I recently traded into a K22 from 1948. I had owned one from the same year some time ago but had to sell it in a time of need. I have no pictures from that one showing the area in question.

My 'new' revolver has a transverse hole at the base of the frame. I don't recall seeing this on any of my other revolvers. It appears that the interior of the frame where the hole resides is blued.

I would appreciate any knowledge that is shared in regard to this hole.

Completely normal after some date that I don't at the moment recall. I believe these were pivot holes that would keep a frame properly positioned during different steps in the machining process.

__________________
David Wilson

Excellent info. Thank you.

Here's some full pictures, just for good measure.

Yep. It is called a jig hole. JP@AK told me about it.

My pre-10 that shipped in 5/50 has one



as does my pre-10 that shipped in 9/50

[url=https://postimages.org/][/url

and my 1951 K-38 masterpiece





but not on the 1947 M&P postwar

__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065

My brother has a pre 10 with it I bet we came up with a dozen maybe it's this or that .Good to know I wish I had asked this question myself so thanks OP and thanks S&W experts for the answers .

That is a good looking revolver , congratulations on getting it .

Congrats on the K22 OP- finest .22 handguns ever mfg, bar none.

__________________
Some Might Say.

The jig hole seems to have been a "thing" in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It first seems to start showing up c. 1948 and continues into the mid-1950s. I have several early '50s K frames that have it, both fixed and adjustable sight models. I have one or two S prefix M&Ps that have it, and my database shows only some in the high S range on which the jig hole appears.

I'd have to check, but I don't recall any of my model numbered guns that have the jig hole. However, if I recall correctly, there is a K-22 (not marked Model 17) made in early 1957, that has it. When I get a chance, I'll pull that one out of the safe, remove the stocks and check.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Nice gun!
Actually, Very Nice Gun!

__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER

Thank you, all. This one is in great mechanical shape but has a fair amount of little rust spots. I suspect it to be a great shooter. I plan to give it a good welcoming during my next range trip.

It would appear that no matter how long you've been fooling with these things, nor how many you may have, nor how much you think you know, you learn something new every day---or at least right along.

This was my day.

Ralph Tremaine

The jig hole used for aligning the grip frame was deleted for N-frames in late 59 around serial number S190000.

Bill

Very helpful, Bill. Do you have any such info regarding the K frames?

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Now y'all are going to make me go look at mine lol. A "hole" new facet of categorizing K frame S&W revolvers pre hole or post hole Bahahaha.

I have a 4 screw K22 with the same hole. My guns serial number dates it to 1958, but it is an unmarked model which is strange because models started in 1957. Not sure what’s going on there.

Changes don't always show up right away.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!