K22 Combat Masterpiece (Pre 18) Serial #K90801 which shipped on 21 Sept. 1950
S&W introduced them in late '49 if I remember correctly.
Anyone have an earlier example?

szuppo--

I have three of these pre-18 revolvers--one is only 80 numbers away from yours! They are classy guns, and I shoot all mine.

Now...getting right down in the weeds...we had a discussion here on the Forum a year or so ago about these very early 4" guns. Like mine, and like a few others owned by Forum members, the first CMs from the Factory, maybe all, maybe some, were made with slightly flattened (at the top) front Baughman sights, and the front sight ramp retaining pins were polished flush with the barrel rib.

Looks like your gun has these very features.

Later guns, and by that I mean only a year or so later, had rounded front sights and pins which protruded from the rib, with rounded ends which could be felt as well as seen.

It appears that your gun is in exceptional condition, and is a wonderful find!

Here are mine:


Tim

Tim, I think you are right. Here is a picture of my K-38 CM from S/N K945XX Oct 1950. Same gun different caliber, but because of the lower recoil of the .22LR they used the same ramp front sight and just cut it down. Later on they had a lower ramp for the K-22s.

__________________
Dick

Only 80? Do you know when/where it shipped?
Yes, I noticed the front sight before I sent the letter off to Roy with pictures. He stated in the letter that this was done to match POI with POA.
I don't have my SCSW handy and can't recall at what serial the CM's started but this is the earliest of all the early CM's I own.

Very nice K22's you've got there. Thanks for sharing.

Nice K-22s. I would love to find one to go with my '51 K-38 Combat Masterpiece

I know of .38 CMs that are numbered lower than this by about 10,000, but I don't know any .22 CMs numbered in the K80000 range. That may well be the lowest numbered Pre-18 I have seen posted on this forum. It's interesting that Tim has one numbered so close.

I thought my .22 CM was early at K115031, but you guys have got it beat by thousands on the serial number and probably a full year on the calendar. (Mine shipped in September 1951.)

__________________
David Wilson

Roughly 24,000 firearms in that serial range from Sept '50 thru Sept '51.
Over 4,000 in one month from Sept '50 thru Oct '50.
If the 1st K22 Combat Masterpiece was truly a '49 gun it would have had to have been in the K80000 range, right? Any known examples of a K80000 range gun in or out of the Forum?
I know, nothing is definitive with S&W

Tim, is yours higher or lower?

szuppo, yours is the earliest s/n I have been able to find for a K-22 CM. There may be lower ones, but I have not been able to find them.

__________________
Dick

szuppo--

Mine is higher and was shipped in October 1950.

Tim

I have Pre-15 K-38 Combat Masterpiece SN#97565, .38 special, 4 inch barrel, blue, plain clothes magna grips not numbered to gun, finish 85%.

K-38 Combat serial number K97565 was shipped in February 1951.

Sorry, no pics. Imagine a well used one that shoots just fine and that's about it. But there's the info for reference.

Sir.
This is a pic of K 75510, it is a 4 inch K22 with a Patridge front sight.

I have posted this twice in the upper section of the forum in the "Members Forum". The first time I posted I was seeking advice on the originality of this early K22. I took everyone advice and had the gun lettered. I sent many very detailed close up pics of the gun and had some discussion with Roy thru the forum.
The second time I posted on this K22 was when I got Roy's letter back. It lettered as an early 4 inch K22, 1 of 20 shipped, 26 May 1950, to Thompson Diggs Co. Sacramento, Ca.
My posts are still in the Members Forum on the 2nd page and Titled "K22 Letters".
I have seen other early 4 inch K22's with Patridge front sights posted on this forum. I have had several off forum posts with a gent from Montana? about one he had very close to mine in serial range couple years back.
In fact I thought you had posted one several years ago. Maybe my memory fails.
Bill@Yuma

I have a K-22 Combat Masterpiece, Baughman front sight, serial number K88276 that was shipped August, 1950.
Larry Niemczyk