Club Obi Wan

So i went on S&W's website and see under the "classic" section that they still make the 1917 (they call m22). what's the difference between this modern offering versus indy's?

They are expensive. But still considering one. I'll be getting my pistol permit soon and love the look of classic revolvers. not to say i won't be picking up a semi auto in the future.

UpstateIndy wrote:So i went on S&W's website and see under the "classic" section that they still make the 1917 (they call m22). what's the difference between this modern offering versus indy's?

They are expensive. But still considering one. I'll be getting my pistol permit soon and love the look of classic revolvers. not to say i won't be picking up a semi auto in the future.

I noticed they offer a 4" shorter barrel. Wasn't that the length of Indy's 1917?

lantzn wrote:

UpstateIndy wrote:So i went on S&W's website and see under the "classic" section that they still make the 1917 (they call m22). what's the difference between this modern offering versus indy's?

They are expensive. But still considering one. I'll be getting my pistol permit soon and love the look of classic revolvers. not to say i won't be picking up a semi auto in the future.

I noticed they offer a 4" shorter barrel. Wasn't that the length of Indy's 1917?

Yes, but the barrell was cut down. I've seen the newer gun and they are EXPENSIVE! You're better off getting a real 1917. Even the real ones are getting up in price. I'm lucky I bought mine (Brazillion model)in the early 90's when they were first flooding the market. Cost me $200.

i got one of the new "classic" models about a year ago. there are two different models offered. the classic 1917 is 5 1/2 inches as the other option is 4 inches.(like the movie gun)
at the time, the online model cast about $900. i found mine at a bass pro shop in orlando,fl on sale for $650.
it cost me around $40 for a local gunsmith to cut the barrel down to 4 inches. i'm still looking for a ramped sight to finish it off.
there are some minor differences in both models. the classic 1917 with 5 1/2 inch barrel length would be the one closest to the specs of the film weapon.
also, the gunsmith was selling, in his shop, an original 1917 h.e. for the same price as the repro on sale, however, i would have liked to have the original, but i'd never cut the barrel on that one. plus...it wasn't s.a.

You'll also find that they build these on the N-frame round butt.

For whatever reason, when Smith was owned by an overseas company back in the late 80's/early 90's, all the dies and machinery to make square butt N-frames were ordered destroyed.

So, these are as close to the originals as we're ever going to get in a modern reproduction N-frame Smith and Wesson revolver.

Oh, UpstateIndy , in terms of 'carry'. Unless you're going to be using a side holster on a belt, these huge revolvers are HEAVY! If you're going with concealed carry, you'll find these are not the best choice for that task.

Regards! Michaelson

Purdy.

Nice piece Michael. That's the one I want, when funds permit.

Here is the one I have.



It isn't one of the 'Classics' revolvers. This is the Thunder Ranch 22-4 that came out nearly five years ago. It was one of the first few in my area. He was able to get me a serial number below thirty.

Funny thing though. I like to see these big wheel guns, but they don't seem to suit me.

Dangerman009 wrote: Funny thing though. I like to see these big wheel guns, but they don't seem to suit me.

With a name like Dangerman009, you should be sporting a PPK.
However, that Thunder Ranch is one beautiful gun.

kwad wrote:With a name like Dangerman009, you should be sporting a PPK.

I seriously thought about it. A P99 might not be a bad option. I'm not sure how I'd feel about a synthetic frame.

Back to the new production 22-4's, jlhampton, any photos of your cut-down revolver?

Michaelson wrote:You'll also find that they build these on the N-frame round butt.

For whatever reason, when Smith was owned by an overseas company back in the late 80's/early 90's, all the dies and machinery to make square butt N-frames were ordered destroyed.

So, these are as close to the originals as we're ever going to get in a modern reproduction N-frame Smith and Wesson revolver.

Oh, UpstateIndy , in terms of 'carry'. Unless you're going to be using a side holster on a belt, these huge revolvers are HEAVY! If you're going with concealed carry, you'll find these are not the best choice for that task.

Regards! Michaelson

I've got the Thunder Ranch .45 ACP revolver. It's a square butt N-frame.

Yeah, I remember seeing the .40 M21's at Turners when I picked up my revolver - they had the round butt frame while the .45 M22's had the square butt.

hey dangerman,
sorry, no pics as of yet. my camera is not working, but it looks just like the bapty version without the ramped sight, or just refer to the pics a few posts above and imagine it's 1 inch shorter and no sight.

jlhampton

Nice.

yeah, it's nice to have the closest movie version without having to spend a small fortune on finding an original and having to explain to a gunsmith why you want to destroy a perfect classic. my gunsmith, who cut my barrel, still argued on why i would cut the barrel on the remake. i didn't get into it much. i just told him it was due to asthetics.
i still need a good sight, though. no luck yet.

-jlhampton

Have you looked into a Weigand front sight replacement?



Link: http://www.jackweigand.com/interfs.html

hey mountaineer,
yeah i looked at that site before. i'm just not sure i like the looks of it or if it would be right for the gun. again....asthetics

-jlhampton

Understood, just throwing it out.

Please let us know what you do find.