All.
One of the K22's from the pile. This one has a lanyard ring. Holes in frame appear to be in the right place, ring stud does not block serial number. Ring is worn same as the gun.


This one came from a small show in Arizona. Looked it over for a while at show and could not make up my mind, so I bought it. Have compared the frame and holes in it to a British Lend Lease gun with lanyard. My untrained eye cannot see the difference in the workmanship and manner of work. Looks the same as a factory work.
Only way to find out if this gun has history is a letter.
Bill@Yuma

Hmm, early 1948, from the single line address and lowish serial number. Beautiful gun. Nice lanyard ring. It sure looks factory to me. If you letter it, please let us know the verdict.

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David Wilson

Now that's kinda cool

How could you not letter that?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Amen to that. I'd have to pop 50 to find out. Never saw a K-22 with one. It looks blue, too, which would be correct for a post war.
Cool.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I am not seeing the real mystery here. Many of the K's were separated from the numbers by enough space to install a lanyard ring without affecting the serial number. That would be my guess.

Of course a letter a letter could define it's present condition, or not.

bdGreen

bd.
You are correct. I have looked at the 5 guns just ahead of that serial number and the 5 guns just behind that serial number. They are all early narrow rib guns and all have plenty of separation between the K and the numbers. It certainly could be done by any competent gunsmith. It is a novelty to ponder.
Bill@Yuma

The mystery is whether it shipped with the swivel. Yes, we know the numbers were already offset on SOME of the early post-war guns, like K Masterpieces. I think they may have started the offset number just so they could install a swivel on already built guns without having to restamp the number under the grips.
Many of the Transition fixed sighted guns had the S, then a space, then the number, but the whole bunch is still centered overall on the butt. So, when we see swivels installed on those guns, the number is affected, and has to be restamped under the grips.
An example is the post-war Mod 1926's bought by the Washington State Patrol. They pulled many of the guns from inventory and installed swivels. Since the "S(space)NMBER" is centered, the first digit is covered by the swivel, so they restamped under the grips.

The factory had a very specific location for swivels. The center of the swivels installed by the factory is always 1/10 inch forward of the center of the butt. Probably because they used a jig to drill it that automatically located it there as they desired.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

A nice little mystery gun.... Thanks for the post,

Jerry

I have a very early post war K-22, serial # K27XX that also has a lanyard ring installed. The ring is color case hardened and brightly polished, not dull or Parkerized like the rings on Victory Models for example. It came out of the estate of one of the founders of the National Benchrest Shooter's Assoc. I don't know if the gentleman was an old cavalry man or not but other guns from his estate had also been fitted with lanyard rings. I had it lettered and asked Mr. Jinks if the records showed the ring or any special order features and unfortunately they did not. The installation looks just like the OP's, the ring just misses the 2 in the serial number.

I still carry guns with lanyards when riding the 4-wheeler. I like the added peace of mind.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292