|
|
11-19-2010, 10:51 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,410 Times in 545 Posts
|
|
1st Model K-22 Special Production model 2 inch Barrel Given to Col. Rex Applegate
The Revolver and the information listed below is the Rarest Pre-war K Frame Produced, It is rarest Variation of the K-22 ever Manufactured.
This revolver was Manufactured in Junuary 1944 and put in the Smith & Wesson show case on January 17, 1944. It was then removed from the show case and put on a no charge memo account and shipped to Col.Rex Applegate.
The Revolver was inscribed with Col. Applegates name on June 25 1946 and the factory presented the revolver to Col. Applegate at this time.
The revolver is a Ist Model Outdoorsman K-22 with a 2 inch barrel blue finish, fixed sights and Magna Grips. It was most likely made from one of the frames that were produced for the US Coast Guard in 1935, as they were also fixed sighted revolvers with a 6 inch barrel. The Barrel had to be special made because there were no 22 cal. K frame barrel in 2 inch at this time.
This revolver was in Col. Applegates Collection for his entire life and was not in the Auction of his guns that was held in 1999 after his death.
I was able to purchase this very rare revolver from a friend of col. Applegate that was the administrator of his estate.
Enjoy the information
Jim Fisher SWCA 1491
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
11-19-2010, 10:57 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 13,993
Likes: 4,998
Liked 7,681 Times in 2,618 Posts
|
|
I am gobsmacked, as our Brit friends say. I had no idea that anything like that even existed.
I want one! I want one! I want one!
Technically speaking this would not be an Outdoorsman, would it, if the ODs were characterized by adjustable sights? This would be more like a M&P in .22 LR or, as long as I'm making up names, a .22/38 Hand Ejector.
Really, I am astonished. What a find! Congratulations!
__________________
David Wilson
|
11-19-2010, 10:59 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: HoosieRama
Posts: 6,982
Likes: 2,396
Liked 3,853 Times in 1,401 Posts
|
|
Pretty Cool - how does it shoot?
|
11-19-2010, 11:07 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 7,219
Likes: 18,393
Liked 11,059 Times in 3,291 Posts
|
|
Boy that is fantastic. I think it would be great to have a very rare gun, but a "1 of 1" is amazing. congratulations on your find. Will you shoot it?
__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!
|
11-20-2010, 03:48 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 19,208
Likes: 11,814
Liked 20,510 Times in 8,548 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWilson
I am gobsmacked, as our Brit friends say. I had no idea that anything like that even existed.
I want one! I want one! I want one!
Technically speaking this would not be an Outdoorsman, would it, if the ODs were characterized by adjustable sights? This would be more like a M&P in .22 LR or, as long as I'm making up names, a .22/38 Hand Ejector.
Really, I am astonished. What a find! Congratulations!
|
I commented similarly in the commentary. Since it's a 22 on the K frame, largest frame for a 22, I called it a K22 Heavy Duty.
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
|
11-20-2010, 10:04 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: central pa
Posts: 5,336
Likes: 2,745
Liked 2,492 Times in 1,182 Posts
|
|
Well, I dont care what you may call it, that is truly one of a kind and owned by a one of a kind Gentelman warrior. Awesome is a word that is overused, but this come's close! Thank's for shareing.
__________________
Stay safe people!
|
11-20-2010, 11:25 AM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 49
Liked 13,408 Times in 3,290 Posts
|
|
That is maybe the oddest gun I have ever seen. One of a kind... can't get more rare than that.
Made in 1944... so much for the "only military guns were made during WW II" contention.
__________________
No life story has happy end.
|
11-20-2010, 12:53 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 948
Likes: 15
Liked 177 Times in 50 Posts
|
|
well knock me over with a feather.
thats pretty freaking cool. and in .22 ? thats curious. and to be shipped to somebody of such combat handgunnery and CQB importance. i guess fixed sights is only obvious
very nice piece. thanks for sharing.
|
11-20-2010, 01:39 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PA.
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 9
Liked 1,285 Times in 264 Posts
|
|
What a great gun, Jim. Thanks for the look.
__________________
Pace
|
11-20-2010, 03:27 PM
|
Absent Comrade US Veteran SWCA Founding Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
|
|
Jim, Congrats on acquiring Rex's 2 in. K22 ! I last saw the gun after Rex's passing, when his son still owned it, and tried to buy it then, but was told it was not for sale. Rex had it at the S&WCA meet in Belleview, WA., in 1988, along with a number of his other personal S&Ws. He also had a display of the S&W Mercoxs, which he designed. I first
encountered Rex during the Korean war, when he supplied me with training aids from his Mexico City HQ for teaching close combat knife fighting and we kept in contact over the years as our paths crossed at gun shows, NRA meets, and the SHOT show. Ed.
Last edited by opoefc; 11-20-2010 at 05:00 PM.
|
11-20-2010, 03:44 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NW Montana
Posts: 441
Likes: 1,189
Liked 324 Times in 83 Posts
|
|
Jim:
That's fabulous. What a piece of histroy.
Thanks for giving us the full rundown.
But, we still want to know...
"will you shoot it ?"
