Guns & Outdoors Forum

*Cue Letterkenny* You walked into your LGS the other daaayyyy.....

And spied an interesting revolver in the consignment case. After asking the grumpy guy behind the counter to take a peak, you are pleased to see an older, dirty, but very functional Smith .22 revolver. More specifically, an early 60's vintage 17-2 with 6" barrel. Despite some minor surface imperfections, it seems mechanically sound (albeit quite dirty). The grumpy counter monkey is off putting, and it's a bit of a budget stretch, so you walk out for the day to think about it.

You reach out to the usual enablers about the price...

...and come back the next day and plunk down your 6 bills to take it home.
This should be a nice compliment to my original K-22 Masterpiece that was expertly reblued, and then touched up again by JSD.

Anyway, this gun has definitely seen some use, but it's mechanically sound. It is definitely DIRTY. I put 100 rounds of Remington 40gr standard velocity through it, and the cylinder started dragging from crud at the barrel/cylinder area. Regardless, it shows a promising start and I'm excited to give it a deep clean and do some more accuracy testing:

Nice score

Nice scores

Another "Nice" one.

Nothing wrong with a masterpiece
Now hunt down some wooden grips.
The front sight looks atypical is it a post ?

Another vote for original wooden grips. I might have to look in my box of "spares" to see what I have.

That is a great acquisition!

Beautiful gun. The picture immediately reminded me of your K-22, even before I read through your post.

Well done!!

That’s one I would like. Not enough for the price. But, I want it.

Well done.

Very nice! I echo the sentiments of getting some nice grips on it, but it’s still nice the way it is

Very nice! I can pass along a set of grips that were gifted to me if you want to brighten it up a bit.

I thinks you should keeps the rubbers grips.

That is a nice piece! Ya can't have too many 22's. I like the rubber grips, not as pretty as wood but I like them. Getting a gun in that condition is like getting a new girl friend, while you take your time cleaning it up you'll get to know it well and might fall in love.

Narrow combat trigger too - an extra plus, IMO, but then I pretty much ignore the single action option anymore.

The grips on the right of Sako's photo. . .yeah. . .those. . .

sakodude wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 11:55 pm Very nice! I can pass along a set of grips that were gifted to me if you want to brighten it up a bit.

Thanks Sako! While I actually like the goodyears on it, I do think I'll have to take you up on that!

Thanks everyone! This one is definitely a little rough around the edges, but I think spending some time with a bottle of Hoppes and cleaning supplies will spruce it right up. If that doesn't work, I know a guy

Years ago I bought 10K rounds of rebraded Eley match .22 ammo on closeout, I'm hoping this gun shoots that ammo well. With that said, for "field use" my go-to is CCI Stingers.

Zee wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 8:30 pm That’s one I would like. Not enough for the price. But, I want it.

Well done.

I went a bit back and forth on the price, but under the grime it looks to be in pretty good shape, and these aren't getting any cheaper, so I decided to go for it.

Absolute worst case, it's a fun project.

shotgunshooter3 wrote: ↑Sat May 24, 2025 3:01 pm

sakodude wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 11:55 pm Very nice! I can pass along a set of grips that were gifted to me if you want to brighten it up a bit.

Thanks Sako! While I actually like the goodyears on it, I do think I'll have to take you up on that!

Let me which set you prefer and I'll set them aside.

Price was fine. A cleanup will net you over $200 in equity. Them things seem to appreciate weekly on GB, especially the “pinned and recessed” vintage guns.

He didn't comment on that front sight.
It doesn't look like a regular Patridge looks like a post one which definitely adds to it..
Curious on the color too if it is.

JunkCollector wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 1:58 am He didn't comment on that front sight.
It doesn't look like a regular Patridge looks like a post one which definitely adds to it..
Curious on the color too if it is.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for to determine it. I'll grab some photos. The sight is all black.

shotgunshooter3 wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 4:03 am

JunkCollector wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 1:58 am He didn't comment on that front sight.
It doesn't look like a regular Patridge looks like a post one which definitely adds to it..
Curious on the color too if it is.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for to determine it. I'll grab some photos. The sight is all black.

It may be my lousy eyes.
A post differs in that there is a colored plastic insert staked in..
I thought I was seeing that on yours.
The middle gun has a yellow post sight

JunkCollector wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 1:58 am He didn't comment on that front sight.
It doesn't look like a regular Patridge looks like a post one which definitely adds to it..
Curious on the color too if it is.

Not a photo analyst. . .

. . .or do I play one on TV. . .

. . .and I probably haven't even spent enough nights in a Holiday Inn Express. . .

but the photo of the OP seems to have a bit of wide angle fisheye effect with the lens being centered on the revolver. As such, it's showing a good bit of both the front of the rear sight, as well as the rear of the front sight. It's not a true profile view. Might explain things.

A good cleaning will likely tell the tale. Tight guns, dirty .22 ammo, and time will conspire to bind them up, but they are absolutely sexy beasts when in tune. Probably just pulling the front sideplate screw (keep it segregated so it goes back in that same hole) to take out the cylinder for thorough cleaning of it, the extractor, and the crane will make all the difference in the world.

sakodude wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 12:20 amIMG_2291.jpeg

Sorry for the delay on this, I'll go with the ones on the right. Thank you!

I recently discovered that a company is making a Tyler T-Grip style adapter (since apparently Tyler is known for cashing checks and not shipping products these days, and originals are going for $125 online), and I have something in mind...

No promises that it might not end up on the rubber again though, in the interest of full disclosure, since its condition lends its use as a field gun.