1952 K-22 Combat Masterpiece

gkitch · #1 03-22-2021, 01:52 PM

I've always loved the 22 Caliber Combat Masterpiece and have owned a good Model 18 for some time.

When I was 14 I did a great deal of reading and decided the Model 18 should be my first handgun. When the time came there were none to be had anywhere so I bought the 4" nickel plated kit gun and have been very happy with it. I still have it, but still harbor a fondness for the K-frame.

I was very recently blessed to stumble upon this 1952 example and a good price so happily added it to the battery. I just love the hammers on these older Smiths. Looking forward to getting her to the range.

Targets Guy · #2 03-22-2021, 01:55 PM

Verah nice! I just picked up a 1953 shooter grade K-22 CM. Shipped 2/1953.

first tennessee atm

Targets Guy · #3 03-22-2021, 01:58 PM

Like you I like the K frame and am fond of the K-22. I have managed to accumulate two K-22's, two Model 18's and now the K-22 CM.

LPD256 · #4 03-22-2021, 02:09 PM

This one is a December 1952 Pre-18 shipped one week before my birth day. Serial K162***

JP@AK · #5 03-22-2021, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkitch

this 1952 example

I'm curious here. Do those stocks number to the gun? If so, and the revolver actually shipped in 1952, this would be the earliest gun I've found that shipped with the new style Magna stocks. Mostly, in 1952, they still had the sharp shoulder. The tapered shoulder (like yours) usually shows up in 1953.

gkitch · #6 03-22-2021, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

I'm curious here. Do those stocks number to the gun? If so, and the revolver actually shipped in 1952, this would be the earliest gun I've found that shipped with the new style Magna stocks. Mostly, in 1952, they still had the sharp shoulder. The tapered shoulder (like yours) usually shows up in 1953.

Well, they match alright!

JP@AK · #7 03-22-2021, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkitch

Well, they match alright!

It would be interesting to find out when this one shipped. The number is on the high end for 1952.

Thanks for the reply. I'll put a note in my list about this one.

gkitch · #8 03-22-2021, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

It would be interesting to find out when this one shipped. The number is on the high end for 1952.

Thanks for the reply. I'll put a note in my list about this one.

Yes, I may be tempted to letter it sometime. Just going by serial number range from the book to estimate 1952. It is about 6000 numbers later than the one mentioned above that shipped Dec 1952.

I do not understand the difference in the grip shoulders, however?

JP@AK · #9 03-22-2021, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkitch

I do not understand the difference in the grip shoulders, however?

Look at the stocks on the bottom gun in this picture. See the sharp angle, where the stocks break off toward the frame? That's the sharp shoulder. Yours have a more tapered shoulder at that point.

The Magna stocks on the upper gun in the photo also have the sharp shoulder, but the checkering is of the prewar type (more extensive).

Sharp shoulder Magnas were used from early 1946 until approximately 1953.

gkitch · #10 03-22-2021, 11:12 PM

Thank you Sir Jack. Marvelous detail in the fascinating world of grips.

RKmesa · #11 03-22-2021, 11:47 PM

I too love the Combat Masterpiece. Thank you for sharing your gems. This January 1954 shipped CM is one of my favorites:

... and it sports rounded white smooth magnas...

JP@AK · #12 03-23-2021, 11:48 AM

You and your engraved guns, Richard!

I do like seeing them. Hope to see you and more of them in Tulsa!!! We can have more great conversations, too.

vrichard · #13 03-23-2021, 11:58 AM

Pre mdl.18 are nice ser.# K19707x
Dick

dave1918a2 · #14 03-23-2021, 12:01 PM

Very nice, even that scratched up hulk. I now know the sharp shoulder and taper shoulder difference. Thanks a bunch.

GT_80 · #15 03-23-2021, 12:03 PM

Very nice gun OP. I would buy one if I found one, to add to my collection- Looks just like my model 15-2 and I can imagine the recoil with a gun that heavy is nothing. Much like my 617

ameridaddy · #16 03-23-2021, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkitch

I've always loved the 22 Caliber Combat Masterpiece and have owned a good Model 18 for some time.

When I was 14 I did a great deal of reading and decided the Model 18 should be my first handgun. When the time came there were none to be had anywhere so I bought the 4" nickel plated kit gun and have been very happy with it. I still have it, but still harbor a fondness for the K-frame.

I was very recently blessed to stumble upon this 1952 example and a good price so happily added it to the battery. I just love the hammers on these older Smiths. Looking forward to getting her to the range.

You like the hammers, and I love the way the wood oxidizes to such a rich deep color on these old revolvers. Very nice find!

RKmesa · #17 03-23-2021, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RdrBill

All
Some pics of my earliest CM.
Bill@Yuma

Bill - that’s one of my favorite CMs.

