Gad.
I wonder sometimes whether or not I have any self control or not! I was visiting one of my favorite surplus gun websites a while back and came across a small lot of early-mid 60's vintage S&W Model 17 target revolvers in 22LR. All 6" barrels and most factory fitted with target triggers and target hammers. My heart did a little pitter pat. The mid-60's was when I got my first taste of handgunning when I shot my god fathers six inch Model 48 S&W. This is the 22WMR version of the Model 17. From that tender age onward, I was hooked. I used to ride my bike to the next town to drool on the glass cases that held the walnutty blue S&W's. This internet display had the same effect on me so I quickly signed off the site and moved on.

A few days later I went back and there were less of the guns on the site. He'd sold a few.... Hmm. I quickly logged off.

Well. Last Monday evening I had to take another look. There were just two left. The photos and descriptions made both out to be in about the same shape; One was made in 1963, the other in 1967. Heck! Acknowledging my own weakness for old S&W's I ordered the 1967 gun.

It arrived today, much to my everlasting delight. What looked to be a mottled finish and flattened checkering turned out to be a coating of grease on the metal that cleaned off quite nicely. A toothbrush laced with Scott's Liquid Gold took the grime out of the checkering which revealed some fine, classic S&W walnut slabs. Inside and out, it looked 500% better than the photos on the site and far better than the 90% finish the dealer described. It took me an hour to detail and inspect the gun, 10 minutes to reassemble it, and a New York minute to gather ammo and head for the range.




This was 25M with a two handed elbow rest and a sand bag using CCI Mini Mag. I then stood and started shooting one handed at shards of bowling pins at 25 and 50M. It was remarkably easy to hit them with this old gun. The trigger is exquisite and it balances like a dream. I shot off all my Mini-Mag and switched to Aguila "Pistol Match" which delivered the tightest off-hand group of the day: A little over 1" at 20-ish yards on the lid of a cardboard shotgun hull crate. It shot everything well.

I am in handgunners heaven. Come Saturday morning I will be after cotton tails, you can rest assured! ~AMMOe

PS: I've found out that my gun was imported from Sweden. It's probably been there for the full 41 years!

very cool

and better shooting than I could do, no matter the ammo used.

It's true. You have no self control.

Hey that is awesome! Post a pic! May I ask what site it is, or is it a closely guarded secret ?

Great find!

I usually sit on the fence until the thing I want is gone, and then kick myself.

Hey All. I'll post a pic as soon as I get the batteries back into my Fuji.

Jerry, here is the link: http://www.allans-armory.com/aa.php

I hope they still have some when you get there.

Red: I like to rifle-shoot varmints but I am a handgunner at heart. There was a time when I did nothing else: Shooting a couple hundred rounds of 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 44 magnum and 45 ACP a week. I hung out with some world class shooters and had a very good teacher. An Old Model Ruger Single Six in 22WMR used to be my prime prairiedog wheel-gun back in the day. My old Ruger 357 Blackhawk has hung on my hip for 28 years now and I shoot it well enough that I don't feel the need to justify my choice of ivory grips to anyone! Love it.

I have a lot of short guns but this S&W could quickly become one of my uber-favorites. It is a real joy to shoot.~AMMOe

Could you write a note to my Therapist?? He thinks I can DO something about this! ~AMMOe

Man, now you are gonna get me in trouble !!!

I thought shooting was your therapy.

I guess it is now!

I took this pic just now with another group I shot with the Aguila Pistol Match. This was 20 yards, off hand, two handed. I took it indoors so I had to "fill flash" it a bit. Made it look a little duller than it is... ~AMMOe

Andy,

I'm sure you just like doing posts like this to bring a grown man to tears!

11 years since we had the pistol ban over here now - such a waste of this poor boys life!

Sorry Amigo! Maybe you should consider a move someday???

I took the S&W out again today and on a lark, grabbed a 100 box of long obsolete Winchester Super Silhouette 42 grain ammunition. Yikes! This is 25M from a sand bag rest.


This just keeps getting better and better! I'm going rabbiting later today.~AMMOe

OUCH..........

Thats it just keep turning the screws!

Sorry Mate!
I'll quit now.... ~AMMOe


...But first let me tell you that I blooded the S&W this morning! I got two cotton tails with CCI Mini Mag HP's. On in the head at 15 yards, the other through the body at about 20 yards. Both were DOA. Two shots, two kills. Pleasing, to say the very least!

Ok. Now I'll quit. ~A