I know it must just be me but I dearly love the early k22's. Just seems like more hand care, more time spent with the revolver and they are just nice. Numbers on the cylinder, numbers often on the grips are just hallmarks of attention paid to these pistols.

Yup, The early K22's are really nice revolvers and a favorite of mine to shoot.

No, it's not just you. I aquired one in a trade some years ago and let it sit in the safe. It isn't a collector's piece it has freckles all over it and the blue has faded, holster wear on the muzzle and cylinder and a set of chipped grips. After reading posts on this forum about the wonders of a K22 I decided to take it out and fire it. I took out 100rds of Remington 40 grain lr. and tried it out. I was truly amazed at it's accuracy and the great feeling of firing a quality handgun. Since the first time I took her out I've purchased a Hoyt holster, a set of Pachmyers and some speed loaders for it. The old girl started as trading material when I brought it home and now I believe it is going to be one of the keepers to pass down to my son.

Not just you!

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Misty

i picked up a 4" and 6" in the last month, both made in 1952. The quality is there, like you don't find in later 1970 and forward guns.

They are nice ... and expensive.

I'm with you guys & gals, I am becoming a real fan of the K-22's



With the price of ammo these days, they are getting a lot more action than they use to.

Believe me, you are not alone! And based on the testimony of others above, you are in good company.

I got my first K-22 a little less than a year ago, and in the interim have picked up three more. The stable currently houses a K-22 Outdoorsman from 1934 and three postwar five-screw guns (1947, 1948, 1953). I love them all, and I hope there will be more in my future.

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David Wilson

Nah. I've never cared for 'em myself.







GF

I just purchased this k22 gun today for $300 from an old friend who is in his 70's and got from his father.I got the Holster with bulllet belt and 600 rounds ammo.Was this serial number made in 1948? I think I got a decent deal,guns has a couple small rust spots,What will remove the rust.Thanks for your reply.

Lomax,

1st of all welcome to the forum.

You did just fine, in fact you probably should buy your old friend a steak dinner one of these days.

Looks like you have the shipping date correct.

Except for the 317 airweight at the top of the picture all of these .22 revolvers were born before 1970.

Older models usually have more collectability than newer ones but I never met a S&W .22 I didnt like !!!
CHEERS!

I saw them on the net with very high starting bids,some over a thousand dollars,why so high.

Lomax

Get yourself some WD-40, or better yet, Corrosion-X. Spray it on the
rust areas, and let it set for a day or two, adding more if it runs off.
Then, get a piece of 0000 steel wool, soak it with the same oil, and
gently rub the rust areas. You can repeat this process several times,
if necessary. It will get the rust off. If you like, you can get some
burlap instead of the steel wool. Its not as abrasive, and you can rub
a bit harder. Can do the whole gun that way.

Later, Mike Priwer

Haven't seen your pictures but depending on if it has original grips.........you got a heck of deal! That is better than a "decent" deal

Lomax, VM is correct about supply and demand, but there are different versions of the K-frame .22s, and some of them are inherently pricier. The first K-22 was introduced in 1931 and was made until the end of the 1930s; this is called the K-22 First Model, or Outdoorsman; the company made about 20,000 of them. In 1940, the company introduced the K-22 Second Model, which had a shorter action and a bigger adjustable rear sight -- but at first glace they are similar in appearance to the First Model. The company made barely 1000 of these, which are also called the K-22/40 for the only year in which they were manufactured. Then after the war the company introduced the Third Model, of which there were quite a few made over the decades. The postwar K-22 Masterpiece became the Model 17 in 1957, and the version with the four-inch barrel became the Model 18.

So the Second Models are expensive even in somewhat used condition because of their rarity; the first models, in 95% or above condition and particularly when accompanied by an original box, are usually over $1000, though a beat up First Model might go for somewhat below that figure; the best deals are found in the postwar five-screw and four-screw guns (The earliest model 17s and their unnumbered predecessors), and these have been going for $600-700 in pretty good shape. There appears to be a premium for early manufacture, so 1947 and 1948 guns may command a few dollars more than guns in similar condition from just a few years later. And there is undoubtedly a premium to be paid for postwar guns in good condition with serial numbers between K101 (the first) and about K5000. That's the point at which the ejector rod knob that had been characteristic of prewar models was finally eliminated from postwar production.

You will hear from time to time that someone stumbled onto a K-22 for $300 or $400 (as you did), but those are the exceptions. A good postwar gun can easily go for $700 or more, and the rarer prewar guns in good condition will handily beat that price.

Hope this helps.

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David Wilson

Lomax, sounds to me like you really got screwed. A K-22 all rusted up for $300 sounds like highway robbery. Being a charitable person, I will send you $350 for that old beater and pay the shipping too. I use them for boat anchors and paperweights so all that rust is of no concern to me. Let me know where to send the check and I will get it right to you. Did you happen to get the box and tools too???

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James Redfield
LM #497

K-22 Outdoorsman shipped in January 1935. It has a rare option, namely, a Marble ivory bead front sight and U-notch rear.

