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04-12-2018, 05:13 PM
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K22 Outdoorsman - Letter received
My first Smith 22LR revolver. . I’ve been hopeful of finding a decent model 17 or 18 for a while now, without too much luck. Earlier this week, this great revolver fell in my lap. A local acquaintance who knows my affinity for any pre lock S&W revolver messaged me to tell me he had a K22 for sale.
Turned out to be this:
Serial number is in the 671,000 range. I believe it would date to 1939/1940.
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Last edited by Forester; 04-12-2018 at 05:41 PM.
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04-12-2018, 05:23 PM
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Very nice piece, the pre war S&Ws really top of the class!
Do the pre war magnas number to the gun?
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04-12-2018, 05:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by younggun22
Very nice piece, the pre war S&Ws really top of the class!
Do the pre war magnas number to the gun?
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They do not. But they are periodic correct and may be factory original. Considering lettering this one.
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04-12-2018, 05:28 PM
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I would recheck your serial #. It should have 6 digits.
Very nice piece with the early gold bead front sight.
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04-12-2018, 05:41 PM
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K22 Outdoorsman, New To Me
Quote:
Originally Posted by bower
I would recheck your serial #. It should have 6 digits.
Very nice piece with the early gold bead front sight.
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Yes. You are correct. 671,000. Fixed above.
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04-12-2018, 05:58 PM
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You sure lucked out on that one. To me, your new gun is way better than a 17 or 18 but sure would make a nice addition to either! So now you have to find it a sibling. Enjoy, she is a beauty!
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04-12-2018, 06:09 PM
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Great find for you. If 1939 or 1940 production many K22's and K22/40's shipped with no serial numbers stamped on inside of grips. Wartime gear up probable cause.
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04-14-2018, 06:01 PM
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Very nice. The stocks are also very nice. Not that big a deal that they are not numbered to the revolver.
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04-14-2018, 06:39 PM
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I have a K22 Outdoorsman with the same magna grips that are not numbered at all but I am sure are the ones that shipped with the gun from the factory. Your revolver is stunning. Congrats on a fine purchase.
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04-14-2018, 06:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Forester
My first Smith 22LR revolver. ...
Serial number is in the 671,000 range. I believe it would date to 1939/1940.
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Beautiful gun. In addition to the other comments, with your gun having the gold bead, it may have been a special order, as the standard was a stainless "brilliant" bead in that SN range...
Probably worth the cost of a letter.
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04-14-2018, 07:58 PM
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Congratulations on that fine firearm! Cool pictures too! Bob
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04-14-2018, 08:07 PM
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The top one is a well used K-22 Outdoorsman made in 1936 and it shoots great. It has the standard stainless bead sight.
Bottom one is a K-22 Masterpiece made in 1948. I bought this one some 20 years ago and for some reason I just haven't shot it very much, but when I do, it's a joy to shoot.
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04-14-2018, 09:06 PM
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Very very nice. The K22 is the finest .22 handgun ever manufactured IMO.
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04-14-2018, 10:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
Beautiful gun. In addition to the other comments, with your gun having the gold bead, it may have been a special order, as the standard was a stainless "brilliant" bead in that SN range...
Probably worth the cost of a letter.
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Am I correct the first 500 had the gold bead?
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04-14-2018, 10:56 PM
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My latest Outdoorsman (#659434) was shipped January 28, 1937. My K-22 2nd Model (#682435, one of the earliest----16th in the series, 15th shipped) went out March 21, 1940. I find it odd the grips are not numbered, but as noted above, it's not a big deal---to me anyway.
The grips on my 22/40 weren't numbered either. I found that to be odd also. Also odd was the fact the grips weren't fit to the gun in the usual manner. Then the letter arrived, noting the gun was shipped "with grip adapter attached". It was awhile after that it dawned on me the grips weren't fit to the gun because they weren't attached to the gun, but to the adapter---which also wasn't fit to the gun.
The moral of this story is everything will be all right if you sit and stare long enough.
Ralph Tremaine
Last edited by rct269; 04-14-2018 at 11:02 PM.
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04-15-2018, 12:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Forester
My first Smith 22LR revolver. . I’ve been hopeful of finding a decent model 17 or 18 for a while now, without too much luck. Earlier this week, this great revolver fell in my lap. A local acquaintance who knows my affinity for any pre lock S&W revolver messaged me to tell me he had a K22 for sale.
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I would say that you luck turned out to be very good and I know you would agree! If you had bought a 17 or 18 earlier then this one might never have been offered to you. If you don't think so, you could probably trade your new gun for both a decent 17 and 18 straight up. Great pick-up!
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04-15-2018, 12:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheroad20
Am I correct the first 500 had the gold bead?
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I know that the directive (Aug 13, 1930) for the first 500 was made before the directive (January 1931) for the gold bead, so I'm not sure on the first 500... But I have 3 with gold beads, all of which shipped in 1931. The engineering change directive to go to the stainless bead was September 16, 1931. I think that most of the K-22s shipping in 1931 shipped with the gold bead, I also believe that there were a bunch that shipped in early 1932 that also still had the gold bead as it took some time to implement the engineering change.
