Quick value check on a K-22

[gfors]

Saw a 4 digit K-22. 6" barrel. Stocks number to gun. Everything looked righteous. Smooth as butter and tight as a bank vault. 70% metal, 90% (or better wood). No extras. Sorry, no pics. It was listed at $749, but they've had it at LGS for 2 years, so likely negotiable. Is that price in the ball park?

[Delta Romeo]

I’d have thrown him a lower bid because it’s been there a minute, but I believe I’d have brought it home either way. I have a K22 about 90% condition with matching numbered stocks and I love it more and more each day. The color of the wood and deep bluing after some good wax….Not to mention it’s an incredible tack driver at the range.
I’d definitely have stole it had I passed through there
-Donnie

[handejector]

70%?????
This is why I hate the % grading system........
A 70% gun is ugly as hell. That would mean just under 1/3 of the finish is gone.
You sure 'bout that?

[gfors]

Alright, alright maybe not 70%...Most of the finish is in very good condition, but quite a bit is missing from both sides of the barrel. Looks like holster wear. Really, the condition is what one would expect in a gun that was holstered, for years, and used, but not abused. Carry-up, end shake are spot-on. No push-off.

[Drm50]

Originally Posted by handejector

70%?????
This is why I hate the % grading system........
A 70% gun is ugly as hell. That would mean just under 1/3 of the finish is gone.
You sure 'bout that?

Almost as bad as “ in good condition for its age”. Many must have been behind the door when chapter on condition was taught.

[alwslate]

gfors based on your description $749 sounds about $150 too much to me.

[JH1951]

Having not seen the gun, it's hard to put a value on it, so lets factor in the description and the suggestion that it has been for sale at a LGS for two years at the stated price. My thoughts are that the price is too high. I think alwslate hit the nail on the head with the price being about $150. too high. They are very nice, well made, fun to shoot, accurate, pleasing to the touch, and easy on the eyes..... , but they are not at all 'rare' and condition dictates the price. IMHO every S&W fan should have a nice one (or more) in the safe.

[Retired W4]

Price of this particular K-22 aside, SCSW, pg. 26 and Blue book of Gun Values, PPGS and NRA Antique Conditions, are excellent guides for grading and should be required reading for every collector and potential collector of guns.

When examining a gun, whether pictures or in hand, I can tell in a few minutes if I like it or not. Then it's only worth what I am willing to pay for it. The next guy might have a totally different opinion.

[murphydog]

Depending on its exact condition (a precise description and/or photos would help here), an original early postwar K-22 Masterpiece 'may' be in the $750 range, with the single line address, pre-war style extractor rod end, etc. But sitting for two years may indicate the seller might be willing to take an offer as noted above. Good luck!

[gfors]

I just spent some time looking through GB closed listings. You guys are right. There are much better examples available, in that price range (although shipping, etc. adds $). I'll try to get some pics on Monday (they were slammin' busy when I was there yesterday). I've re-read SCSW re: grading condition, and it's probably closer to 80-85% finish remaining on the metal. Pictures will tell the story.
Thanks for the guidance!

[Truckman]

There's just no way to determine value from one person to another, and especially from one location to another...Yesterday I sold a K-22 in similar condition as the OP's find to a vendor for considerably more than that listed in the opening post...We were both happy with the transaction...

When I was in Tulsa last year I bought a NIB Model 547 at what the seller and I determined to be a fair price...Yesterday I invested my gain from the K-22 sale in another NIB 547 of identical quality for $350 less than I paid in Tulsa...

The value of any S& W, whether compared in dollars or trade value, can only be determined by the next caretaker...The important point is that both seller and buyer be happy with the transaction in the belief that each got the value he expected......Ben

[alwslate]

I've been a bit surprised at the selling prices on GB. The 6" model 17s bring a much lower price than the 4" model 18s in similar condition sometimes.

[Retired W4]

Originally Posted by Truckman

...The value of any S& W, whether compared in dollars or trade value, can only be determined by the next caretaker...The important point is that both seller and buyer be happy with the transaction in the belief that each got the value he expected......Ben

Amen to that.

[Green Frog]

I bought a 1948 vintage K22 at auction over 10 years ago. It was in about the same condition you describe, and even a decade ago I felt fortunate to get it for $425. I’m not seeing $749 being as wildly exorbitant as everyone else seems to, but would still hit him with a lower offer or ask how much wiggle room he had. At $650 or less, I’d feel pretty good about it if the condition is what I’m visualizing. YMMV… I spend other people’s money well!
Froggie

[Drm50]

If gun in described shape is worth $750, what is a high condition piece worth? By that scale about $1500 seems about right.

[nksmfamjp]

It sounds $500ish. I bought one that was 3T, lockup needed shimmed, trigger and accuracy were on point. Metal is 90% or so, some scratching near muzzle.

Prices seem about the same to $100 higher now.

For $750, I’d expect high 90’s and a box.

[alwslate]

About a dozen years ago I lucked into a new unfired 1952 K22 in the gold box, nothing else, just the box, on consignment in a LGS for $500 But.. deals like that don't happen often. Went back a couple of days later and they had another consignment from the same guy. A 2" RB pre model 34, 1955 I think, no box, in excellent used condition with Pachmyers for $300. Wowie! Just in time. Another customer tried to buy it from me outside before I got away from the store. No thanks

[Model19man]

The missing 30% of the metal finish would make me offer $500. If that isn't enough then it's a hard pass.

