This is an advance look at an article I'm putting together for publishing in The Blue Press. I posted this before, but this incorporates a few changes and a different picture. Comments welcome.

John



This classic Smith & Wesson .22 caliber target revolver had its beginnings way back in the early 1930s and is now discontinued, yet it is still an extremely popular item among both shooters and collectors. It serves the needs of target shooters wanting a companion piece to .38 caliber target revolvers as well as filling a niche for a field revolver suitable for small game. A more accurate .22 wheel gun has never been made, and S&W was entirely correct in calling it a “Masterpiece.”

A medium-size frame (factory designated as the K-frame) .38 Special revolver with target sights was first offered by Smith & Wesson in 1899. This was the .38 Hand Ejector Target, sometimes called the .38 Military and Police Target. It quickly became a favorite with many competitive target shooters, and many U.S. Revolver Association records were set with it. Over a number of years since the introduction of that arm, a growing demand developed for a .22 caliber version that would have the same feel and balance as the .38. In addition, a lot of sportsmen thought that would be a good idea for field use as well.

In 1927, the Smith & Wesson factory began development of a revolver that would meet these perceived needs. The first batch was completed in January, 1931. The new handgun was introduced to the public and advertised as the K-22 Outdoorsman. The catalog, however, called it the K-22 Target revolver. In later years, collectors have referred to it as the K-22 First Model. It was built on the .38 M&P target frame, had a six-inch round barrel and a blue finish. It had a floating firing pin in the frame and a flat-faced hammer. A Patridge front sight was standard. The trigger pull was adjusted to be 3 to 4 pounds. The gun weighed 33 ounces. It was immediately popular, and competitive shooters soon discovered that its 50-yard groups could be as small as one and a half inches.

In December, 1939, with over 17,000 of the First Model having been produced, the factory began making an improved version. This new revolver was dubbed the K-22 Masterpiece, as S&W thought it was truly the best of all revolvers made to that time. Collectors today call it the Second Model. It sported a new micrometer rear sight and a shorter action with a faster lock time. Also incorporated was a carefully fitted and filed anti-backlash trigger. Patridge, plain or gold bead front sights were available. The first of these was completed and shipped in January, 1940. It sold for $40, which was a premium amount in those days. Unfortunately for target shooters and sportsmen, the Battle of Britain began overseas. Smith & Wesson then had to concentrate on shipping large numbers of .38/200 service revolvers to England. Only slightly more than 1,000 of the Second Model K-22s were produced. Their manufacture came to a halt in December, 1940.

When World War II concluded and S&W could again concentrate on the civilian market, production resumed on target revolvers. The first to be produced was the new K-22 in 1946. It was extensively re-designed, as were all the K-frame target models. These Third Models sported ribbed barrels, new micrometer-click rear sights, and a trigger overtravel block that could be quickly installed or removed right behind the trigger and adjusted quickly with a proper feeler gauge. A 1/10” or 1/8” Patridge front sight was standard. Prior to 1948, “Made in U.S.A.” was stamped on the right side of the frame. After that, a 4-line address was found there. This new series initially had K-prefix serial numbers beginning with K101. The postwar models all featured the new and safer automatic hammer block that was first used on the Victory Model .38s in 1944. With a ribbed 6” heavy barrel, introduced around 1950, it weighed 38 ½ ounces.

At the request of competitive shooters, in 1949 the weights of the matching K-38 and K-32 revolvers were adjusted so that all had the same loaded weight. In December of 1949, the factory moved from its old quarters on Stockbridge Street and into a new factory on Roosevelt Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. K-22 manufacture then continued following an interruption of only 11 days for the equipment relocation. In 1955, the four-screw sideplate was eliminated and replaced by one using only 3 screws, with the earlier top screw replaced by a tongue on the plate that fit into the frame. In 1957, when the factory assigned numerical designations for each of its handguns, the K-22 Masterpiece became the Model 17. An 8 3/8” barrel was offered as an option beginning in 1958. The top revolver in the picture is an example. As time went on, further changes would be indicated by a “dash number” following the model number. The Model 17-1 was a modification that changed the extractor rod from a right-hand thread to a left-hand thread. The “dash 2” model eliminated the screw in front of the trigger guard, and the “dash 3” model relocated the rear sight leaf screw. These dash numbers were authorized in 1959, 1961, and 1967 respectively, although implementation dates varied. The central revolver illustrated is a Model 17-3, and was shipped in 1977. Checkered “magna” stocks that matched the contour of the grip frame were standard. However, this particular example is equipped by preference with optionally available factory smooth presentation target stocks.

Model 17s were virtually all blued, although a very few were nickeled. All have cylinders counterbored for the cartridge rims, and had pinned barrels until 1982. “Diamond pattern” checkered stocks were used until 1968. In 1990, with the Model 17-6, a full underlug barrel was introduced and became standard. The 8 3/8”-barreled version was dropped from production in 1993. The final Model 17-7 was discontinued in 1996 in favor of a 10-shot alloy cylinder version, the 17-8, which was made until late 1999. In 2001, a Heritage Series was produced, also stamped as the Model 17-8, but these had 6-shot cylinders and a new frame design. Metal injection molded (MIM) parts and side-mounted internal locks were used on these guns. A similar Heritage Series Model 18 (4” barrel) was also offered. The Model 617, a stainless version of the Model 17 with a full-underlug barrel, began production in 1989 and continues today with various barrel lengths and other modifications.