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Last edited by RKmesa; 04-15-2018 at 12:25 AM.
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04-15-2018, 08:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nutsforsmiths
The top one is a well used K-22 Outdoorsman made in 1936 and it shoots great. It has the standard stainless bead sight.
Bottom one is a K-22 Masterpiece made in 1948. I bought this one some 20 years ago and for some reason I just haven't shot it very much, but when I do, it's a joy to shoot.
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That’s a very nice pair.
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04-15-2018, 08:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boykinlp
I would say that you luck turned out to be very good and I know you would agree! If you had bought a 17 or 18 earlier then this one might never have been offered to you. If you don't think so, you could probably trade your new gun for both a decent 17 and 18 straight up. Great pick-up!
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You’re right. I passed up a haggard looking 17 at the LGS a few months ago. It was attractive because the price was right but I’ve been trying to find better examples for my collection instead of just adding numbers to it.
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04-15-2018, 09:51 AM
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Here's a couple of mine...
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04-15-2018, 04:42 PM
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As RKmesa stated, the Sept. 1931 sight directive changing the gold sight bead to S.S. ended the " production " use of the gold bead, but the gold bead could be special ordered on a number of models after that date. I have several later guns with gold bead sights, including a 1933 38/44 Outdoorsman. Also a 22/32 HFT. with an Ivory bead front sight, both special order.
Richard
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04-15-2018, 06:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
Beautiful gun. In addition to the other comments, with your gun having the gold bead, it may have been a special order, as the standard was a stainless "brilliant" bead in that SN range...
Probably worth the cost of a letter.
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I just filled out my request for a letter. Will got out in tomorrow’s mail. It will be the first letter request for me. All my other Smiths are run of the mill pre lock numbered models.
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04-15-2018, 10:01 PM
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"Serial number is in the 671,000 range"
On my list is 6710xx which shipped in 8/38. Unlike the more utilitarian service revolvers, the target models did not seem to sit on the factory inventory shelf for too long before shipment, even during the Great Depression.
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04-15-2018, 10:40 PM
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Just as a matter of comparison I have .22/32 HFT's listed in my database in 1911 with Sheard copper bead front sights and the first Patridge with gold bead appears in 1912. The last entry that I show with a Gold Bead front sight is in 1931.
I own an early Outdoorsmen's with a gold bead front sight that shipped in 1931 IIRC.
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04-16-2018, 08:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
"Serial number is in the 671,000 range"
On my list is 6710xx which shipped in 8/38. Unlike the more utilitarian service revolvers, the target models did not seem to sit on the factory inventory shelf for too long before shipment, even during the Great Depression.
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Thank you! Mine is 671492.
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04-16-2018, 05:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
I know that the directive (Aug 13, 1930) for the first 500 was made before the directive (January 1931) for the gold bead, so I'm not sure on the first 500... But I have 3 with gold beads, all of which shipped in 1931 . . .
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I still learn something every day here. I have a first year 637,500 range K22 that has a gold front bead. The ship date was July 1931. My question is regarding the first 500 and the August 1930 directive versus the January 1931 directive. It was my understanding that the first K22 Outdoorsman shipped was January, 1931, but do not know the difference between the two different directives you mention?
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04-18-2018, 06:45 PM
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Got a chance to do a little impromptu shooting with the Outdoorsman today. Just some plastic bottles at 10 and 15 yards. Whas using CCI Standard velocity rounds. Was shooting a little high but what a dream to shoot. Man, that looonngg action is enjoyable.
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05-11-2018, 04:40 PM
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Just received the factory letter confirming the gold bead front sight and magna grips. Shipped October, 1938.
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05-11-2018, 10:44 PM
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That's a very nice revolver, thanks for showing us.
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05-12-2018, 06:58 AM
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Manufactured in Massachusetts, shipped out to San Francisco, and then falls into your lap in New Hampshire. That wonderful K22 has lived a well traveled life.
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05-12-2018, 08:15 AM
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Cool gun cool letter ,I'm glad someone who can appreciate that gun owners it ,congratulations
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05-12-2018, 09:07 AM
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Great turn around time on the letter. Three weeks.
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05-12-2018, 10:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glowe
... My question is regarding the first 500 and the August 1930 directive versus the January 1931 directive. It was my understanding that the first K22 Outdoorsman shipped was January, 1931, but do not know the difference between the two different directives you mention?
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I was not very clear in my comment, I'll try it again (Source: page 236, Smith & Wesson 1857-1945, Neal and Jinks):
August 1930 - "Order to build the necessary tools and fixtures to make 500 K-22 Caliber Target revolvers per H. Wesson"
January 1931 - "Order to furnish 'call' gold bead front sights as standard for all K-22 Target revolvers."
September 16, 1931 - "Order to furnish stainess steel bead in Patridge sight instead of gold as standard for K-22 Target revolvers per H. Wesson"
I hope that provides a little more clarity as to the front sights. But as with all Factory "Orders", implementation took some amount of time...
All the best,
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Last edited by RKmesa; 05-12-2018 at 02:16 PM.
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