Bill

I had an old one years ago and foolishly sold it. I recently found a 1957 model after a long search. I now see why I couldn't find any, some of you guys have cornered the market. And some nice looking ones I might add. If anyone gets too tired of cleaning them all I'm looking for a 4" Masterpiece or an 18.

Doc 44,

Thar ya go agin. Showin's us amateurs up with those beautiful guns.

Keep it up, Please!!!

What's not to like, the finest 22 revolver ever made!
And they came in some cool boxes.

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Mike

Here is mine... a Combat Masterpiece I picked up off an auction site... the trigger is amazing, accuracy too... it came with these grips but I've since found some more correct Diamonds... need to get a better photo... it's seen honest use in its 50+ years, but that is to be expected...

Well, since I've got Photobucket up and running and also because it doesn't take much encouragement for me to post them, here's some more:






...throw in a couple of older ones:


...and throw in a few more newer ones:


My newest (sn K1239xx; 1951 edition):


My absolute favorite (sn K2444xx; 1955 edition):


Like a lot of us, I find it hard to pass up any K22. -S2

It does get to be habit forming...

Like I said when I started this interesting thread, they are the most desirable and beautiful revolver ever. My two are early fifties and I do love them. Target grips on one with a broad target hammer. I do not believe any had a target trigger then. Right?

That has to be the best picture of the nicest .22 I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. That's bts! Got me all worked up anyway!

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Misty

Bill takes the best revolver pictures on the forum and we all know how hard it is to get them perfect. Of course the subjects of his pictures are also perfect so that makes it ever so slightly easier.

Art

This first one isn't a K-22, but it is definitely a little older.

Now here's the OutDoorsman.

I even like the shiney ones.



With,or without factory grips.



f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Why is this one your favorite?

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I'm also curious about the "favorite"?

I would guess it's because it's the one he has had in his hand the most and shot the most. That's how they can become favorites.

You have to work at finding the 'favorite'.

Here is one of mine.

Enjoy,
bdGreen

Mr.Green is right on the money. K2444xx was my first and of the lot of them (optical sighted ones and M41's excluded), I seem to do the best with it. Of course any one of them can out-perform my meager skills as a pistolero. Also, and although my notoriously poor photo-skills don't show it well, its got the bright finish (which is quite good, I will add), and those "black boxes" are not seen too often. So, to sum it up: it was my first; it shoots well; and its got some degree of collectiblity. -S2

Here is a well used one that came my way. Sure doesn't look like new,but it is still amazingly accurate. Dates to 1948.

Okay I now have a dilemma. I have a K-22 box from around 1956, but no revolver. So, I need to either sell the box or find a gun. What's a guy to do?

Show us a picture of the k22 when you get it!!! You know you are gonna do it.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

GF[/QUOTE]

Wow!

Hello
Remember Katrina ? This gun came to me as a way to roof the sellers house that got Damaged by The Fierce Katrina Storm. Who say's Good does not come out of Bad ? It shipped in May 1936 and the second one is an early Post-War Third model that I Picked up at a Local Gun show. The seller did not feel the grips were original and came off his price due to that, but later when I arrived home and removed them, I found them to be serial numbered to the gun Just the way it left the factory In February 1947...

Clearly I made a mistake in my earlier post when I showed up in a picture thread with nothing to offer but words. So let me fill in the blanks.

K-22 Outdoorsman (1934) / K-22 Masterpiece (1948) / K-22 Masterpiece (1953)



After that picture was taken I picked up this early postwar Masterpiece (1947) that still has the large ejector knob



And I also have some southpaw Roper stocks that move from gun to gun as I try out different configurations. Here they are on the 1953 .22.



I'm a piker compared to some of you; I've got to get me some more of these. Or maybe my family just needs to get me an intervention.

S&W .22s are great guns.

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David Wilson

I re-read this thread. Awesome does not truly describe some of the 22's here. On this page alone there are some that show both pre-war and post war 22 Masterpieces. DC Wilson, Hammerdown and Rolando have pics showing the hammer spur location difference. Rolando has a post war sitting on a gold box that says "short cocking action" and with the lowered hammer spur this is obvious. In places I see references to short hammer throw. Is the hammer travel the same on both types or is the only difference a lowered spur? P.S. DC Wilson thanks for taking time to explain the differences in price per type of 22. I looked for a long time to find one, what I gave for my 57 was exactly in the middle of your price range for it but only after we negotiated down from 725 to 660.

Here is my second Model I really DID stumble across. It is the 82nd one made. I am now looking for a proper red Masterpiece box for her to share space in my safe with. Anyone who can help will be heartily thanked! She shoots every bit as good as she looks!

Its easy to locate and obtain a box for a 1940 K22 Masterpiece. Just buy a gun that has a box and discard the gun, leaving the box. OK, maybe not the answer to your question.

I've obtained 2 of the 3 masterpiece boxes I've owned separate from guns. The first, a poster here, located a very worn and damaged box in a barn they were tearing down in upstate New York. He sent it to me as a gift, unsolicited. I thanked him profusely at the time. I still appreciate it. But I moved it along to a friend who had a similar condition K22 2nd, and didn't have a box. It was free to him, too.

