A friend was left this 22 wheel gun by an inlaw.  What can you tell me about it?  Value?

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It looks like an older model 17 or K22.  It’s not a 5 screw, so it is post mid 1950s.  The diamond magna grips might indicate it is older.  Maybe 1960s.

It definitely needs cleaning up, it might be good to do a complete detail cleaning,  it’s cosmetic condition is flawed.  It is likely mechanically sound.  If so, these are excellent shooters.  

The value of older S&W revolvers is gaining everyday.  The pre model 17 are excellent 22 LR revolvers and are very desirable as shooters and heirlooms.

I've been strongly considering buying one of these, and have been tracking gun broker auctions for the last few months.

I'd say $600 to $800 for functional, cosmetically okay to good condition. A bit more for immaculate ($1000) if there is something special about it.

The Model 18 goes for a LOT more for some reason.

There were three iterations of the K-22 Outdoorsman which then became the Model 17

K-22 Outdoorsman (second model) 1931-1940, serial numbers  632123-682419

Model K-22 Masterpiece (second model) 1940-41 serial numbers 682420-696952

Model K-22 Masterpiece (third model, “pre Model 17) 1946-57

The pre Model 17 became the Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece in 1957 when S&W started using model numbers and continued in production until 1989.

The Pre Model 18 was a pre Model 17 with a 4” rather than 6” barrel and was introduced in 1949 and was produced until 1986 when it was replaced by a heavy barrel 4” Model 17.

Beginning in 1946 S&W started using a “K” prefix in its K frame revolvers.  In 1970 they reached K999999 and changed the format adding a number in front of and behind the “K”

1959 serial numbers included K350548 through K386804, which makes yours a Model 17 and dates to 1959.  If you open the crane and look on the frame you’ll see some assembly numbers and “Mod 17” or “Mod 17-1”.

1959 is the year S&W introduced the Model 17-1 which changed the ejector rod from a right hand to a left hand thread, and they are considered to be scarce.

The 17-2 came out in 1961, which is when they delete the trigger guard screw making subsequent revolvers “three screw” rather than “four screw” revolvers. The 17-2 also had a different cylinder stop.

The 17-3 came out in 1967 and had a relocated rear sight screw.

S&W deleted the Diamond grips in 1968.

The 17-4 was introduced in 1977 and moved the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder.

In 1982 S&W stopped using the pinned barrel.

The 17-5 as first produced in 1988 with a new yoke retention/radius stud package.

In 1989, the Model 17 was discontinued and replaced with the Model 17-6 with a full under lug barrel and a new toke retention system in 1990. There are some early transitional 17-6s without the full under lug.

The 17-7 was introduced in 1994 with a drilled and tape frame, a different rear sight leaf and ejector.

The 10 shot alloy cylinder 17-8 entered production in 1996

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Below are my 3rd model K-22 Outdoorsman and my 17-3 with target hammer, target trigger and target grips. The most noticeable difference other than the grips is the slight taper in the Outdoorsman barrel.

What a great and informative read.
Apparently @DakotaFAL is Roy Jinks’s nom de plume.

Thanks

They shoot extremely well. My Pre-17 is the most accurate pistol I own. Have him shoot it before he decides he wants to sell it. He may fall in love...

It's a family heirloom they don't intend to discard.  I passed along the Info.  Thanks

Less model 18s made and not made since around 1985.

17's were easy to find compared to 18's. And when I did find one in nice shape, it was out of the blue.

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I just bought this one off GB. It is a few years earlier than yours. I paid a bit over $650 for it shipped and transferred.

The craftsmanship, handwork and polishing on the old gals come from a lost era that can only be matched nowadays by actual artists with labor that costs more then people can usually afford. Sure they can make parts to a finer tolerance but still, somewhere along the way, something was lost for over the counter everyday revolvers.

Model 17 that probably shipped in 1959. Swing it open and it should be marked MOD-17 there. Tough to tell from the pic but it should be a 4 screw gun, meaning there's one there in front of the trigger guard. 4 screws weren't made very long, but it doesn't make them especially valuable. You would have no problem getting $700 for that revolver around here.

Excellent information, thank you.