I found a nice k 22 1955 mfg date hanin gun shop today, blue very good, correct handles, 5 screw model, little wear on end of barrell, on screw boogered up lightly, small scratch, best I can do is 1250 out the door. Is this a good price or not, they are holding it for me until tomorrow. thanks

Short answer......No, not in the condition you describe. Unless....it is accompanied by a factory letter stating that specific K22 went to a person of significance.

Based on your description, I would value it at $650-$725 if it’s all #’s matching.

For $1250, I think you can do much better. I would think you could get into a pre war Outdoorsman at 90% or better with no box or paperwork for that much.

Smarter folks will be along shortly to provide a better educated opinion.

Good luck,
Bob

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Keep on keepin on
SWCA #-3282

My price is somewhere between your shop's and The Mule's, but the buggered screw would keep me from buying it, as I would wonder what someone may have done inside the action. I have been accused of being overly cautious though.

Crazy times ..... but I'm with the Mule.....maybe $800 max ..... cus of crazy times and how often do you see them locally ????????

Not a collectable and not a truck gun.... but definitely shooter grade

Way too much for a shooter grade K-22. $700-$800 max. For $1250 you could get a 98% specimen with the box. Just my opinion of course.

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Pass it on.
Mark

This is a bad time to buy guns. The market is panicked. We've been through these buying panics maybe 4 or 5 times in the last 30 years. The market has always settled down and it is silly to think that it will not settle down again. However, if you can not wait then all you can do is buy the best priced rip-off that you can find. Only you know what you've found for sale.

Two years ago in the stores around me $700 & tax was top dollar for mid-1950s and newer Model 17s and 18s. Sometimes internet auctions closed higher. Some of those actually were sales and some were dealer pretend auctions spoofed in the hopes of raising the value they got out of their inventory.

I once rationalized paying too much for a K-22 by taking it straight to a bullseye league and shooting the season with it. I had fun so I have no regrets but if the K-22 is only going to sit in your safe unfired then I'd wait out the panic.

for an eye popper,check the Guns International prices on old K22s,then make your decision

Also has box, but in this case may not be worth a lot. I described as best I could and didnt sugercoat anything. Two screws have had a screwdriver in them, not bad but has disfigured the screw some.

Well, screws are replaceable. That said, we don't know what's been done inside. Probably fine, but at that price I would wait a year or two

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

No expert but I watch a lot of auctions and sales, not asking prices, but sold price. Having said that, I agree with many here that this is likely a $700-800 revolver. Just from what I’ve seen and read, the box probably adds $100.

That sounds very high, even in these crazy times.

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

I track the GB selling prices pretty carefully and the last 6 5-screw Pre-17 K-22s averaged $1,049, with a high of $1,850 and a low of $705.
No beaters were included.

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Alden
Guns N' Rosés

FWIW I recently got this one - in very similar condition - for $550

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Just bought one on this forum in 98% condition for $600 about a month ago. The one you are looking at is way over priced IMO.

Edit: mine was not a pre-22 5 screw, so you're in a different price tier than mine. Still think you could do better if you're patient????

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What could possibly go wrong?

The one that I am looking at has much better finish than this one, very deep blue, just a little holster wear on end of barrel.

Gotcha. I was just going off your verbal description.
FWIW, the pictures don't do mine justice - it looks a lot better in person. I'm not much of photographer.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

In this neighborhood $750 would be the max for what You describe.

For a shooter, what would most of you guys consider a good price for a 4 inch Pre-18? Considering the current full lug lock guns in 617 configuration are going for about $900, would you buy a similarly priced vintage gun in 98% to shoot regularly?

It is not about a good deal at the last auction, but rather what the average value is for a particular model. $1200+ is a lot of money for a K22 Masterpiece, so it would have to be over 98% in my mind to be worth that amount of money. One buggered sideplate screw will cost you a couple bucks to replace, so if the scratch is on the screw, not an issue. If it is on the revolver, still might not affect value much.

Referring to SCSW4, an Excellent condition K22 is worth $1100, or 98% which I think is still a decent estimate of value. I see many high condition K22 Masterpiece revolvers selling in the $750-$850 range, so unless you are in a hurry, start watching online auctions, like Proxibid, since they almost always have them for sale.

I believe that K22 Combat Masterpiece would fall into the same price range.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

The way things have gone the last couple of decades it looks more and more like I'll never buy another pre-18 for $199 out the door. I had to compromise on condition a bit but it sure is a good shooting gun. The earliest .22 Combat Masterpieces, the correct name, had Patridge sights. That little feature might have been helping mine shoot so well and logically should add a wee bit of value in high condition revolvers.

My suggestion is keep a wad of pictures of dead presidents in your pocket so you can jump on deals when you find them. Currency will always talk the loudest.