[glowe]

Instead of reading through a dozen guesses, just sign in on Gunbroker, go to Advanced and search completed auctions entering "wesson K22". There are currently 24 K22 6" guns listed.

You are the only person who knows what the condition looks like in order to compare them. Compare it with those 24 examples and see what some of them sold for. This is the best option without detailed posted pictures out there. Everything else is a guess and all I can add is that there are a couple dozen that sold from $481 to $805. Several of those were listed higher than $800 and did not sell.

[gfors]

I did look at Gunbroker, eventually. I was in a hurry when I made the original post. I didn’t have my book with me and I was more curious about the four digit serial number. Probably should’ve posted my question as such.
Thanks for all the reply guys and thanks for your patience! I’ll go take another look at it today, but I think I’m probably going to pass unless they’re willing to come down a lot.

[karotipir12]

Gunbroker values are all over the place:


Okay I looked through gunbroker completed auctions (not against rules to post links because they're done, right?)

These are just pre-model 5-screw K-22s.
I am just looking at ones without boxes

Some are going for $550-$650
Just a moment...
Just a moment...
Just a moment...
Just a moment...

Even this pre-war outdoorsman went for $600
Just a moment...

Others going for $700-$800
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1017887713
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1022262458
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1020722453
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1008494770

These ones went for +$900-$1100 !?!
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1014661995
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1011989690

Meanwhile it looks like numbered Model 17's going for $500-$600, even with boxes!
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1016178952
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1012213504
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1018623015

[Retired W4]

Add fees, shipping and tax.

[glowe]

No fees, just sales tax and shipping (unless you use CC) That is reality of the "Old Gun Market" You already categorized what you saw. Guns in the 70% range are selling for less than $700 and better guns are selling for over $700. Value sometimes has little to do with reality. I see prices paid and to me that is what the buyer decided the gun was worth (value).

BTW, I do not believe there were any that sold at above $1000. Be careful and look to make sure there was a bid on them. Lots did not get bids, so not sold.

[local_dirt]

Originally Posted by alwslate

gfors based on your description $749 sounds about $150 too much to me.

Wow. You were reading my mind, apparently.

[JSR III]

A lot depends on where you are located when buying guns. GB prices tend to be higher due to auction bidding fever. Prices in Boston might also be different than prices in Podunk, Mississippi.

Based on OP's description of condition and the fact that nothing comes with the gun, I would think she's a tad high. The 2 year sit factor also tends to support that.

Make an offer and be prepared for a counter offer. Sometimes even a dealer pays too much or the gun is on consignment and the owner has an inflated idea as to value.

Like fishing, you can't catch a fish if you don't throw some bait in the water......

PS: The 4 digit serial number may indicate first year production and that adds value to some collectors. I bought one with serial number 1722 merely because it was a 22 and became the model 17.

[kscharlie]

The OP did not provide a serial number, only that it was a 4-digit number. First year production (1946), according to SCSW 4th, began with K101 and ended at K614. All 4-digit numbers came from the 2nd year of production, 1947.

The OP gun should be a "one line address", and may have other features unique to early post-war K-22s. It is my understanding that approximately 5,000 one-line K-22s were produced. While certainly not rare, they are pretty uncommon. As such, they do command a premium.

As for the % finish, I agree with Lee...I don't like the percentage moniker either. However, that is what we have. I think most people err a considerable amount on their estimate of remaining finish. A lot of finish can be gone from a gun and still be a 90% gun. 10% is a lot of real estate on a revolver. The entire sideplate could be buffed and polished raw steel and come close to a 90% gun if the remainder was "factory new". I like what Nahas & Supica outlined on page 32 of the SWCA 4th in regards to the percentage system. Read it, re-read it and study it. It takes 10 of those squares to produce a 90% gun. That is a lot of real estate.

The first pic below is a copy of the picture used in the SWCA. The description of the picture is as follows:

"The rough diagram shown here illustrates a grid imposed on a drawing of a revolver. There are approximately 100 squares total on the metal surfaces of the the gun. (The area covered by the grip panels is not counted - if it were, the squares would be larger). Accordingly, each square could be consideredvery roughly 1% of metal finish coverage. This illustrates how much finish could actually be gone from a gun to receive a particular percentage rating - two squares missing would be a 98% gun, ten squares a 90% gun, etc.

Our observation is that some condition oriented collectors would consider a revolver with a bit of muzzle wear, a cylinder drag line, and perhaps some wear on the sharp edges of the cylinder flutes to be a 98% gun. However, from the illustration, it would seem that such a gun could actually have far less than 2% of the original finish missing."

So, IMO, depending upon how, what and where finish is missing, a 70% gun could have more eye appeal than a 90% gun. A few pictures of the OP gun would go a long way towards evaluation. If it is in the condition that I suspect, $750 is not way out of line. A bit high perhaps. Offer them $650 out the door. The worst they can do is laugh and say no.

A few pics of my K-22 one-liner. Serial # 3434, shipped September, 1947. Barrel shaped ejector rod knob with corresponding milled slot in the barrel, fish hook hammer, tapered rib, matching stocks. Gave $499 four years ago. While it is not the most eye appealing gun I own (mainly due to scratches on the side plate), it still rates as a 90%+ gun. One person's "ugly" is another person's "beauty".