A lighter and handier spin-off of the Model 17 was the Model 18, which featured a tapered 4” barrel. It served as an excellent training vehicle for police and others who used 4” .38s and .357s. This was produced as the K-22 Combat Masterpiece from 1949 to 1985, and had similar engineering “dash” changes to the Model 17. The Model 18 was dropped from the line as the Model 17 became available with an optional 4” barrel. The bottom revolver pictured is a Model 18.

In 1959, another variation based on the Model 17 was generated. This was the Model 48, the K-22 Masterpiece Magnum Rimfire. It was chambered for the .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum, and was conceived as a field gun with longer reach and more power than the .22 Long Rifle guns. It continued in production until 1986, when it was replaced by the stainless Model 648. Changes during its manufacture paralleled those of the Model 17. Almost all were blued, although a very few were nickeled. Available barrel lengths were 4, 6 and 8 3/8”. Some were shipped from the factory with .22 LR interchangeable cylinders, making this combination quite versatile and valuable today.

Although no longer made, the Model 17 and its cousins, the Models 18 and 48, continue to be very popular revolvers, and are eagerly sought after. I’m fortunate enough to have a 6” Model 17 as well as one with an 8 3/8” barrel, together with a Model 18 and a Model 48. These are all exceptionally accurate handguns, and get extensive use as practice guns for their more powerful K-frame counterparts in .38 and .357. In the field, you could not ask for better small game revolvers. The K-22 Masterpieces were perhaps the finest .22 revolvers ever made. Today they have achieved definite classic status, and are well worth finding.

(c) 2013 JLM

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I never tire of reading your gun histories. Very educational and interesting.
My K22 was built in 1955. What a shooter it is, really makes me look good.
Now, if you could send me that model 18, I could get a little better look at it. I will send it right back.

Should you mention the next iteration, the 617 which has replaced it?

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I did -

"The Model 617, a stainless version of the Model 17 with a full-underlug barrel, began production in 1989 and continues today with various barrel lengths and other modifications."

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have a 17-6 with the 8 3/8 " barrel and
It does not have the full underlug .
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1375809632.565555.jpg

This must be a rarer version. Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm guessing it's an early one, before the full underlug barrel became standardized. Maybe some others can comment on this.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

It is somewhat rare. S&W, being thrifty, never threw anything useful into the scrap bin.
Apparently, there were a few half-lugged barrels still available when the change to -6 was made, so these made it into the first guns.
This is one of many S&W transitional variants that are out there.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I confess I like the 17 and 617. Here are mine.

Attached Images

IMG_3674.jpg (93.9 KB, 83 views)

__________________
Tom

Here's a NIB 17-6 non-underlug I picked up last month, shipped 1989.

Edit to add: Great article by the way!

Great read and thanks for posting !

A while back I was wondering if you had done an article on the K22s and if I had missed it. Glad to see you've done one!

Very good article. Very much appreciated. I have a Model 17 no dash 6" and a Model 48 in 8 3/8". Thanks, Brian

John:

As always - Well done piece on one of my favorite revolvers!!! The only small refinement that I would make is add a couple of photos of the pre-war guns ... so here you go:

1st year K-22 Outdoorsman:



1940 "K-22-40" (production designation) / "K-22 Masterpiece":

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan

^^^^^^

Lawd have mercy!

GF

I love K-22s. My addiction started with an 8 3/8" model 17-3. One by one, I had to have the other barrel lengths. Here's a family photo:
From top:
Model 17-3 8 3/8"
pre-Model 17 5 screw K22 manufactured 1951 6"
Model 18-3 4"

Model 617 6 shot

Model 48-2

In the early 50s S&W switched the 6" Masterpiece series from tapered to non tapered barrels and employed slightly different barrel diameters and rib widths to keep the 3 different caliber versions weight matched.

S&W eliminated the Model 18 after the dash 4 series,
They offered a new "Heavy Barrel" version in the Model 17-5 in both 4" and 6" lengths that had a non tapered rib (no underlug yet).
That style carried over to early 17-6 until they switched to a full underlug barrel in all 3 calibers.

Those are some impressive K-22s and a great discription of its history. Does anyone know the earliest ship date for the K-22/40 Masterpiece?

January, 1940 is as close as I can peg it.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thanks. March is the earliest that I think I've seen.

So what should I pay for a Model 17-2 in good shape? There's one on GB for $1200?! It has the box and paperwork, but I think that is tooo much.
jbs/

Any information available on the Smooth Presentation
Target Grips that are shown at the top of this thread?

Were the smooth target grips, with the football cut out,
a special order / custom shop item?

I have also heard them called, "Heritage Grips".

Any knowledge about these smooth factory grips will be
appreciated. I have a set of them on an 17-4.

Enjoy

Smith & Wesson made these for years, and not only offered them as an option for K- and N-frame revolvers, but marketed them to wholesalers and gun shops as separate items to use on guns originally equipped with other stocks. As you can see from the photo in the OP, I favor them over any other style. They look great, don't dig into your hand like the checkered variety, and just "feel right." They are becoming fairly expensive now, and it's not unusual to see good pairs going for $100 or more. In my mind, they are well worth it as perfect complements to really nice condition guns.

Here's another example on a Model 27.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

John,

Thank you for the information on S&W Smooth Presentation
Grips.

I agree. They are comfortable and feel right on a K-frame.

Enjoy.

Paladin85020: Very well written article thanks for mentioning the Model 617 in the article it is one of my favorite rimfire revolvers.