i have a k22 masterpiece 6" that is nickel,mint cold. #k148535, unfired. i emailed smith and they tell me it was mfg. in 1952 but could not tell me any more due to before their computer age. inside the barrel is perfect, darrell55

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Welcome to the Forum,
You will need to order a factory historical letter to confirm the features of your revolver. The letter will tell you to whom the revolver was sent to, when it left the factory and what features it left the factory with including what finish was on it.
We love pic's here.....

thank you, where would i order a factory letter from because i emailed smith and they showed no records before the mfg. date.

The letter comes from the factory historian who is the keeper of all the records.
Here's a link from the S&W website:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...4_757812_image

Since a nickel finish is an unusual finish on a K22 Masterpiece the factory letter is the only real way to confirm it left the factory with that finish. If you post some clear pictures, forum members will be able to pretty much tell if the finish is original or not.

thank you very much , i will darrell55

When you post pictures be sure and show the left side frame with the grips off. If it's a factory refinish it will show on the frame.

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Get off my lawn!

Look for a N or RN stamped on the left side of the butt frame.
RN would indicate a factory renickel.No N or RN would indicate a non factory refinish.A nickel ejector star,hammer or trigger would also indicate an aftermarket finish.

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Yup. Nickel was not a standard finish for this model and it would have been a special order if it came that way. You understand the odds are against you on this.

As stated, look for a letter N stamped on left side of grip frame under stock panel. Something like this...




If the N stamp is not present, I would assume the gun to be refinished in nickel. Also as noted, the hammer, ejector star and trigger are not plated on nickel guns so if these parts are shiny I would assume the gun to be refinished. On a revolver of this vintage the front sight should be blued rather than plated as they started doing long after your gun was made. If the front sight is plated I would assume the gun to be refinished.

If it has the N and all the items noted are correct then definitely get it lettered because a genuine special order K22 Masterpiece in nickel would be quite a find.

BTW- I think these (and the K38s) look great in nickel and it's too bad S&W didn't routinely offer them. But I guess they were intended for serious target shooters.

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No life story has happy end.

i find no "n" stamp under the left grip, and the front site is plated, however, the hammer, trigger and ejector stay are "not" plated. if it is refinished, it's done very well as all the stamping on the gun is perfectly legible. i would post some pics but i'm new to this site and can't figure out how to download them. darrell

Look for the "N" under the extractor rod as well. On the flat part of the barrel.

io just posted some pics

Look under the barrel flat where the ejector rod is, and see it there is a "B" on the left side by the latch. In that vintage that was the stamp for a "Blued" gun. In the absence of an "N" on the grip frame I would expect to see a "B" on the barrel flat.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

As stated, take the left grip off and take a picture of the grip frame. I recently found one just like it near me for sale that looked factory, but after removing the grips it had the stamp from the factory of a refinish with the date it was done. That could answer all your questions and save you $50.

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Get off my lawn!

Probably an aftermarket job, but it looks like it was nicely done. I have one that was done aftermarket and I like it very much.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

......and a used gun which has been plated,and unfired since the plating,will appear as being an unfired gun,though it is not.Therefore,added value for a factory original.