My "new" K22 and grips question

Josephc · #1 09-14-2014, 01:13 PM

I recently bought this K22 at auction and when comparing my serial number to others on this forum I believe it to be 1951 vintage - K 1317XX. the s/n is on butt, cylinder and under barrel. Would this vintage fall into the Curio&Relics category?

It came with custom target grips. I had a pair of S&W grips I thought were K size but they just miss fitting the revolver. For 1951 I believe the diamond magna (?) style would have been original? Is that correct and would the magna be different than K grips? Could someone take a look at the grips and tell me what size/model they may be for?

The square butt have an R on both halves and the rounded/shaped pair have a s/n 313575.

Thank you
Joe

Josephc · #2 09-14-2014, 01:17 PM

grips for comparison and model determination - I tried these on my 637 j frame and they are too big and I tried on my 686 where they "fit" but not right.

Josephc · #3 09-14-2014, 01:19 PM

each set on gun

arjay · #4 09-14-2014, 01:21 PM

It would have come with diamond magnas with a sharp shoulder originally.The pair you have have a round shoulder.The K and L frame use the same size grips.Do you have an N frame to try them on?

DCWilson · #5 09-14-2014, 01:22 PM

Welcome to the forum. 1951 sounds right to me, but if the gun sat in inventory for some period of time it might not have shipped until 1952. The Feds consider anything more than 50 years old to enjoy C&R status, so yes -- that gun is at least 12 years to the good side of the C&R timing boundary.

Interesting that it has both the target hammer and the light (or tapered) barrel. The target hammer and heavy barrel options were both introduced in early 1950. It is my impression that most target hammers are found on heavy-barrel guns.

Those look like Sile grips to me, but I have been wrong on that before. Siles are European, but there are American makers with better known names who also produced stocks that resembled those. Somebody else will be along in a moment to provide that maker's name since it is not coming to mind at the moment.

Nice gun. Shoot it in good health.

EDITED TO ADD: I should have waited for the grip pics to come up. The magnas without diamonds around the escutcheon look to me as though they have been shortened. Without the diamond they would date to 1968 or later. The diamond magnas with the rounded over grip are called PC magnas. They first appeared a year or two after your gun would have been made, if I recall correctly. They were popular on short barrel M&Ps because they didn't announce "gun" through the fabric of a suit coat as readily as sharp-corner wood did. PC is often taken to mean "plain-clothes," but the factory used another term when they introduced them, and I always forget it. Looks like the grip locator pin has been misplaced in the frame or the locator holes were drilled wrong in the wood. I can't imagine how either would have happened, so I am mystified by that issue.

weatherby · #6 09-14-2014, 01:24 PM

The flat bottom set is definitely for an N frame.
If that modified magna set is too be very glad they don't fit

-db- · #7 09-14-2014, 01:45 PM

The target stocks are Herrett's, and a nice set.

OFT II · #8 09-14-2014, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weatherby

The flat bottom set is definitely for an N frame.
If that modified magna set is too be very glad they don't fit

I agree with you on the flat bottom set. The modified magnas look to be K frame stocks to me.

Art Doc · #9 09-14-2014, 02:27 PM

K123970 shipped 10/23/51 and K155836 shipped 11/5/52 so I would be inclined to say very early 1952 on yours. Could be very late 1951.

Yes, 50 years automatic C&R status or earlier if ATF lists it for some special feature.

Josephc · #10 09-14-2014, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -db-

The target stocks are Herrett's, and a nice set.

thanks for pointing that out. I checked the Herrett's website and matched them up. they alone are over $100 and I was thinking of removing them. They do feel good in the hand though they interfere with the cylinder button somewhat.

Josephc · #11 09-14-2014, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OFT II

I agree with you on the flat bottom set. The modified magnas look to be K frame stocks to me.

but they do not fit my K frame so still not sure what they are.

Green Frog · #12 09-14-2014, 04:43 PM

I was thinking "Herrett's" too when I saw the pictures. Although they don't command the collectors' interest like a pair of Ropers, or Sandersons, or Farrants, they still are respectable grips, and as you mention can feel quite good to the hand. I wouldn't hesitate to use them on the range, but they tend to be a little bulky when you try to put them in a holster!

BTW, I like the combination of slim barrel (with narrow rib) and target hammer, but that's just me. I like what I like!

Froggie

hardscrabble · #13 09-14-2014, 06:51 PM

There was a range of K-22's around there, '51 for sure, and ending in '52, that shipped with magna grips that had plastic medallions. I have K122967 and it's original magnas have those plastic medallions. This K-22 is close to being un-fired, with very pretty grips and those medallions look perfectly good. They are a bit grayer and not as shiny as plated medallions. Finding a set of those might not be easy.

I pulled my hair out trying to find a better fitting set of grips for a '55 gun that I bought with replacement grips. I tried at least three sets of latter (60's) diamond magnas that wouldn't come close. I finally bought a set of grips with a 1948 range SN and they fit perfectly. Somebody may have a good explanation for that. My point is, save yourself some grief and hold out for a set of magnas numbered to guns around your SN range, chances are you'll get a much better fit