I don't post much. I may have asked on one or both of these in years passed. I have to also know is it passed or past in this instance?

OK I have a K-22, sn K1087xx that I believe is 1950 or 1951.

I have a K-38, sn K812xx that I am pretty sure S&W told me 1949.

The K-22 happens to be a family heirloom and is also the first gun that I ever fired back in 1964 or 1965.

The K22 has a wider hammer than my K38.

The K38 has a wider, smooth trigger; the K22 has a narrow grooved trigger. The K38 is some kind of smooth in operation.

All of the triggers and hammers show nice case color.

Am I correct on dates? What is the story on my triggers and hammers? I know pics would help and I will get around to taking some nice pics someday soon.

Sounds like one maybe has a target style hammer and the other a target style trigger. I think OEM on both would be narrow checkered hammer and a narrow grooved trigger. Some pars likely were swapped by a previous owner.

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No life story has happy end.

The K22 was never touched. My uncle bought it new. It was just a gun, he wasn't a competitor, just an adventurer. He was really just a worldy countryboy, CCC member, WWII vet, worked on Aswan Dam, hunted Africa all prior to 1960.

Two very nice Smiths and the K22 is a wonderful heirloom.

It's in the "past". The other is as in: "I passed the ball or passed the car."

You need to be more specific; there are different widths of "wide" triggers and "wide" hammers.

Your K22 is as you posted from 1950 and therefore the gun has the "Short cocking action” (high speed hammer/speed lock) introduced by change order dated 4/7/48. It came standard with the target high speed hammer .375" in width. If it's wider than the K38, it has the 500" optional target hammer not often seen that early, but introduced as an option for K frames c. 1949. Could have been ordered that way or added later. It's equipped with its original narrow trigger.

Your K-38, sn K812xx c. late 1949, also has the short action and likely has the standard .375" speed hammer. The original trigger should be the same as your K22 so has been changed to a later style target trigger with grooves removed if it's .500" wide, 1st available c. 1955. Or a .400" smooth 'combat' trigger available much later, c. 1960s.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thank you so much for the replies and help.

The K22 Hammer is .500 and the Trigger is approx. 1/4".

The K38 Hammer is .375", with finer knurling, and has a slight upswept profile. The Trigger is .400" and smooth.

All triggers and hammers have very nice case colors.

Now don't think that I am going to attempt this myself. How hard to find a 1/4" grooved trigger for the 1949 K38? Will a gunsmith with Smith & Wesson knowledge be able to do the swap? I may also like to add a .500 Target hammer to the K-38 and make it match the K22, which is going to stay the way it is. I will get to the pics.

Well hopefully these are the pics. K38 on top and then on right.

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Very nice. Here is a 1947 K-22 (from my dad)


a 1951 K-38 which like yours is as smooth as butter to shoot (it is the top one)


they make a nice pair



I make them put on coats when they go out.

The trigger is a drop in for any smith that's not a klutz. They very seldom need fitting.

And they are as common as coat hangers to find on this forum, ebay and gunbroker. Your Combat trigger would be an easy trade for one.

Here's two videos that will help you decide if you want to do it yourself, it's not difficult and the videos will walk you thru it. I would not pay a gunsmith to do something so simple but everyone knows their own limitations.

These videos that show disassembly and assembly will help if you haven't taken one apart before. Some of the commentary is a little bogus, but the main error is that the two screws indicated as identical, are not! The one that retains the yoke is 'fitted' and therefore specific to that location. Otherwise these are very helpful:

SMITH & WESSON MODEL 10 SERVICE REVOLVER PART 1 - YouTube
Note: The part referred to in the video as the crane is actually the yoke in S&W terms. Crane is the Colt name for that part.

SMITH & WESSON MODEL 10 PART 2 - YouTube

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Nice pair of Masterpiece revolvers. I think that model and era guns are among the smoothest action Smiths ever manufactured. Just curious if there are any numbers on the stocks for the K38? They look like later style Magna stocks. These revolvers often lost their original stocks because many shooters changed out the standard factory stocks for S&W targets or other brands of larger target stocks that were available at the time.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Wow thanks again. I would have never dreamed the trigger swap was potentially that simple. I stress potentially. I have fit Win 70 firing pins, and installed trigger and sears in them, but would not attempt to Fit or Improve one.

I put those grips on the 1949 K-38 as it had large aftermarket Target style grips. As I recall they came off of an un-marked model 14 four screw model. I swapped them and sold the pre 14. I had just bought that pre numbered 14 when my friend showed me this 5 screw, K-38. I swapped him a clean model 36 for it even up. He couldn't stand the bulk of the gun and loved the little square butt 3 inch barrel model 36. A gunsmith friend owes me so he may do the trigger swap. I have one coming from Numrich. Now if they only send me the correct part!

The Magna stocks of the 1950 Masterpiece have what are called sharp shoulders like your K22. I have noticed a few of that exact style stocks have sold on ebay recently for good prices. They come up for auction regularly in case you want to swap those out again.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Well Numrich came through and sent the correct part. The trigger was either new or as new. It had the rod on the bottom rear and the Hand Lever installed, but no Hand Lever Spring. I found a spring that fits and functions but is not as stiff as the other trigger with the long leg type spring with no hand lever style.

Before I go much further I want to thank everyone for the encouragement, pointers, and video links. I tackled the job myself and it came out very well. From others experience, is the hand lever style arrangement generally softer than the legged variety? Anyone have a source other than Numrich? The gun works just fine, but if it should have a stiffer spring in there then I am going to change it. I will wait until I order more than a $2.35 Spring though.

Just watch eBay.