K-22 Outdoorsman front sight question.

[policerevolvercollector]

I'm looking at a pre war gun with the gold bead front sight. Is this standard or special order on these guns?
I didn't want to hijack the other K-22 thread by asking there.....

[Alk8944]

Special order or replaced after purchase. Both the Call and McGivern bead sights were far more common before 1950 or so than after.

[rct269]

The gold bead was standard on the earlier guns. I've heard tell it was on the first 500 guns. I've never seen any documentation of that 500 number.

Now, all that is applicable if the bead is flat----either flush or raised. A hemispherical gold bead is known as a McGivern bead, and was available on order. A letter is likely to note the fitting of a McGivern bead.

Ralph Tremaine

And having now researched the McGivern bead a bit, it's likely to be seen only on later guns---beginning in 1937.

I don't know that it will be of any help in dating your gun, but my earliest Outdoorsman (#646192) was shipped March 20, 1934---my latest (#659434) went out January 28, 1937. As you likely know, they didn't make or ship in serial order---and to mess things up more, the .22 Outdoorsman is numbered in the M&P series.

[mh51]

Only a letter will tell you for sure, but the Call gold bead front sights seem to be a lot more prevalent on the pre-war guns. Either way, its a nice option and adds a little value.
Mike

[bdGreen]

632230 Shipped February, 1931.

Has the call gold bead.


bdGreen

[RKmesa]

... I just posted this in the "other" K-22 Outdoorsman thread:

I know that the Aug 13, 1930 directive for the first 500 was made before the January 1931 directive for the gold bead front sight. So... I'm not sure what front sights came 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.