Picked Up a K-22 Over the Weekend

Rock Dawg · #1 11-03-2010, 06:40 PM

Hi all. New member here. I just picked up a K-22 over the weekend, my first one. The serial number is K 213xxx. I don't have a S&W reference book, but from the posts I've seen I believe the date of manufacture is 1953-54. If anyone knows different, please let me know. The gun has a good bit of holster wear, but is mechanically sound and is a good shooter. I've attached a few pics. I can see how these can become addicting!

Iggy · #2 11-03-2010, 06:45 PM

Welcome to the forum. It looks like you're pretty close with the date.

Probably 1954. That is the right kind to buy, it's not so nice that you are afraid to ever shoot it, but it is one good looking specimen.

If you take care of it, your grandkids will enjoy it as much as you do.

Well done.

Casehardn · #3 11-03-2010, 07:04 PM

Must have been something in the air this weekend. I picked up a 17-2 this weekend.
Good luck with your gun. It looks like it has some good stories to tell.
...but now you'll be writing the next chapters.

GF · #4 11-03-2010, 07:08 PM

That's a perfect K-22.
A shooter rimfire K frame is the "must have" over any S&W revolver.
Welcome to the forum!

GF

DCWilson · #5 11-03-2010, 07:57 PM

That's the absolutely perfect score -- clean enough to admire, but with just enough holster wear that you don't worry about taking it out for some further exercise.

I'd say early to mid 1954. I have a December 1953 K-22 just three or four thousand under K200000.

That gun either shipped with its optional target hammer, or someone put it on later as an upgrade. Most of these shipped with the standard speed (or fishhook) hammer.

Congratulations!

Rock Dawg · #6 11-03-2010, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the welcome and info guys. Appreciate it!!!

Scary Gary · #7 11-04-2010, 12:17 AM

Yep It's something in the air.
I put a hold on a 4" K-22 that I found on Saturday.
S/N 1982** anyone know the date of mine?

DCWilson · #8 11-04-2010, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scary Gary

Yep It's something in the air.
I put a hold on a 4" K-22 that I found on Saturday.
S/N 1982** anyone know the date of mine?

With a K in front of the number, you're looking at late 1953, possibly very early 1954.

Gotta show us pictures when you've got it in hand!

Vulcan Bob · #9 11-04-2010, 10:48 AM

A very nice find! Now thats one I wish I could find, a birth year k-22.

Scary Gary · #10 11-04-2010, 11:17 AM

I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow. It's well used but has more life left in it then I do.
And for the life of me I can't figure out how to get pictures on here with my Droid.

stock1 · #11 11-04-2010, 12:07 PM

Rock what did you pay ? I am looking at a 1948 for $475 is this a good price ? It is in 90 to 95 percent .

Mr Pokeyman · #12 11-04-2010, 01:17 PM

I have a question. I know a Model 17 is a 22. caliber in a K frame. Is the term K22 the same thing or am I confused. Also, are all M17's P&R. Thanks.

stock1 · #13 11-04-2010, 01:26 PM

K 22 or K 38 are before the model number was set.

Mr Pokeyman · #14 11-04-2010, 01:33 PM

Thank you. So other than that, its the same thing I guess?

DCWilson · #15 11-04-2010, 01:39 PM

Stock1, I think $475 is a decent price for a 1948 K-22 with somewhere around 95% finish, assuming the timing and action check out and the bore and chambers show no discoloration.

Dennis, K-22 is a generic classification for any .22 RF revolver built on the K frame, but the designation has not always been used as part of the gun's model name. The first K-22 was introduced in 1931 as the K-22 Outdoorsman. A very scarce K-22 with a short action was produced in 1940 in barely a thousand units, and then after WWII the K-22 Masterpiece was introduced. In 1957 that gun became the Model 17, but the K-22 Masterpiece designation remained part of its identification.

All S&W .22s have recessed chambers, and the barrels were pinned up until 1982. So the Model 17s have pinned barrels through the dash-3 variant. The dash-5 guns are not pinned, and if I am reading the SCSW correctly, some dash-4 guns were pinned and some not.

Scary Gary · #16 11-04-2010, 01:42 PM

STOCK1
I'm no expert but I paid $499 for mine and the you're looking at is older and in better condition. I'd say mine is 75-80% .

RKmesa · #17 11-04-2010, 08:27 PM

Rock Dawg: Congrats on a great revolver. Be very careful, they are very addicting - one is never enough.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

A very scarce K-22 with a short action was produced in 1940 in barely a thousand units, and then after WWII the K-22 Masterpiece was introduced. In 1957 that gun became the Model 17, but the K-22 Masterpiece designation remained part of its identification.

David:

Here are a couple of photos of one of the "rare ones" - a pre-war K-22 Masterpiece (the 1st S&W with the "Masterpiece" name). It has the micrometer rear sight and the short action hammer and the pre-war magna stocks. It is an early one so it shipped in an "Outdoorsman" box, but on the bottom of the box is stamped "K-22 Masterpiece" with the serial number...

Rock Dawg · #18 11-05-2010, 06:54 PM

Stock,
I paid $425 for mine, which I thought was a decent price. I was looking for a shooter, so it meets my needs perfectly. From what I've seen $475 for the 1948 model at 90-95% as you described sounds like a very good price, providing it's mechanically sound. If it was me, I'd jump on it. Of course I can be a bit of an impulse buyer.

RK,
Great looking gun, and with the box too. Wow!

JMusic · #19 11-06-2010, 01:19 AM

I have a bare bones K22 that I use for a shooter. Its in the 53xxx Sn range. Its 90 per cent but I cant help but shoot it. Cylinder gap is tight. About 1 and a half thousands. Most of mine are in the 4 to 5 range. I was told it was made in 1947 but realy have not checked. I got mine fore less but you can't loose at that price with the box. I have seen the grips go for over 100 bucks.