Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-08-2010, 02:26 PM
freddy1 freddy1 is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG

Due to my father-in-law’s recent passing, I am a new, uneducated gun owner. I have a Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG revolver. I would appreciate any info I can get, especially its age. I tried to research it, but most of them I have seen online have a letter, usually K, preceding the serial number. Mine does not. The serial number is 276xxx. It is stamped in at least 3 places. Also, most 22 LR CTG’s seem to have a number on the butt of the handle. There is nothing on mine, as seen here. There is also a number on the frame that can be seen when the cylinder is swung out. It is:
A
51149
o

I was also wondering if this would be good for recreational target shooting.
Any info is greatly appreciated.
More pictures:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 04-08-2010, 02:36 PM
murphydog's Avatar
murphydog murphydog is offline
Moderator
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,782
Likes: 936
Liked 18,875 Times in 9,241 Posts
Default

Hi, and welcome! You have a K-22 Target Masterpiece, built on the K or medium frame with a 6" barrel. The numbers and such on the frame under the barrel with the cylinder swung out are factory internal codes, not the serial number. If you remove the stocks by taking the screw off from the left side, you will find the true serial number. Many guns of this type came with smaller stocks and you could see the serial number with these on. We can help tell you when your gun was made with the SN, but from the hammer shape if original it looks to be from about the late 1940s. Hope this is helpful.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Last edited by murphydog; 04-08-2010 at 02:38 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-08-2010, 02:41 PM
borntoraisehogs's Avatar
borntoraisehogs borntoraisehogs is offline
US Veteran
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times in 17 Posts
Default

You could not have a better family heirloom to continue the shooting tradition .
__________________
Idaho , Elmer and Milt
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-08-2010, 03:34 PM
Art Doc's Avatar
Art Doc Art Doc is offline
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 49
Liked 13,409 Times in 3,290 Posts
Default

The shape of the hammer on your K22 Masterpiece suggests the gun was made before 1957 so it will likely not have a model number stamped on it.

The stocks are not correct period, being of post-1982 manufacture (but they are very pretty).

My condolences on your father in law's passing. You must have been a favorite son in law for him to want you to have what surely must have been one of his most prized handguns. The K22 is a classic in every sense of the word.

The serial will indeed have a K prefix.
__________________
No life story has happy end.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 04-08-2010, 03:46 PM
MSgt G MSgt G is offline
US Veteran
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 5,124
Likes: 8,481
Liked 1,231 Times in 429 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum and my condolences to your family.

It looks like he left you a wonderful old Smith for target shooting. I know you'll enjoy it.

The stocks, by the way, are beautiful. I had very simular ones on a Model 27-2 that I bought in 1978.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-08-2010, 03:52 PM
Larry from Bend Larry from Bend is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NC Montana
Posts: 853
Likes: 90
Liked 483 Times in 201 Posts
Default

[QUOTE)
I was also wondering if this would be good for recreational target shooting. (QUOTE)


Sorry to hear of the passing of your Father-in-law.

In my (and many others) opinion, you couldn't find a better firearm for recreational target shooting. After you get used to it you will be amazed at how accurate your K22 really is.

It's always a good idea to seek out some experienced help if you're not totally comfortable with the safety aspect of operating your "new" S&W.

Good Luck!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 04-08-2010, 04:12 PM
DCWilson's Avatar
DCWilson DCWilson is offline
SWCA Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 13,993
Likes: 4,998
Liked 7,681 Times in 2,618 Posts
Default

Like the others, I offer both condolences and a warm welcome to the forum.

Your gun probably dates from 1956. One of your photos shows that it uses an assembly process not involving an upper side plate screw; that screw was done away with in a 1955 engineering change. Also, I bet the 275xxx number IS the serial number, and the K will be found separated from it. If so, that is further evidence for 1956. A lot of K27xxxx guns shipped in that year. And as previously noted, the shape of the hammer indicates postwar manufacture before 1957.

