the barrel type, because ordinarily, when one wants a lightweight barrel, they also want it shorter than a target length of 6 (so 4in) and because they want it for carry, you get a ramp front sight. Because with the model 14, you want it a certain weight for competition, and because its designed to be a range piece, you get a heavy weight barrel. Because you plan to target shoot with the model 14, you get a patridge.

At least, that's how I see the differences. Its the same scenario for the model 25 vs the model 26.

It was Dayton Police Supply. These guns are very distinctive because they have the same basic type of barrel as a heavy-barrel M10-6, which has a rounded cross-section without the distinctive flat top rib of the normal M14 and M15 barrels.

You are correct about the rarity, however. This is one of those guns that's rarely encountered in the hands of a seller who doesn't know what he or she has.

Thanks for that. I could actually see many FFLs misidentifying such a gun, because you can't think its common knowledge to know there was such a limited run of 4in model 14s. There is one on gunbroker, no: 347864189

 

[BigJimP]

617's.....in looking at the S&W 3rd edition catalog ....S&W introduced the 10 shot alloy cylinder in 1996 in both the 4" and 6" barrels. So the alloy cylinder first shows up in the 617-2 series.

In 1997 the model was re-introduced with an all stainless 10 shot cylinder due to poor sales with the alloy cylinder ( and the dash 2 series ran from 1996 thru 1997. With the dash 4 series...all the alloy cylinders should be gone ( 1998)....

Not that it matters ...but I have a model 617 no dash ...6 shot / 6" that has a steel cylinder...and if you find a 6 shot / I think they'll all be steel.

I prefer the gun in a 6 shot version anyway...