The range I use is in a gunshop that mostly deals in Tactical Timmy stuff, but every once in a while someone will bring in older guns to trade for newer ones. Yesterday there were two nice vintage S&W's - a K-22 and a K-38.
I didn't hold out much hope for price - the only other S&W in the wall case was a well-worn ex-police Model 15 for $900. Imagine my surprise when they handed me the K-22 and I saw the tag.
The K-38 was marked the same, but it was in my shooting buddy's hand and he wasn't letting go.
So, here it is:
The grips are very nice and are numbered to the gun.
I think it is from around 1948
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I don't think it has been shot all that much in the past 73 years. I'm gonna change that starting Monday when I can hit the range.
I've had terrible luck with K frame .22s having very sticky extraction. I hope this one is different.
The K-38 was just as nice, and had beautiful diamond target grips. It now lives next door.