Smith & Wesson Model 17-4

There once was a time that I did not understand. I favored high capacity 9mm handguns back then, and eschewed revolvers all together. Revolvers were guns for fat old men in khakis and Oldsmobiles. A .22 caliber revolver was doubly stupid to my way of thinking. It was an underpowered, overpriced antiquated anachronism.

Finally, one day, I crossed the line, and discovered the pleasures of the wheelgun. It was not easy. The double action revolver trigger is unforgiving. It is perhaps the most difficult trigger to learn to use. Smith & Wesson wheelguns taught me trigger control. The S&W triggers improved my shooting across the board.

Having the immediate and undeniable feedback of holes in a target is a crucial training aid. Being able to launch a bullet for a couple of pennies suddenly began to make sense. The Smith & Wesson K-22 and subsequent Model 17 are .22 caliber revolvers built to the same standards and specifications as every K framed Smith & Wesson. Thus, by shooting a K-22, for pennies you can improve your shooting not only with the double action revolver trigger, but every trigger you use.

I found a S&W Model 17-3 with a six inch barrel, and it was good. Even so, I did not hesitate to purchase this Model 17-4 when I found it at a fair price. It is a pinned and recessed Target Masterpiece with an eight and 3/8 inch barrel.

I was forced to simply admire it for a few days, until today, when I could finally take it to the range with a box of Federal bulk ammo. The trigger had not been lightened, but it was a smooth consistent pull all the way back.

I was not prepared for the accuracy I tapped from this revolver. The extra sight radius made it a precision hole puncher. I am not certain I like the big assed target grips, but they did not hinder me. For now, they will stay on the gun. I paid $400 for this revolver. It is worth every cent of that price.


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Deciphering the Masterpiece

Long ago, Smith & Wesson began calling a select few revolvers Masterpiece. In fact, they had the audacity to name one of their revolver packages the Combat Masterpiece. That's a hell of a name. Combat Masterpiece. Presumptuous as hell, it sounds like it ought to be stepping into a professional wrestling ring wearing a lycra mask and a feather boa. What is this Combat Masterpiece?

After WWII, Smith & Wesson introduced an improved .38 Special revolver, designed for target shooting. It was designated the K-38 Target Masterpiece. Very quickly, law enforcement, and particularly the FBI asked Smith & Wesson to shorten the barrel to four inches and mount a Baughman Quick Draw front sight in place of the Patridge sight. This new variation quickly took over the police shooting competitions of it's day, and became the favored carry gun of many officers. It was dubbed the Combat Masterpiece.

My old weathered K-38 Combat Masterpiece is pictured at left. This is an imminently shootable gun. I consider it to be my finest shooting wheelgun. The trigger is absolutely incredible. The K-38 designation is simply that of a pre-Model number K frame .38 Special Smith & Wesson. The K-38 Combat Masterpiece became the Model 15 in 1957. The stainless Model 67 was also known as a Combat Masterpiece. There was also a .22LR caliber Model 18, which was known as the K-22 Combat Masterpiece.

The features that make up a Combat Masterpiece include:
Four inch ribbed barrel
Micrometer adjustable rear sight
Baughman Quick Draw front sight
Serrated front and back strap
Short fast action
Anti-backlash trigger

By contrast, the Smith & Wesson Target Masterpiece had a six or eight and 3/8 inch ribbed barrel coupled with an adjustable rear sight. Over the years, the front sight varied on the Target Masterpiece, but it was usually a Patridge type sight. Serrated front and back straps were standard on the Target Masterpiece. It was available in .22LR as the K-22 Target Masterpiece and later Model 17, and .38 Special to make up the K-38 Target Masterpiece and later Model 14. To make matters worse, there are also heavy lugged barrels on some Target Masterpieces, as well as a K-32 Target Masterpiece/Model 16. Pictured above is my Model 17-3 Target Masterpiece.

The Masterpieces of Smith & Wesson are not fancy. They do not have light rails nor mounts for red dot scopes. They are not trendy. They are classic. Many say that the Model 27 in all it's variations and lucious liquid blue finish is the pinnacle, the Mona Lisa, of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The checkered sight rail and jewel like blue of the Model 27 is indeed beautiful, baroque. There is, however an undeniable beauty in the simplicity of design, in the work of Mies van der Rohe and his contemporaries. Less is more. The Mona Lisa is not the only artistic masterpiece ever painted, and the Masterpieces of Smith & Wesson are indeed masterful renditions of purpose driven revolvers. They well deserve the title of Masterpiece.

Pawn Shop Circuit: A K-22

My first stop on the Pawn shop circuit this morning was Dave. Dave was waiting for me. As I entered the store, he was placing a revolver in the case. He saw me meandering down the aisle and said "Smith & Wesson, .22 caliber". I quit lollygagging. When I screeched to a halt in front of Dave, he removed a Smith & Wesson 17-3 from the case. A while back, I had established a K-22 as my next Holy Grail Gun. Technically, a K-22 is a pre-1957 gun, a K framed .22 caliber Smith & Wesson without a model number.