The second box was just by mistake. I was downstate at my favorite gun shop. I'd gone there (78 miles one way) to pick up a gun they sold me. The owner, Reece, said he wasn't letting me out of the shop with just a gun. So he went on a mad frenzy, looking for something else to sell me. He went to their back room and walked out, a good 30' from where I stood holding a red "Outdoorsman" box. I just glanced across the room at him and commented "I'll take it." It was maybe 10 years ago, and I needed another Outdoorsman box. I still do. But I could see from a distance it met my still low QC standards, meaning it was basically shaped like a box and wasn't falling apart.

I was too interested in my new gun to even look at the K22 box. The owner was writing up my receipt and bantering me on how much he should charge. He wanted $100 for it, so I said fine. Then he said maybe its worth more, and that he'd feel bad if he discovered it was worth $50 or $150. I didn't care, honestly. It was worth $150 to me, too. So he charged me $100. As he was putting it in the bag, as it was sliding out of sight, I glimpsed the word "Masterpiece." My heart, never a strong point, stopped working. It was all I could do to remain standing in front of the counter. But he took my money (I don't pay with plastic) and thanked me for my business. All I could utter was "its always a pleasure." Then I pivoted and pulled a hasty retreat. Out the door and down the steps.

I got on the interstate before I even opened the bag. I confirmed the word on the pristine red box. Then I set cruise at 55 (well under the speed limit) and cruised home, a happy man. All was right with the world that day. I maybe could be talked out of it. I was thinking $5000. See, you don't really want my box. I only own 2 K22 2nds. Both live in very good condition boxes, and I plan on them staying right where they are until I die. Then my newly wealthy widow can do as she pleases.

Just as an aside, my senses stopping and my breathing too has only happened twice in recent years. The other time was at a tiny gun show. A guy had a 10 ga shotgun shell box filled with the worldly remains of a postwar 357 Magnum (Y'all might call it a pre 27). I was nosy and looking, and right below the barrel was a screwdriver, black in color and clearly never used. I asked the old guy what he wanted for the screwdriver. He said you need a screwdriver? Hold on. Then he asked his partner what he wanted for it. The answer was "$1". I almost tore my pants getting the bill out and handing it to him. Then I walked, stumbled up to the end of the aisle. My wife, who was with me, said "whats wrong with you?" I said nothing, I just need to catch my breath, I haven't had one since he said $1. OK, it wasn't a $100 screwdriver, it probably at the time was worth only $75. It made my day, and such an impression on me I still remember it.

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Dick Burg

No wonder I cant find an early 3rd pre model 17 5 screw....
Speedo2 and Szuppo have them all !!!... Nice guns guys!!!

rburg, the gun I have pictured above walked up to our table at a gun show. It was taken in trade for another gun. When taken in we were VERY busy, and I didn't realize what I had. You don't really want to know what I gave him for it, but suffice it to say, it was about what your box cost times 3. When I got home and unpacked all the guns we had taken in, I discovered what we had. Wow to say the least. It is nice to stumble across something like that ONCE in a while!

my 5 and 4 screw K 22 Masterpieces.

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A wonderful thread. So many fine and beautiful K22's and such fine condition. Like I said, I do love these revolvers and I can see I am not alone...

Thread Necromancy!

I have a K-22 Outdoorsman I believe to be a 1st Model. Serial 653xxx. Family lore says my grandfather carried it in a holster under the seat of the cab he drove in the 30's. It has holster wear to the bluing at the muzzle and the cylinder so I can believe it. I learned to shoot on this gun. Grandpa could hammer nails with it. I wish he had lived longer, I could have learned a lot about shooting from him. He came from a rural background and took his rifle to school every day and shot for their dinner on the way home (try doing that nowdays!). He took three bullets with him and his father was very unhappy if he didn't bring at least one bullet back home.











And the man himself

Yup

I do the same. Amazing what lies under some light surface rust.

I start with burlap or even rough flannel, and prefer an oil with no additives like 3-in1 or even a light motor oil.

I find the freckling to be dried oil. I'm three for three on three awesome affordable freckling buys the three guns are 99%.

I like my 1948 s&w k22 / 6" barrel "but" my colt officers target model 22 revolver built on the 41 frame is my second like too.

Simi chrome polish lightly will remove oil freckling.

Sorry to correct you, but I bought a new one in the early '80's, it is beautiful and to this day looks like new...

Lomax,

Welcome to the forum.
Beautiful find!

I prefer 0000 brass wool, and Kroil to be as easy on the surrounding blue as possible.

However, if you have a steady hand, a tiny, tiny drop of Naval Jelly applied to the rust spot with a pin point and looking thru magnifying glasses, will get all the rust out of the pits with no abrasion and save a lot of time. BUT USE CAUTION, IT WILL REMOVE SURROUNDING BLUING INSTANTLY WITH SLOPPY APPLICATION.

The remaining clean white metal can be touched up the same way with a pin point of blue touch up. Again though, a sloppy application will stain surrounding blue.

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Jim
S&WCA #819