This is my first S&W from this period and it's got me scratching my head. It's a K frame, 22 caliber Combat Masterpiece with a 2 1/4 inch pinned barrel (measured from the front face of the cylinder to the muzzle)and a round butt. It's marked Mod 18-4 with the butt serial number in the frame cutout for the crane. Serial number on the butt starts 82K which puts it at 1980 production. All the Combat Masterpieces I've seen had target hammers and target triggers; this one has neither. On the left side of the butt is a five digit number that doesn't match the serial number and the number E 11. On the right side of the butt is another five digit number and two symbols; the number 5 in a hexagon and another number 5 in a heart. I consulted SCSW 4, page 216 on the Model 18, Combat Masterpiece and got really confused. SCSW 4 describes it as having a square butt with a grooved backstrap; mine is a round butt with a smooth backstrap.

The barrel is equally confusing; it has a shrouded extractor housing. The barrel appears to be in two pieces: an outer shroud, possibly from a 357 magnum barrel, and an inner insert in 22. The workmanship involved in putting this together so it aligns with the chambers is mind-boggling. The stamping on the left side of the barrel seems to be the normal Smith & Wesson. The right side is stamped in small letters S&W and in larger ones 22LR. What do I have? and did somebody cobble it together?

Attached Images

	DSC00780.JPG (164.3 KB, 463 views)
	DSC00783.JPG (104.3 KB, 376 views)
	DSC00785.JPG (101.5 KB, 399 views)
	DSC00781.JPG (111.2 KB, 381 views)
	DSC00782.JPG (106.7 KB, 387 views)

It looks like you have someones custom project.

They took an 18-4, round butted it and sleeved a model 19 2.5 inch barrel.

How does it shoot?

I sure don't know what you have, but I like it!

Rich

Interesting. Looks like someone shot out a .38 barrel and had it chopped and put an insert in it. The stampings look professional.

Too bad they didn't consider that the contour of the frame doesn't match the top of the barrel... or maybe they did?

Is it a 6 shot ? Post a few shots of the cylinder opened and how the extractor works.....Very interesting !
Gary

' the stamping looks'professional. you mean 22LR.

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Looks to me like a very nicely done custom, might be factory but hard to say for sure. A letter might be worth the investment.

A Frankingun! This is one S&W should have made!

I also believe it is a sleeved barrel. But, I believe it started out as a longer barrel and was shorted from the frame end.I also believe they could have made the barrel match the frame of the frame match the barrel. Interesting gun though and probably functions well. Cylinder is probably a normal 22 lr cylinder.

I agree this one has been done by some one with some skill, not by the factory. Notice that the front sight ramp takes up almost all of the exposed barrel lenght. I'm not certain that the barrel was not shortened on both ends and the front sight, ramp and all, moved. Maybe not on that. In any case, it seems nicely done.

How does it shoot, Cyrano? And where on earth did you find that? I'll say this ... I like it, especially if it shoots well. I like it a lot!!

__________________
So long ... Ken

Everything BUT where it's stamped 22lr.
That was probably done by the same guy that built the rest of the gun. Not factory like the rest of the stampings. At all.

I don't have much to add other then I like it. Kinda looks like a model 34 on steroids.

World's coolest kit gun

__________________
Some collect art; I shoot it!

I did the same thing a few years back to a 17




One of these days, I'll pull the barrel & blend it into the frame a little better.

Ned

__________________
Devil's afraid I'll take over.

Cylinder is a normal Model 18. Looks like the round butt is a factory job too. Came out of the Odessa, TX gun show last weekend. I'll give a range report when daytime temps get below 100º. Any idea what the number 5 in the hexagon and heart signify?

I agree that is a sleeved 2 1/2" M19 barrel.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

See you in October.

You, sir, have a model 18 1/2.

Whatever model you decide to call it, "I want one"!!

Stu

Most combat masterpieces don't have TT/TH.

I guess not.......but, somewhat to my surprise, my 15-2 has them, and an engraved 18-2. The engraving is not factory, and I can believe the TT and TH were added after the revolver left Springfield.

Perhaps not, but this one does. It came from the factory just the way you see it.

It is a Model 15-2 from 1966.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318