This revolver had some muzzle wear, a smattering of oxidation, but was otherwise original. It was pinned and recessed. Unfortunately, it was not a five screw gun, and did not have diamond magnas. It came with a lined Safariland leather holster. The wheelgun locked up tight, and it checked out using Jim March's Revolver Checkout. I asked how much. Dave said "Well, it was going to be $200, but since you are a regular customer............$199." For that kind of money, who needs five screws and diamond magnas? I broke out the cash.

I had been waiting to find this revolver for quite a while. I canceled a couple of hours worth of appointments, and took the Model 17-3 to the range. Once there, I squirted a bit of CLP on the parts that mattered, and bought a box of cheap .22LR ammo. The old wheelgun performed like a champ. The trigger was excellent, and the gun had the ability to outshoot me over and over. Being able to train on that K frame double action trigger for pennies a shot is a distinct advantage.

Once home, I stripped and cleaned up the gun, and checked Supica's Catalog of Smith & Wesson. I was pleased to see that Supica called my gun the K-22 Masterpiece. My revolver would have left the factory between 1968 and 1977. I saw where Dave had priced the gun by the book again, grading this one between Good and Very Good in condition. Dave doesn't realize that the market left the price guides in the dust several years ago. I'm not telling him either!

Gun Show: K-22 Quest

I had made the decision to buy the Model 17-4 for the asking price if necessary, and I crossed the icy bridge over the river on my return to the gunshow. I did not have to wait outside in the cold this time, as I was not determined to be among the first people through the door. The decision to pay the price for a K-22 Masterpiece was a great relief. Like asking the head cheerleader to the Friday night dance, three quarters of the problem is the decision to cross the bridge towards action. That decision was made this morning, and I intended to buy. $550 was a fair price, but I would offer $500 and see if I could save a bit. I found a parking spot in the slushy parking lot, bought a ticket, accepted a hand stamp, and went inside the warm building.

I avoided the lady selling raffle tickets and the guy selling eyeglass cleaner, and went directly to the West wall, where I had seen the Model 17-4, along with two Model 18s yesterday. The seller's wife was at the table, and she knew nothing about the guns. The .22 caliber revolvers were not there. I asked the lady where her husband might be, and finally found him trying to negotiate a deal on a Winchester lever action rifle from another seller. He had sold all three rimfire Smith & Wesson revolvers. My hopes for a K-22 were melted like the winter sleet turning to water outside.

I decided to stay, have some coffee, and chat with friends. Who knows what might get zip tied at the front door and come trundling through the show, and I still had cash in hand. Sadly, the weather was still frigid, and people in North Louisiana are loathe to venture out in 30 degree weather. The traffic was minimal. I dug through a beater holster box and found several beater holsters for $2 each. At the bottom of the box I found a set of pre-war S&W grips in decent shape. I asked, and the guy selling said fifteen bucks. I countered ten. He said OK. I paid my money and placed everything in a sack.

I spotted a S&W Model 10-5 with a two inch barrel, in about 90% remaining finish. The seller was wanting $225. I might have purchased it, except I found a much nicer one for $200 at the last gun show. Out of curiosity, I located the new metal and plastic M&P, and handled it. It seemed to be very slick feeling, almost like it had a coating of Armorall on it. The new M&P's asking price, in .40S&W was $529. It did not seem to be bad as plastic pistols go, and I guess I'm softening a bit on the M&P name useage. I stopped by the little I frame Smith & Wesson Model of 1903 2nd Change I had fondled the previous day. I offered the seller an even $200 out the door. He declined my offer, so I put the gun down, and moved on. The .32 Long cartridge would be tough to find anyway. It was an interesting little revolver though, kind of like a half-scale M&P. I'll have to keep my eyes open for one that's affordable.

I left this gunshow without buying a gun. I missed out on the K-22 revolver I had eventually decided to buy. I did get a couple of deals though, and and I have gun money to stash away until next time. That's a good thing.

Gun Show K-22 Turn Around

I awoke this morning with K-22 on the brain. The Smith & Wesson K-22 is one of my holy grail guns. I spotted one, actually a Model 17-4 yesterday at the gun show. Unfortunately, at $550, it was well above my buying range. I have established my top dollar buying price at $350. I am willing to accept a lesser finish to buy the gun at a more affordable price.

After sleeping on it last night, $550 started to sound pretty good. After all, I own quite a few guns that cost that much and even more. Am I just being swayed by the fallacy that an itty bitty caliber should have an itty bitty price? I believe I am. Five hundred for a K-22 is certainly a fair and common price, especially for one in pristine condition. I would not be paying to much for the gun, and if I care for it, the value will hold. I will certainly get more enjoyment out of it than I get from my numerous 9mm and .40S&W handguns that cost the same or more, but cost more to shoot.


I want a K-22. That Model 17-4 is a K-22 Masterpiece. It is in great condition, and $500 is a fair price, both for the seller and the buyer. I will return this morning, and see if I can negotiate the price to $500. That's asking for a 10% discount on the second day. Chances are, the seller padded his selling price by 10%.

I'll go back this morning, do the Jim March Revolver Checkout, pay the price, and never look back. The sting of the price is quickly forgotten in the glow of owning a fine firearm you can shoot the hell out of.

Now where is my bore light?