|
|
07-02-2018, 08:27 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,630
Likes: 241
Liked 29,144 Times in 14,091 Posts
|
|
K-22 Question
I have a friend who has just bought a K-22 from an auction site. I have not seen it, just pictures of it, and it strikes me as being odd. It is SN K27150, one-line, indicating shipment around 5/1948. However it has a 4" barrel, and the ordinary Masterpiece front sight. That seems way too early for it to be a K-22 Combat Masterpiece (which didn't start until around K76000), and I think the Combat Masterpiece would have had a Baughman front sight. My feeling is that the barrel has been shortened. It is still within the return period and he needs to know if it is not original so he can return it. Comments?
The completed auction is at Gunauction.com, Auction # 14897836 if anyone wants to look. You can just Google the auction # to get to it.
|
07-02-2018, 08:42 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth
Posts: 4,240
Likes: 8,077
Liked 12,173 Times in 2,775 Posts
|
|
Agree with your assessment, looks like the barrel has been cut, the position of the barrel stamp is not centered. Those combat stocks look pretty nice though so for the price paid I don't know that I'd be too upset assuming the gun is mechanically sound.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
|
07-02-2018, 08:45 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,630
Likes: 241
Liked 29,144 Times in 14,091 Posts
|
|
Yes, the stocks are worth in the several hundred $ range, and I think he was planning to sell them.
|
07-02-2018, 09:33 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Posts: 7,784
Likes: 2,487
Liked 8,322 Times in 2,921 Posts
|
|
You are correct that the serial is too low to be part of the first run .
The very earliest examples did have the Patridge FS with short ramp same as the 6" version but with a shorter blade.
The pics are hard to see but my bet would be that someone sent it back to S&W at some point to shorten based on how well the muzzle and FS ramp mount is.
Of course you know the saying with S&W and they would build one off special orders for those willing to pay and wait so perhaps worth a letter but I wouldnt get my hopes up too high
At that price with those $200 FG Combats your friend did very well,
IMO ts a really neat 4" K-22 well worth the app $400 he has in it after selling the combats.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
07-02-2018, 10:03 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Mount Carmel, TN USA
Posts: 3,171
Likes: 1,628
Liked 3,178 Times in 933 Posts
|
|
The finish looks awfully matte and the sideplate gap looks a bit wide at the top. Those are signs it's been messed with. On the other hand. the front sight and pin look legit. He might have to spring for a letter.
__________________
Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292
|
07-02-2018, 10:06 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: South-Central PA
Posts: 3,916
Likes: 19,207
Liked 6,513 Times in 2,036 Posts
|
|
Maybe it is me or my computer display, but the finish on that piece is popping a red flag with me. The pictures are really not crisp, so I cannot be certain, but honestly, I have done a few refinishes (blasting media, no buffing) that look a lot like this one.
I like the piece, and know the finish is not supposed to be the deep high polish blue. I own several from this era that are 98% in factory boxes, so I am familiar with the general appearance characteristics. Again, perhaps it is on my end. I would certainly evaluate that aspect as well when it arrives.
Last edited by JH1951; 07-02-2018 at 10:08 PM.
Reason: spelling
|
07-02-2018, 10:48 PM
|
US Veteran SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: upstate SC / Mtns SW Va
Posts: 4,789
Likes: 3,064
Liked 9,875 Times in 1,986 Posts
|
|
Cut bbl. With the grips, I think it not a bad buy.
__________________
Charlie
|
07-02-2018, 11:34 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,685
Likes: 2,473
Liked 5,898 Times in 1,224 Posts
|
|
No hijack intended.....
But, there are two '30s vintage K-22s with barrels cut to 4 inches for sale online. Was this a common alteration?
|
07-03-2018, 06:51 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 19,251
Likes: 11,929
Liked 20,598 Times in 8,583 Posts
|
|
DWalt,
As soon as I recieved that K22 4", I'd look for a factory rework date on the grip frame and check the serial # under the barrel.
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
|
07-03-2018, 06:52 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 19,251
Likes: 11,929
Liked 20,598 Times in 8,583 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by .44Special
No hijack intended.....
But, there are two '30s vintage K-22s with barrels cut to 4 inches for sale online. Was this a common alteration?
|
Once the short barrels were introduced by the factory, many older guns were sent back for a barrel change. Or a gunsmith bought a factory barrel and swapped out the longer one; those will not have a serial # on the barrel.
M&Ps had the new 2" snubby barrel installed after it came out in 1933.
Older 22 Heavy Frame Targets that only shipped with 6" barrels had the 4" Kit Gun barrel installed after introduction in 1935.
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
Last edited by Hondo44; 07-03-2018 at 03:50 PM.
|
07-03-2018, 07:35 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 1,052
Liked 2,547 Times in 462 Posts
|
|
I have one very similar. I was told by the seller that the barrel was shortened by the factory. Letters as a 6", no rework marks, nothing found by SWHF. But it sure looks like factory work.
A Pre Pre Model 18 .22 Combat Masterpiece?
Bob
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|