I just inherited this 22 Long Rifle CTG. There are 4 screws, unless you also count the one above connected to the sight. It is a left roll-out push ejector. It has a number inside, a 1, and below that, 41330. On the butt, it says K 45677.
I suspect my Dad had it in WW II, but since we lived both in Colorado and Utah, it could have been a personal gun.
There are no papers with it.
See attached a photo. (It is in better shape than it appears in the photo) there is also a unique holster.

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Looks like a 1948 k22. Welcome to the forum! Great looking hierloom!

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USAF AMMO

Agreed.Only the butt number matters,and it's actually a five screw model(not counting the rear sight screw)

The screws are on the side plate side of the frame and also the one in front of the trigger guard. There is one hidden under the wood stocks so this would be what is referred to as a 5 screw gun. They are very popular among S&W collectors as it is one of S&W's most iconic revolvers.

The larger frame 22's started with the .22/32 built in 1911 at the request of San Francisco gun dealer Phil Bekeart. The .22/32 was a .22 caliber revolver built on the larger I frame formerly used by S&W for their .32 caliber revolvers.

A little over 20 years later S&W came out with the K 22 Outdoorsmen and sales of the .22/32 dwindled. This was later improved into the K 22 Masterpiece and became a staple in the S&W line.

They are a pleasure to shoot and yours having family history makes it even more special.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Sacagawea,

I also inherited a K22 that shipped in 48. I am curious if yours is a "one liner"/one line address or the more recent 4 line.

On the right side (as if you are shooting it), directly in front and below the trigger guard, does it simply say "Made in USA"?

If not, then that is a 4 line address.

Bob

It won't be a one liner.I had K38,2xx,and it was a four liner.

Four liner: 1948 Serial # K 62,700

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K45677 likely shipped in late 1948, October or November. At that time, S&W called it a K-22 Masterpiece. About 10 years later, it became the Model 17. It should have the 4-line stamping, That started before about K30000 in mid-1948. These were intended as target revolvers, as competitive Bullseye shooting was very popular at that time, and required a .22 handgun (revolver or semiautomatic) in one stage, and centerfire revolvers or semiautomatics in other stages. Not so popular a shooting sport these days, and most Bullseye shooters today (and for some time) use .22 semiautomatics. They are simply better than revolvers for this sport. Nonetheless, the K-22 was about as good as it got for a target revolver at the time, but no real comparison in grouping capability vs. a good custom .22 semiauto in the hand of a seasoned shooter.

I'm not sure that some of the world famous shooters from the Springfield Revolver Club like Charles Axtell would agree with you on that.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Well, Sacagawea, you inherited a very nice revolver. If you don't shoot, it is the best possible handgun to learn to shoot with.

I can also tell by the title of your post that you "inherited" good manners. I almost never see anyone say 'please' on the internet!

Sorry about your father, sounds like he lived a long life.

A good well-tuned .22 semiauto with good ammunition can shoot consistent 1/2" groups at 25 yards. I've never seen a K-22 get close to that. I shot Bullseye competition during the late 1950s and the early 1970s. I started with a K-22 in the .22 stage but it was immediately apparent I was badly outclassed by those using semiautos. After about two years I got a Colt Match Target Woodsman, had it slicked up by a custom smith and never looked back. Back then, the top-level shooters used mainly Clark-customized Hi-Standards. I don't know what they use today, but I am fairly sure not K-22s.

As others have said, that is one of the most popular Smith & Wesson revolvers among both collectors and people who just like to shoot. In recent years the popularity (and value) of the K22s has risen.

The "K" denotes the frame size. It's the standard full frame size for the 38 caliber guns. The K22s, while a fine gun in and of itself, made a fine companion piece for a 38 cal. revolver, allowing less expensive practice.

A lot of us around here also like old holsters. If you get a chance, a description of it and any identifying marks on it would be appreciated. A pic of it would be icing on the cake.