Look at the back of the cylinder. You should see an isolated K between two charge holes, and then the 275xxx number just after the second hole. You should also see that number (with its preceding K) on the flat underside of the barrel when the cylinder is open, It will also be seen on the steel butt of the gun when the target stocks are removed.

The target stocks on your gun are not original, as someone pointed out. These are a later style with a speedloader cutout. But the gun previously had the earlier type of target stocks on it. You can deduce that from the curving grime lines above the right stock panel and on the left where the speedloader cutout is seen. You might look around the house to see if those older stocks are still there. They have some value in their own right.

The S&W K-frame .22s are regarded by many as the finest .22 revolvers ever made. You have inherited a classic that will be perfect for everything from target shooting to plinking to snake protection on field trips, if you live in a part of the world where field trips are possible. There are lots of K-22 fanciers on this forum (I am one) and some of us have more than one we like them so much.

An early word on ammunition. Not every brand of ammunition functions equally well in K-22 revolvers. Try several types, and just stop using the ones where the cases tend to stick in the cylinder and give you ejector problems.
__________________
David Wilson
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 04-08-2010, 04:31 PM
WNC Seabee WNC Seabee is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: W. NC
Posts: 737
Likes: 78
Liked 196 Times in 94 Posts
Default

Beautiful piece! And very much sought after. To answer your question, the K22 is, in my opinion, the absolute perfect "recreational target" gun.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 04-08-2010, 05:13 PM
RHINOWSO's Avatar
RHINOWSO RHINOWSO is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 14 Posts
Default

That is a very nice K-22, you will be able to pass it on to your children...
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-08-2010, 05:21 PM
drhenzler drhenzler is offline
Banned
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Morehead City NC
Posts: 169
Likes: 6
Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts
Default

if Hitlery and Obama don't take em all away!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-08-2010, 06:10 PM
fyimo's Avatar
fyimo fyimo is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 18,773
Likes: 6,048
Liked 5,762 Times in 1,992 Posts
Talking

I'm sorry for your loss and I want to tell you that you ended up with a very popular and fun classic S&W revolver.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-08-2010, 09:58 PM
freddy1 freddy1 is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default

Yes, there is indeed an isolated K. I missed that. I also removed the stocks. The K is there also. Thanks to everyone for the great replys and the kind words.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-09-2010, 08:44 AM
au2183 au2183 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Standish, Maine
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum! I can think of no better way to introduce yourself than with pictures of a nice K-22. I'm sorry for your loss, but at the same time I want to congratulate you on the wonderful acquisition. The K-22 is THE best recreational revolver IMO. Fun and inexpensive to shoot, and with the right ammo more accurate than most other handguns. Enjoy it and make sure that when the time comes, it gets passed on to another family member, along with the verbal history, who will cherish it like you do.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-09-2010, 10:08 AM
jimmyjoe's Avatar
jimmyjoe jimmyjoe is offline
Member
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG  
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Posts: 838
Likes: 9
Liked 414 Times in 82 Posts
Default

freddy1, The target stocks on your K22 appear to be for an N frame revolver.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ejector, k-22, k-frame, k22, masterpiece, model 27, postwar, smith & wesson, speedloader, target masterpiece

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Smith and Wesson Model 430 32 Smith and Wesson Long Airweight HeyJoe S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 44 01-28-2017 10:37 AM
Thoughts on Capt. Samuel Walker's Edwin Wesson long distance Target Rifle elhombreconnonombre S&W Antiques 10 08-06-2015 02:36 PM
Smith & Wesson Magazine S&W 41, 422, 622, 2206 22 Long Rifle 10-Round Steel Blue friendlyfire Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 7 09-12-2014 09:17 PM
how old is a smith and wesson 32 long ctg enrique210 S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 5 07-12-2014 02:04 PM
Smith & Wesson Long Rifle Info Please Justcalledsteve S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 1 02-19-2012 10:03 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:30 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)