On another forum someone asked, "What is your favorite 22 lr revolver"?

My fav would be a K frame (or even a J or I frame), blued, fixed sighted model.

Did S&W ever make such a gun?

All the respondents with pics all had adjustable sights.

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John 3:17
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Model 45 is a K frame, fixed sight, .22 revolver.

Model 45-2 Dubbed "The Post Office Gun". There were supposedly 500 of these made, and were used for training purposes.

Wow - talk about quick replies!

Thanks, that's exactly it.

Now to find one for sale....

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John 3:17
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A few fixed sight K-22 Outdoorsmans (men?) were made for the US Coast Guard in the mid-1930s, and 4 fixed sight J frame .22/32 Kit Guns were shipped in 1972.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

You've got good, and also expensive, taste. The model 45 is highly sought after, and any example in reasonable or better condition commands a premium. I recently saw one ANIB go for over $3000 on an auction site.

Pre-Model 34, the 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun is a .22 blued snubbie, fixed sights. Seems like there was another one....

Definitely above my budget range!

I have a couple of older (1960s & early 70s) Smiths.
So I know the quality is there.
But man, I sure hate paying $500 or more for a .22.

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John 3:17
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Let's see, now... take a Model 18 you bought for $500 and remove the adjustable sights and you have a Model 45 that will cost you three grand.

That's why I don't have a Model 45. Strictly a collector piece... a RICH collector's piece.

Actually, the .22/32 Kit Gun series has pretty well always had adjustable sights. Any fixed sight Kit Gun would be a real deviation from the norm.

2" fixed sights - used as a training gun were known to exist (p. 145 3rd edition) - might be more rare than the 45?

Seems like maybe this is a good opprtunity to post a picture of the only .22 M&P snub I have ever seen.



I cannot for the life of me understand why S&W hasnt made a run of classic Model 45 .22 M&P copies.


For that mater a Stainless steel version of the classic Model 18 and 17,
and a .22lr version of the Model 66 round butt snub too.


They would sell like HOTCAKES!

You coulda had this one for under 2 grand.

Guns For Sale : C&R - M&P 'Post Office'...Last Year, SUPER RARE...ANIB! - Auction: 10365028 (Ended 06/12/2011, 17:53:00 PST)

I'll stick with my K-22, those Model 45's are way too rich for my blood.

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Vaya con Dios

I held one at the Orlando SWCA meeting.
It was an actual Post office gun (according to the tag) and had a price tag of $2000.00
It was gone by day 3....Low Supply + High Demand = High price.

I'm retired from the post office, and would like to have a model 45. However, as others have said, they are generally too rich for my blood, and I can buy several nice K-22's for $2000 - $3000...

"I cannot for the life of me understand why S&W hasnt made a run of classic Model 45 .22 M&P copies.

"For that mater a Stainless steel version of the classic Model 18 and 17..."

S&W did make stainless versions of the 17 and 18. They were Model 617's and were made in both 4 and 6 inches, without the full length underlug on the barrel, for Ashland Shooters Supply, who was then a fairly big S&W distributor.

I wish they would make more. I think that full length underlug is real overkill in a K frame .22.

Actually....I said "Stainless steel version of the CLASSIC Model 18 and 17."

The Ashland guns were in fact stainless steel versions of the 17-4 / 17-5 heavy barrel guns .
Additionally the 617 is a copy of the 17-6 full underlug in stainless steel...Not the taper barrel Baughman site Model 18.

According to the SCSW,
S&W actually did make seventeen exact copies of the Model 18 in Stainless Steel in the 1970's ,

They were reportedly stamped Model 65 then (according to SCSW) the factory destroyed 16 of the 17 in 1978 .
ANYONE know the wherabouts of number 17 ?

Yes they are collector pieces, not sure about the RICH part. I've owned 5 of them over the last ten years and I'm definitely not rich.

Here was one of them.


The old saying when it rains it pours came true for me with Model 45's. I got 3 of the 5 in a week. I paid less than $800 for each of them 2 in the box.

You have to keep your eyes & ears open and scan all the sites. None of mine came from on or off line auction sites. I kept one as a shooter which is a 95% gun. The rest went out in the forum Catch & Release program.

While they have a very cool factor they are heavy due to the added steel. Like a standard M&P very accurate.

My son tends to pick up the Model 35 before the M&P when plinking. I doubt S&W will ever make them again. The original sat at S&W for years before H.H. Harris I believe bought most of them.

S&W made the model 650 for a while, it was a fixed sight J frame. Most were .22Mag but I bought one new that had both a .22RF and a .22Mag cylinder. Several years later I made one of my "seemed like a good idea at the time" decisions and let it go............wish I had it back. The 650s are scarce but show up rather regularly on the auction sites, pricey but not in the M-45 range. If S&W would make a run of M-45s I'd buy the first one I saw. Keep shootin'

Off the OP's topic, but if anyone has one of the US Coast Guard K-22's in any condition please let me know if you are interested in selling it to me. Served for 24 years and would LOVE one for my collection.

Thanks Alan for the info!

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V/R
Roger / SG

I'd have to say my K22-18. I just got it (see dream realized) post) Actually any Smith and Wesson will do, but I own only three revolvers, one 3913 auto and a M&P 15-22. But this new K22 is just the bee's knees for me and I cherish it.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Here is the recipe: Find a nice model 10, buy a .22 barrel and cylinder. Take to a good S&W smith. Wa La a Model 45 clone

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Where are you going to find that 4" 22 fixed sight barrel? Also the 22 is RF, M&P centerfire. Can be done, but not cleanly.
Whats wrong with adjustable sights?

Or, find a gunsmith who can sleeve the barrel and modify the firing pin, or better yet find it already done.

Model 10 - chambered for .22LR

See told you it could be done

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Jim
Many K and N Frames