Thanks for sharing,

gkitch · #18 03-28-2021, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

It would be interesting to find out when this one shipped. The number is on the high end for 1952.

Thanks for the reply. I'll put a note in my list about this one.

Looks like my K22 Combat Masterpiece actually shipped in February of 1953.

LEO918 · #19 03-29-2021, 04:31 PM

Here's my CM .22 from 1952 with original box and younger brother a four screw K-22 Masterpiece.

BGM109 · #20 03-29-2021, 06:05 PM

Really enjoy seeing your S & W K-frame's guys. I have a 15-3 Combat Masterpiece & it's a real tack driver. I have not seen the .22's mentioned above but will start looking for them. I'm not a collector but wouldn't mind having another Model 67 or finding the one's mentioned above. There has always been a soft spot in my heart for a good revolver whatever the caliber. Thanks for sharing
Tom
Blue Springs, MO.

oneeyedpete · #21 03-29-2021, 06:08 PM

Lots of great eye candy on this thread, especially RKmesa's engraved beauty! That dang thing is the bomb!

BGM109 · #22 03-29-2021, 06:15 PM

I really enjoy a good Smith Revolver. Growing up you either liked a S & W Revolver or a good 1911 Colt.

Hondo44 · #23 03-29-2021, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ameridaddy

You like the hammers, and I love the way the wood oxidizes to such a rich deep color on these old revolvers. Very nice find!

That's pretty much how the wood came in that period; much nicer walnut. Oh you'll find them with crud ingrained on them but they came darker when new. They generally get lighter if oxidized/faded.

Sabre29 · #24 03-29-2021, 07:54 PM

I love all things S&W.

gkitch · #25 03-29-2021, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGM109

Really enjoy seeing your S & W K-frame's guys. I have a 15-3 Combat Masterpiece & it's a real tack driver. I have not seen the .22's mentioned above but will start looking for them. I'm not a collector but wouldn't mind having another Model 67 or finding the one's mentioned above. There has always been a soft spot in my heart for a good revolver whatever the caliber. Thanks for sharing
Tom
Blue Springs, MO.

Back when the 38 Special Combat Masterpiece was THE weapon of choice for many agencies and military there was a natural desire to have something similar -except in 22 caliber- for practice. A 22 is just a good thing to have anyway so having one that worked with the same holster and felt the same in the hand was also a good idea. Then, as now, centerfire ammo was expensive and sometimes hard to get. A good 22 understudy gun could pay for itself in savings.

Targets Guy · #26 03-29-2021, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkitch

Looks like my K22 Combat Masterpiece actually shipped in February of 1953.

Ours shipped the same month. Small world.

Syd64 · #27 04-06-2021, 10:21 AM

First time posting, usually just lurking gathering wisdom. This is my 18-4 that I bought to pair with a 15-3 CM that I sold to buy a Nickel 12-3..............that I still regret selling. Will never sell any of my Smith & Wesson's again. This 18-4 is a great shooter, but the chambers are very tight and after 12 rounds it is difficult to extract the brass. I have tried different manufacturers with the same results. Eight years ago, I used SW bore cleaner on the chambers and polished with Flitz. Chambers are clean, but the rounds still bind after a dozen or so rounds fired. I researched past threads and posters suggest that I ream the chambers with cutting oil and a cylinder finish reamer part no. 513-051-220. I have not done so yet, but will after my Security Six project.

Hondo44 · #28 04-06-2021, 03:07 PM

I always advise honing with fine grit paper wrapped around a mandrel (a chopstick from chinese food works great). It does the job with no expense and w/o unduly enlarging the chambers like a finish reamer.

Syd64 · #29 04-06-2021, 06:33 PM

Thanks Jim. I will try that first.

BigBill · #30 04-06-2021, 06:59 PM

Was the k22 22lr combat masterpiece, used by the Leo ‘s to practice with because 22 lr ammo was cheaper than 38 special?
My online guy has a m18/4” no dash for $1,500. I’d like to have it, but that cost is another N frame or almost halfway to a python.

Hondo44 · #31 04-06-2021, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syd64

Thanks Jim. I will try that first.

You don't need or want reaming, even finishing reaming; you just get new machining marks and slightly larger chambers for the cases to bulge. Unless of course the chambers are just plain undersized, then you can always resort to a finish reamer followed by polishing.

1. By hand with a cleaning rod and the wool cleaning mop supplied with Smiths. Apply Flitz, Semi-Chrome or Mother's Mag Wheel polish. This method will take some time.

2. This is actually a proper application for a Dremel tool when used correctly! And much faster. Mount the mop in a Dremel tool. The critical issue is to keep the mop MOVING IN AND OUT while spinning in the chambers to keep the chamber walls perfectly straight and not create wallows.