__________________
Mitch
SWCA 2438
|
11-20-2010, 04:28 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wasilla ALASKA
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 2,293
Liked 259 Times in 154 Posts
|
|
That's amazing! I had never herd of a 2" in a K-22 or hand ejector .22/38 or perhaps 22/one and only. An interesting revolver from a unique gentleman! Thanks for sharing it and the info with all of us. I keep learning from all of you. Thanks again. Kyle
|
11-20-2010, 04:47 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 4,634
Likes: 2,805
Liked 4,156 Times in 1,126 Posts
|
|
I wonder if Col. Applegate ever fired it?
And I wonder why a fixed sight 22cal K frame. Maybe something he'd expressed an interest in or S&W just wanted a "one of a kind" gift for him.
Can you give us more pics? Close-ups of the barrel, please.
Thank you, this is a thread that's as rare as the revolver!
GF
|
11-20-2010, 04:59 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 5,499
Likes: 913
Liked 6,389 Times in 1,310 Posts
|
|
Jim
Congratulations on getting this gun. I saw it at the last S&WCA meeting in Portland - maybe 1999 or 2000, not sure. The fellow who
had it was serving, in some capacity, as the administrator of the
estate. He had a lot of photos of the guns that were going to auction.
This one he was keeping for himself. I imagine he was the one you
bought it from ?
Regards, Mike Priwer
|
11-20-2010, 05:10 PM
|
Absent Comrade US Veteran SWCA Founding Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
|
|
Mike, That was 1999. The gun was in a display on a members table, where there were two gentlemen sitting. They let me examine the gun and we chatted about Rex ( he had recently passed away) and my friendship with Rex. As I recall, one of the men was Rex's son and the other was the Estate Administrator. They told me most of Rex's collection would go to auction, but the K22 was being kept, although I made them a very generous offer for the gun. . Apparently that decision was later changed and Jim was in the right place at the right time! Ed.
|
11-20-2010, 05:59 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,410 Times in 545 Posts
|
|
Hi Ed
You are correct the other gentleman was the Adminstrator of Rex,s estate and when I displayed in washington a month ago he came looking for me. He had seen my big display of rare and limited production smith and wessons the year before and had spent time with me during that display. He wanted Rex,s gun to go to a good home where it would be displayed and other people could enjoy it.
I guess all the hard work and effort that judy and I put in to displays pays off sometimes.
jim fisher.
|
11-20-2010, 06:18 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,410 Times in 545 Posts
|
|
hi
to answer your questions on the gun. the gun is 99% if it has been fired I would say very little. the Barrel for this gun is un marked on the sides. and my guess is this gun was made in the tool room because they could not make guns on line during the war. the Barrel must have been made from a un bored 38 2 inch hand ejector barrel that they had in stock. the front sight has been milled down from a half moon sight
to the correct dim. for the 22 cal. point of aim. The finish and the workmanship is the same quality as the registered Magnums of that period.
The gentleman that I got this revolver from said that this was one of of Rex,s most cherished arms.
jim fisher
|
11-20-2010, 06:37 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The SW Va Blue Ridge
Posts: 17,471
Likes: 88,955
Liked 24,775 Times in 8,480 Posts
|
|
"I first encountered Rex during the Korean war, when he supplied me with training aids from his Mexico City HQ for teaching close combat knife fighting and we kept in contact over the years as our paths crossed at gun shows, NRA meets, and the SHOT show. Ed."
We are truly blessed to have someone like Ed in our Forum who has known so many famous folks and been able to interact with them.
So Ed, is it true that Andrew Jackson had an extremely hot temper?
__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!
|
11-20-2010, 07:07 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 965
Likes: 1,019
Liked 1,281 Times in 407 Posts
|
|
No matter what it is called, it is a magnificent piece with a great history.
Thanks for telling us about it.
__________________
Ken
|
11-20-2010, 08:16 PM
|
Absent Comrade US Veteran SWCA Founding Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
|
|
Muley, Ole Andy was a Good Ole' Boy from down south, but we never got to chat much as he always busy chasing some of those good lookin' lady slaves in his harem! Ed.
|
11-20-2010, 10:27 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: OR
Posts: 3,521
Likes: 5,496
Liked 1,025 Times in 350 Posts
|
|
Jim,
Thanks very much for the look and history lesson. It appears you've already lived up to the seller's expectations of you vis-a-vis displaying that gun.
Regards,
Jerry
|
11-20-2010, 10:32 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AZ
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 27,584
Liked 45,310 Times in 4,759 Posts
|
|
What a Treat!
Jim:
Thank you for sharing a cool piece of history.
__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan
|
11-21-2010, 04:56 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 8,182
Liked 1,639 Times in 580 Posts
|
|
Jim, as always, thank you for sharing your wonderful addition to the collection. This is why I so love spending time with the members of the Forum. All my best, Joe.
|
11-23-2010, 07:29 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,410 Times in 545 Posts
|
|
bump to the top
|
11-23-2010, 07:57 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 19,208
Likes: 11,814
Liked 20,510 Times in 8,548 Posts
|
|
Jim,
Obviously the Smith and Wesson passion driving your very diligent search of the records and your follow up is another case of hard work paying off big time.
So thank you for sharing the result of your labors. Few of us would ever even know these rarities exist let alone see one, or even less, ever own one (afford one). Because you help us all to be more appreciative, enthusiastic, informed and involved in the same passion no matter what level that might be from one Smith to many!
Kindest regards,
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
|
|
Tags
|
ejector, hand ejector, jinks, k frame, k-22, k22, military, nra, outdoorsman, smith and wesson, smith-wessonforum.com, swca |
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|