I picked this up and I think it is Smith & Wesson. What gun would it have been shipped with and what is it worth?

I picked this up and I think it is Smith & Wesson. What gun would it have been shipped with and what is it worth?

It looks like the real McCoy, a prewar sight adjusting too. If thats what it is, instead of a later reproduction, it would have shipped with any of a bunch of 1930s vintage target guns. Most prevalent was the K22 outdoorsman, with a lesser number going with Registered Magnums, then still less with 38/44 Outdoorsman. A handful went out with much less common guns, like the target 3rd model 44s, some of the M&P target models, and then some with 22 kit guns, etc.

Oh, whats it worth? If its the reproduction, its worth about $100. You can probably tell that with a magnet on the knurled end. The real thing is magnetic. The asking prices are pretty high for the real ones. I seem to detect some minor damage to the top of the handle. That'll hurt the price a little. In the past one of our esteemed posters here just blew away the market, saying he'd pay a huge sum for everyone that wanted to furnish him with them. I also assume he had few if anyone willing to sell.

Be prepared for your inbox to be stuffed with offers. Every vulture here will be PMing you offers. My guess is its worth maybe $500 on the low side and somewhat less than $1000 on the high side. If it were perfect, it might approach that $1000 number by a motivated buyer (hey, its Christmas time, or will be soon.)

My advice, keep it.

__________________
Dick Burg

Dick,
Put your specs on. That is not the 'pre war' itty bitty sight adjusting tool. That appears to be the nickel over steel tool designed for the newer rear sight screws.
No step in the shank.
Nine row knurling instead of eight on the itty bitty ones.
Hence, 1940 on up...

In that condition, best I can tell, that is worth between one hundred and one twenty five, no more.

bdGreen

That is a POST-war screwdriver, not the PRE-war.
All the Pre-war's I have seen have SEVEN rows of knurling. The shafts also have a step near the handle.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

A great education about screwdriver - sight adjusting tools. I didn't know they could be so expensive. Thanks!

__________________
SWCA # 2294

Per SCSW (Third), the screwdriver with the steel handle that has been nickeled was used from 1940 to 1948 and is believed to have been first shipped with the second model K-22s (Masterpiece). I am only reporting what is in the book and have no first-hand knowledge about these screwdrivers. I do know that compared to the one with a blued handle, they are seldom seen.

Bill

Yep, I forgot about the K-22/40. Coulda been so- I have never seen one in the box with the goodies.
Bill- Weren't the nickeled ones used later than 48? Like with the Pre-29's????

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Don't know about pre-29's but they were definitely with pre-27's.

__________________
Pace

Damn Lee, how could anyone forget about the K22/40?

Did you read my post?
"That is not the 'pre war' itty bitty sight adjusting tool. That appears to be the nickel over steel tool designed for the newer rear sight screws.
No step in the shank.
Nine row knurling instead of eight on the itty bitty ones.
Hence, 1940 on up..."

Sheesh...

bdGreen

and thanks, Doc
"is believed to have been first shipped with the second model K-22s (Masterpiece)"

I did. Merely did not click. So few K-22/40's were made, I still tend to think of micro sights as post-war till I stop and think.
Also was thinking about the "nickel over steel" part, since the pre-war has the same construction, and wondering IF there IS an eight-row variant.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

The 44 Magnums were shipped with the aluminum handled screwdriver. I know that some guns shipped in January 1950 had the all blue screwdriver, but a few of the ones with the nickel handle were probably left over and used up over time.

Bill

Well guys - does it go with the K22 or not? I never seen one like it untill this one. It looks like the K22 screw driver in #3 photo. I take it to be the model after the little one with the step down shaft - right or wrong?

Mr. Whitt, If you just purchased that tool, I have a feeling that I know where you bought it. If I am right about that you got a good deal. I was actually looking at it (or coincidentally, one exactly like it) and it sold to someone else for more than I was willing to pay at that point. If I had it to do over again, I'd pay more.

However, I believe Mr. Supica's statement "...but seldom seen" makes it a rare specimen. (Also it was only distributed for approx. 8 years). Mr. Supica does state that it was for pre-WWII k-22's.

I would value that one significantly over $100, but thats just my guess. (Based on excellent condition, not sure about yours)

Thanks Rick, I got it at a Gun Show in Dayton Ohio. Guy walked by with a Smith for sale (686 - 6 inch), He had it in a rug and the screw driver in his hand. He wanted $400 for the Smith so we got it from him, Then I asked about the screw driver, he told me he wanted $30 bucks for it, so I almost broke my arm to get the billfold out. As Paul Harvey says, now for the rest of the story.

Yeah, the 1940-48 nickel is what it looks like to me.

And, for clarity Rickjames629, Jim Supica didn't write that section of the book, it was Dick Burg and I (as credited at the start of the box section). And yes, that's the same Dick Burg that started off this discussion by wrongly identifying it as a pre-war "target" or "small" screwdriver shipped circa 1930-41. I suspect Dick just didn't study the picture before he added to the original post in this thread. Shame on you Dick! But thanks for a good laugh!

__________________
Dave Ballantyne

Doesn't his nurse proof his posts anymore?

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Nope, she's almost as old as I am! And in one week she will be!

__________________
Dick Burg

Sorry to assume...I saw one sell on ebay for $80 the other day. Good for you. -Rick

I have these two screw drivers that are consigned to me from an estate. One is aluminun handle and the other is blued steel. I believe the alum. to be origianl but am still unsure from all this reading. Looking for values on both and because I am selling these for the estate.
Thanks, John

John,
Those are both very nice condition sight adjusting tools.

They are both correct and you don't need to question there authenticity.

The aluminum should sell for around $85.00, maybe more if the right buyer 'needs' just one.

The blue steel with the black oxide shaft is a one hundred dollar tool. It should be able to pull that price without a problem.

Private email me when you decide which way you want to go on the sale. My address is in my profile.

bdGreen

JS- The one I have is stell with a Nickel finish, its not aluminun. It was made before the one you have that is blued steel. You need to check your and make sure it isn't steel.

bd- I don't ready want to sell it, but if I do you will have first crack at it, OK.