1955 K-22 5 screw brings big bucks!

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I think that's a lot of money. But I am not a serious collector. Look at the condition of that gun. Even the box is nearly perfect after 55 years. There were three bidders at over $1,300 and I assume they knew what they were doing.

There are folks out there with money. I am not one of them, but they are out there.
 
The winner got a little carried away on the final bid. It's not a "transitional" with a 1955 ship date. Nice gun though.
 
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The guy writes up a great ad. He pushed a couple points, but he got paid for it.

In the antique watch trade, it's call HYPE, but it worked. Same gun with satin blue finish and gold box would do over $1000.


Charlie
 
My guess is, the gun filled a hole in the winners collection and he/she was willing to pay what was necessary to get it.

The way prices have escalated on K-22's the winning bid does not surprise me.

Don
 
murphydog said:
The winner got a little carried away on the final bid. It's not a "transitional" with a 1955 ship date. Nice gun though.
Click to expand...

I agree.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, there is someone out there who thinks that is what these are worth now. That is the problem with auctions. Ebay and other auction sites are being used to set the market price, whereas it is a price achieved by two people fighting over an item with the idea of having to win it...neither side will concede. Or, it could be shill bidding.

I actually was talking with one guy who had a shooter grade 29-3 that he wanted close to $3000 for it...I said $600 (ballpark) for the condition it was in. He said.."A .44 Magnum just sold for over $2k on Gunbroker and I will show you"....I said, "yep that 1950's .44 Mag with all the goodies did sell for that, you are correct, but you do not have that version." He could not see my point. I said, "Look, it would be like you asking $300,000 for a 1993 Corvette because a 1967 427 Corvette sold for that much...apples and oranges buddy"." I just gave up.
 
Unfortunately, my budget only affords me to "accumulate" shooter grade examples, and even then not all the examples I desire. But, I can still fondle, clean, disassemble, tune, and possibly enhance those that I can afford. At least I get to watch the postings of the really neat stuff others buy. That's what is great about the Forum.
 
Curious thing about this gun is that it appears to be missing part
of the front sight. Look at this picture :

pix21885640.jpg


This is a Call bead front sight blade - standard on this model. There
should be a silver-colored bead on the back face of the blade. You
can see the indentation for securing the bead, but the bead seems to
be gone.

Mike Priwer
 
mikepriwer said:
Curious thing about this gun is that it appears to be missing part
of the front sight. Look at this picture :

pix21885640.jpg


This is a Call bead front sight blade - standard on this model. There
should be a silver-colored bead on the back face of the blade. You
can see the indentation for securing the bead, but the bead seems to
be gone.

Mike Priwer
Click to expand...

Mike,
You have sharper eyes than mine. I do see the indentation once you mentioned it.
Tony
 
mikepriwer said:
Curious thing about this gun is that it appears to be missing part
of the front sight. Look at this picture :

pix21885640.jpg


This is a Call bead front sight blade - standard on this model. There
should be a silver-colored bead on the back face of the blade. You
can see the indentation for securing the bead, but the bead seems to
be gone.

Mike Priwer
Click to expand...
Mike,
The Call bead was not standard on the Post war K-22. It HAD been standard on the pre war. I think the mark you see is simply lint or a ding.

I don't agree with a few of the seller's statements.
Serial numbering of all the parts continued into the very early 4 screw Masterpieces from my observations.

He is correct in stating that High polish was phased into the whole model line in the very late 5 screw period. We do know that high polished guns were sometimes built from the 40's onward.

I still contend that the term 'Transition' simply does not apply to any post war Masterpiece. There are many variants, but no transition took place.

I would feel more comfortable about the box if the serial number were shown.

Nice gun, but the high bids are surprising.
 
Lee

That is not lint. That is a circular indentation, to hold the bead.

I may, or may not, be wrong about what was standard for K-22's,
but I believe I am right about the rear face of that front sight blade.

Regards, Mike Priwer

PS: Check with Bob G, and ask him to look at it real close!
 
Very surprising indeed .... On the other hand, my July 1955 High Gloss K-22 with box just doubled in value :)

I also find the originality of the box questionable. In my limited knowledge, I have never seen a K series gun in a blue box that far back. That style were more from 1957 and on I believe?
 
I believe that's actually a "Grey" or as some call them "Blue-Grey" box such as illustrated below. What box did yours come in Stumper?

DSC02570.jpg


DSC02571.jpg


DSC02562.jpg


DSC02563.jpg


Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x
 
Mike and Lee,

I see the depression, but I thought the beads went deeper into the blade. I know there were white and red post front sights available at this time, and I wonder if the little depression was just a positioning aid for a small square piece of plastic that was once on the surface of the blade but is now gone.

The gun's final price seems steep to me by 50 percent. I'm a guy who has paid a thou for an early postwar K-22 because it was in good shape and had a prewar ejector knob, but I don't think I would have gone past $900 on this one. But differences of opinion are what make horse races.

Not that I bet, you understand.
 
The seller, "The Illusive 33", is known to many of us here. He used to frequent the big shows around western PA, but I haven't seen him/them in a while. Then again, I haven't been going to the local shows either. I know that at one time he and his father had a very impressive K22 collection; which perhaps they may be starting to liquidate. Just a guess on my part. Regardless; the Real King of Nice S&W's at Highly Inflated Prices, old George Wimer himself, is likely to be either very jealous or seriously salivating. -S2
 
EDIT-
I think it would be prudent to confirm such a question first, and then post that data ONLY if absolutely relavent to the discussion.
Lee J.
________________________________________________________

Tom, is this the same individual? If not, I stand corrected.

SRT
 
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***I believe that's actually a "Grey" or as some call them "Blue-Grey" box such as illustrated below. What box did yours come in Stumper?***

Yes, blue grey is more descriptive of the color of the first boxes of this type - some more grey than others. My 1955 gun came in a gold box. While there is always transitional overlap with all things S&W, I really think even late 1955 is too early for these boxes to be used. Maybe someone can confirm this possibility either way??
 
In the grand scheme of things it's just not that much money, and it's a very nice revolver for a guy who wanted it. Just be glad you don't collect double rifles...

CONGRATS AZ!
 
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Wow, what a lot of responses on the purchase of this 1955 k-22. I am the fellow that bought it, and realized that I was overpaying for it. However, I reasoned that it is something I have been looking for, for a while and this is the nicest one I have seen come up in a while. Also, it seems the market on these k-22's is quickly appreciating so I was afraid if I waited the next one to come along would be even more. When it came right down to it, I decided I would rather have the revolver than the dollars so I made the jump. I did talk with the seller and asked him additonal questions, so I felt reasonably comfortable that the box was original to the k-22 and that the revolver is in good shape. If I end up getting stung a little, I will simply chalk it up to an acceptable risk. I have lost more than this on bad stock tips.

I'll post back when I get the piece to let all know what my verdict is. Thanks for all those who are concerned about my mental state. :)
 
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