k22 GRIP OPTIONS

paplinker · Sep 7, 2011

Was the k22 combat masterpiece or model 18 offered in both magna or target grips? Being a four inch model i didn't know if smith offered the targets.If i ever find one with targets i would like to know if the magnas were lost or targets were ordered that way.
Thanks
Rich

rburg · Sep 7, 2011

paplinker said:
Was the k22 combat masterpiece or model 18 offered in both magna or target grips?

None of the K22s came with targets before 1950. Even those guns mostly came with magna's. After 1950 the numbers of guns ordered with target grips wasn't huge. But you could special order either length with the handles of your choice. I'd guess the vast majority will letter as having shipped with Magna's. Guns ordered for stock probably came with the standard magna's. The gun dealers then could have a few sets of target stocks to swap on to either 4" or 6" guns as the buyers desired.

jughed440 · Sep 8, 2011

rburg said:
None of the K22s came with targets before 1950. Even those guns mostly came with magna's. After 1950 the numbers of guns ordered with target grips wasn't huge. But you could special order either length with the handles of your choice. I'd guess the vast majority will letter as having shipped with Magna's. Guns ordered for stock probably came with the standard magna's. The gun dealers then could have a few sets of target stocks to swap on to either 4" or 6" guns as the buyers desired.

Interesting. I'm considering lettering a '53 Combat Masterpiece that has targets. Mainly to find out where it was shipped to, but it would be good to know if it had been ordered with targets. It was recently acquired through trade, and the previous owner (who had it for 35 years) said that the grips were always on it.

jmark1651 · Sep 8, 2011

I always wonder about that, also. Many sporting targets and magnas had them replaced by rubber grips over the years. I have a 1952 K22 4inch that lettered with targets. It was actually a promotional revolver presented to Jim Wilson,a pitcher with the Boston Braves by Smith and Wesson. Had I not lettered it, I would'nt have known about the grips or the history of the K-22.

bubblehead2 · Sep 10, 2011

K-22 Target Grips

I have a c1955 5-screw K-22 K244XXX that has Tagret Grips without the "football" relief for catridge ejection on the LH upper part. Would these grips be correct for just early K-22's and when were they changed?

k22 GRIP OPTIONS

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