There seem to be more Pre-17 K-22s in my area (Midwest) than Pre-18, and especially 5-screw versions.

I would guess that all things being equal, a pre-18, Combat Masterpiece, 4", 5-screw, would sell for $200 more than a comparable pre-18 5-screw 6" K-22. The difference might be even greater, not sure.

What is your area?? The Midwest is a huge area and you do not note where you live in your bio. Where one resides can have something to do with prices, but not value, especially since one has not had to buy their guns locally for years. I will argue that better prices can often be found online and if the buyer is aware of what is for sale, askes questions, requests additional photos, you will get what you want for less than gun shops more often than not.

Supica/Nahas actually show lessor condition Combat Masterpiece revolvers with lower value than comparable 6" guns. My guess is that demand for K22 short barreled guns is less than 6" guns, since the main purpose of this model is target shooting. As for more 5 screw Masterpiece revolvers than Combat Masterpiece revolvers, the 6" model started in 1946 while 4" model did not start until 1949. Also, it is surmised by some that there are less 4" CMs out there because demand was less than the Masterpiece revolvers throughout CMs production run.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I went to a Louisville Show several years and it seemed like everybody in there was trying to sell a model 18 or pre 18. I picked up a nice five screw for $400.00 and saw several more that sold between $400.00-$500.00. I still have it and a slightly worn model 17 four screw that I got with a guy's name engraved on it for $250.00. I never did find out who he was. I still have and shoot both of them. They bring a little more than those prices now.

There were several 6 inch model 17 pre-lock full lug models tonight, none broke $1100. This one 4 inch went for $2041.
Ultra Rare Smith & Wesson Model 17-6 4" .22LR Original Box Collector - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 893017533

This is probably all true.

I have had better luck buying guns from the classifieds here, meaning this forum, than elsewhere online. I also do not buy and sell as many guns as most of the experienced collectors, but it seems like there are more 6" than 4" K-22s and more Model-17 than Model-18 up for sale.

Couple quick searches on Gunbroker, and came up with this:

Model 17................... >100
Model 18................... ~ 20
K-22 Masterpiece....... ~ 30
K-22 Cmbt Masterpiece...~4

For what it's worth, not much, my observation of local gun stores and gun shows over my adult life time is that .22 Combat Masterpieces & 18s are far less numerous than 6" .22 Masterpieces & 17s but demand is roughly proportional to the numbers made so, all else being equal, they sell for the same price. As noted above most buyers want 6" barrels for target shooting or hunting. The lighter 4" versions are actually an odd duck but I also like mallards, common and hooded mergansers, buffleheads, etc.

Wow, $1250? 5 years ago I bought a 1951 5 screw, K-22 Combat Masterpiece 4" in excellent condition for $474.99. Has it really appreciated that much in 5 years? I don't think so, unless it was owned by someone famous. Mine wasn't. I have a factory letter that says who it was shipped to.

That makes good sense. A year ago when I was looking, I came across 3 Model-18s (post '70 manuf) in the same week. Not since then.

i think the interest in my area in anything .22 caliber has increased because of the high price and poor availability of any ammo in .38 and up. For example Ruger Single Six.

That may be pushing up the prices of older and collector grade guns, including K-22's made before 1957. So people go to a gun store and the price of a more modern used 22 has gone up by $200 over a year ago, but there is a shooter grade K-22 on sale for $550. Easy choice, right? So the LGS owner puts the price up by $100 next time, and THAT one sells in less than a week too... LOL.

Dlay - You have some great feedback from very experienced K22 fans. There are three things if we want good stuff that should be taken into consideration:

1. Patience
2. Hunt
3. When you find what you are looking for close the deal.

Let's breakdown where prices are today for a K22 Outdoorsman as seen from the guy living in California..

700 to 1000 depending on wear - shooter grade great condition original unmolested.. Assuming no box..

1250 to 1850 with box numbered to gun all the goodies at 98 LNIB. Make note 99+ complete high-end collector grade like new fresh out of factory on all guns are always above top number.

I just picked this one up in the last two weeks from my local gun shop. I paid $950 plus tax. I consider the gun both collector and shooter grade. Others may think I overpaid. If your gun doesn't look like this, I suggest pass and continue the hunt.


Today's pricing increase from what I see has been mostly tactical pistols. I see guns like Sig 226 going for double retail at auction. I believe gun store owners when pricing look at something like a K22 Outdoorsman and compare the sell number to a new model 17 retailing at $1017 when placing value. The logic if someone pays 1k for a new gun, an Outdoorsman has to be worth more. It should be but the market says this is not the case.

Hope this helps good luck on your hunt.. L

FTR - This seller is well known among the dark side Colt collectors. His auction guns have a tendency to go way above retail value for some reason.. Respectfully, not a good seller for comparison shopping FTR.