3. Make a small mandrel for the Dremel from a piece of old cleaning rod, Chinese chopstick, or the like with a split cut in the end. Use a piece of 2000 grit wet-or-dry paper in the split and wrapped layers around the mandrel until it's a snug fit in the chambers. Use a light oil and again, keep it MOVING IN AND OUT until chambers are polished. Methods #2 and #3 of course will take much less time.

Have fun!

BigBill · #32 04-06-2021, 09:18 PM

Ball hone? Nikasil Application Hones

crsides · #33 04-07-2021, 12:57 AM

Got this engraved CM at my first S&W symposium in Columbus OH. Shipped to Harry Javis's hometown, and signed by him. One of only two that he signed. Note the early target hammer. SN # 107xxx

H Richard · #34 04-07-2021, 09:46 AM

This is a Feb 53 production of the K22 CM. My pawn shop rescue a few years ago.

gkitch · #35 04-07-2021, 10:23 AM

H. Richard,

When I posted originally the serial numbers indicated a 1952 production. A bit more research, however, showed mine to have also shipped in Feb 1953. Yours and mine are also in similar condition. Cool.

I took it out and shot it during Easter weekend and could not be happier with its performance. I already love this revolver.

I'll bet we could not get Charlie Sides to swap his for both of ours even if we threw in letters and a brick of 22s!

Engine49guy · #36 04-07-2021, 11:47 AM

The neat thing about the early 50's K22's is the transition from nickel brass medallions to plastic, then to raw steel, then back to nickeled brass.
My bet is the OP's gun has the raw steel medallions, IIRC those are mostly found with the then new tapered shoulder Magnas.

Dosgatos · #37 04-07-2021, 12:55 PM

These are wonderful guns. I had a K-22 Masterpiece of similar vintage with the 6" barrel but sold it as my 4" Combat Masterpiece was just as accurate at pistol distances. This #K198102 letters to September 1954, and was apparently owned by a serious shooter, as he added a red-ramp sight and target trigger. The target hammer is original. The gun came to me with non-relieved target grips, but I shoot it with the relieved grips pictured as they make ejecting empties easier, and I don't like to beat up the non-relieved grips.

H Richard · #38 04-07-2021, 07:19 PM

gkitch, just how close are we? My s/n is K171435.

rubiranch · #39 04-07-2021, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkitch

I was very recently blessed to stumble upon this 1952 example and a good price so happily added it to the battery. I just love the hammers on these older Smiths. Looking forward to getting her to the range.

I would love to get my hands on your new to you gun.

gkitch · #40 04-07-2021, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H Richard

gkitch, just how close are we? My s/n is K171435.

Very Funny.

barbsaurus · #41 04-07-2021, 08:42 PM

Standard Catalog indicates mine is of late 1953 vintage...

Eltioloco · #42 04-09-2021, 09:01 PM

This is mine from 1957. My father bought this one from the local hardware store for $50.00. The police dept. bought 10 of these for training pistols, and then discovered that they could reload their .38 specials for less then the cost of .22 LR's. So the hardware store got stuck with them and sold them off at their cost. At least that is the story that I heard.
I put most of the wear on the pistol toting it around in a Hunter holster searching for muskrats.
Even as a young kid I was impressed by the close tolerances and blueing on this pistol.

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arjay · #43 04-09-2021, 09:51 PM

This one dates to ‘52 per the serial number 170xxx,but I’ve never lettered it. I wish I’d coughed up the money years ago to buy one,but better late than never

H Richard · #44 04-10-2021, 11:50 AM

gkitch and I traded a couple of PM's and determined he had bought my old gun! I had sold it via an internet auction some time ago, and he bought it from the person that had bought it from the auction. I'm glad it went to a good home, it was a good one.

gkitch · #45 04-11-2021, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H Richard

gkitch and I traded a couple of PM's and determined he had bought my old gun! I had sold it via an internet auction some time ago, and he bought it from the person that had bought it from the auction. I'm glad it went to a good home, it was a good one.

YES! We actually commented above how both of ours were in similar condition and happened to have shipped the same month in '53. Turned out when we compared serial numbers they were not just "close". I thought H Richard was just funning' with me a bit until he said he sold his over a year ago. Then it all started to make sense....

woodsltc · #46 05-03-2021, 12:11 PM

I have two pre-18's from 1952 (& an 18-3) that I found several years ago....they are scattered among some of my other K-22's in the pic below.

Don

crsides · #47 05-03-2021, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LPD256

This one is a December 1952 Pre-18 shipped one week before my birth day. Serial K162***

I'm guessing it was DELIVERED on your B-day.