A Short History
The S&W 17-6 currently in my hand is dated to the early ’90s, which just tickles me pink being an ’80s baby myself. However, the Model 17 – which is still in production today, now known as the Model 17 Masterpiece – traces its lineage back to the early days of the K-frame revolvers at the turn of the 19th century.
In 1899, the company introduced its .38 Hand Ejector Military and Police Model revolver. This launched the company’s M&P lineup but also set the basis for what would become the K-22 Masterpiece and later the Model 17. By the late 1920s, S&W had started receiving enough requests for a .22-caliber, target-style revolver based on the K-frame that it made no sense not to put it into production, which commenced in 1930.
It was originally introduced as the K-22 Outdoorsman and was guaranteed at 1.5 MOA at 50 yards. That’s a big deal for a handgun. Soon the masses, and especially target shooters, began to take notice. By the end of the decade, the demand from target shooters was so high that S&W decided to scrap the Outdoorsman moniker. Beginning in the 1940s, the K-22 Masterpiece began rolling off the lines.
The Masterpiece upgrades included a shorter, faster action, a micrometer-adjustable rear sight, and a built-in, anti-backlash trigger. However, production of this new Masterpiece line would soon have to be shut down in 1940 due to productions for war efforts ramping up. After the war demand hadn’t gone anywhere so the lineup returned and like most S&W guns today you can find many different variations.
The model I currently have (17-6) saw the full-length underlug added in 1990. Three years later, the 8.125-inch barrel was discontinued, and two years after that, the frame was drilled and tapped for optics (17-7). A 10-shot alloy framed version is available in the 17-8, and if you want to get a little more zip to your round, you can find the same-framed revolver available chambered in .22 WMR as the Model 48 or in .17 HMR as the Model 647.
Unboxing
One of the coolest things about this 17-6 is the box that it arrived in. These original boxes have become cherished prizes for collectors, so I was happy this still had its box and wasn’t confined to some generic plastic handgun case. The box screams retro vibes of the early '90s, which made me smile and made me instantly think of the ’92 Dream Team, for some reason. S&W just exudes that classic Americana and makes me think of the best that the USA has produced, I suppose.
Upon opening the box, I could tell that this was never a safe queen of a gun. The years of wear and love were apparent, and that made me smile. Adding to the retro cool and well-loved vibe was the original wax paper that came with the box. I suppose we could have upgraded this at the warehouse, but again, I think a collector would value it on its own.
Related: Smith & Wesson Factory Tour - Birth of an American Wheel Gun
Picking up the beautiful piece also unveiled some less distinguished marks. Some patina wear and what looked like to be a little pitting was occurring near the trigger and on the trigger guard. Lucky, with a soft bristled brush we were able to (mostly) restore it to its former glory. Either way, laying hands on this plinker proved to be a treat.
First Impressions
Upon picking up this gun, two things immediately struck me. First, the grip is quite large and fills the hand nicely. There is also something about the wood used in this model that has a classy appeal, even though the S&W medallion seems smaller than in some of the other models I’ve seen.
Second, this gun is heavy. A new Model 17 weighs in at 2.56 pounds – we couldn't even fit the 17-6 on our kitchen scale – so with the full underlug, it's very possible this one is even heavier. Yet, despite its weight, it feels well-balanced in the hand. It points naturally and gets on target quickly, despite the lack of fiber optics or any other modern sights. It makes me yearn for the late afternoon sun of a golden hour on a Texas hillside, plinking pop cans off a fence post or perhaps helping a rancher clear away a field of pesky gophers.
But I don’t live in Texas, so while the romanticism drifted away, I fidgeted with the controls a bit and took aim at some imaginary pop cans. My local ranges would have to do, and I was ready with my first true plinking revolver in tow.
To the Range
I shot a variety of .22 LR through this old beauty, mostly to the tune of Federal range, Federal Match, and CCI – both Competition and Varmint. I’d guesstimate that I ran roughly 300 rounds through this gun over the course of this review, and it was one of the more enjoyable shooting experiences I’ve had, with no malfunctions or stoppages to note. The one thing I would note is that while the gun is a straight shooter, the double-action pull is a bit complicated.
There seems to be a wall almost halfway through the double-action pull that really makes firing in double action more difficult than it needs to be. I noticed my groups widening when shooting double action, but more on that in a bit. All that said, this was not the buttery-smooth double action I was hoping for, but instead something rather clunky. I spoke with some people at the warehouse, and they said that all the guns in the batch had this style of double-action trigger, so it must have been the whole lineup. It does seem a bit humorous given how prominently the double action is featured on that box.
That said, for how different and maybe even deflating the double action was, the single action was just the opposite. It was crisp without a millimeter of play. And when I tell you this single action was light, a feather touch will result in a sending some lead downrange. Now, most revolvers have nice single-action triggers, but this one was truly exceptional, on point with the 1980s-era Colt King Cobra I’ve shot in the past. You can check out how both actions function, as well as that beautiful lockup, in the short video below.
Single action is where the gun really began to shine for me – so much so that I rarely took it out of single action after a few test cylinders in double action. In single action, the target gun that caused so much of a stir among target shooters in the 1930s started to come into focus.
Accuracy
I’ll start this section by saying I’m not a target shooter, and I don’t consider myself a great shot. I’m perfectly average. I’m ok with that, but I thought it should be mentioned, given we’re talking accuracy on a target revolver.
I only went out to about 30 feet with this gun, which is far inside that 1.5-inch MOA at 50 yards. I found myself to be very accurate with the single action. Once double action was needed, the groups opened considerably, which isn’t totally unexpected. Still, fighting through the double action wasn’t doing me any favors. Could I hit the 1.5-inch MOA at 50 yards? Possibly in single action with some training, but it would take considerable training for me to do it in double action.
Either way, the basic sights did not impede me getting shots on target. Of all the plinking handguns I’ve tried lately, this one must be among the best and most accurate. And that is coming from a perfectly average shooter.
Pros and Cons
The pros of this gun definitely outweigh the cons. It’s an fun gun to shoot, albeit a bit expensive. While you can get it new still, it’ll set you back over $1,200 once everything is said and done. A Certified Used one may be a little cheaper depending on the condition, but then again, the rarity of the specific lineups we get in can still make vintage models more expensive. Collectors have proven hungry for these, as this whole batch has sold out.
Pros:
- Well balanced
- Super fun to shoot
- Very accurate
- Beautiful single action
- Vintage feel
Cons:
- Wonky double-action trigger
- A bit on the heavy side for someone who might be shooting all day
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Expensive
specs (on new model 17)
- Length: 11.25 inches
- Barrel Length: 6 inches
- Height 5.85 inches
- Weight: 2.56 pounds
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Capacity: 6
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Width: 1.45 inches
conclusion
In case you couldn’t tell by this point, I’m a bit smitten with this revolver. Now, if only I could get the plot of Texas land. Daydreams aside, I did very much enjoy this revolver, and I think anyone who enjoys casual plinking or .22 LR target shooting would enjoy taking this gun for a spin.
Like we mentioned earlier, we've cleaned the gun up a bit. We're now going to stick it in a Bone-Dri large electronics rescue pouch for the next several months to see if that tech can keep moisture off this beauty of a wheel gun in a somewhat damp basement storage room. Stay tuned.
