Over the week-end, I bought a K22 and need some information. This one is, (in my opinion) 95-98%. Serial #K 5619xx, no box, tools, or papers and original grips have been replaced with after-market cheap targets. Would like to know if it needs diamond magnas? Also, does it need the gold box and what tools if I run across a set? Can you tell me approximately what year it was manufactured? Right now, I can't take pictures.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Vince

That serial number, if six digits, corresponds to 1964, per the standard catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition, Appendix B, page 489:

1964: K555000-K605877

Whether it "needs" Diamond Magnas is up to you, but I put target stocks on my Target Model 17, because they feel better in my hand, and target stocks were not serialized to the frame. Magnas would not have matched the s/n, even if I could find them for a price... having said that, check the classifieds,

I think that S&W stopped using the diamond style magnas around 1968 so if made before then it came with diamond style magnas. As far as the box I have no idea.

My K-22 was made in 1963 and came in a blue box with SAT, cleaning rod with slotted and mop tips and an instruction sheet.

Grips were diamond magna as mentioned above.

I recently purchased a 1955 vintage K22 with Diamond magnas. The number embossed on the inside of one panel is different than the serial number of the gun. The cylinder serial number and grip frame numbers match. Should the embossed number on the stocks match the frame serial number.

Thanks!

Pictures are always good for us to drool over.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

K552xxx, a Model 17-2, shipped 6/64
K563xxx, a Model 17-2, shipped 11/64

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

For that year, yes.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Yes they should match if original to the gun.

S&W began phasing out the gold boxes in the mid to late 1950's but they were used until around 1965. Keep checking the sale areas on this forum and also gunbroker and gunsinternational.


I picked up a very nice gold box for my 1955 .38/44 Heavy duty from this forum last year.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Here’s one. Very sweet shooter! It’s everything I expected and more. Now I’d like a K38.

Thanks for the info. It really doesn’t matter to me since I’m not a collector. I just wanted a nice example to shoot.

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K-22 (1947)
exxonmobil near me


K-38 (1951)



Now I am saving up for the K-32. Wish I was a lot younger.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I suggest a 1964 date as well..... Most boxes from that era appear to be the blue two-piece box with a solid border on the top, "Smith & Wesson Inc. Springfield Mass", with the date April 15, 1955 inside the lid. (I can 'bracket' your serial number with the blue boxes.) The gold picture boxes seem to have been phased out around 1953/1954, in favor of the blue boxes. I have also seen a few 'charcoal' colored ones appear, but not many.
Now, for what it is worth, S&W seems to have never thrown out anything, so it is possible that some old gold boxes may have shipped later as mentioned above - just I have not seen one.

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NRA Endowment Member

My recently purchased 17-2, serial #K6589**, believed last K frame of 1965. Came with these non-relieved target stocks, no serial number inside. I have heard these stocks were not used by the factory after 1958 or thereabouts so I don't know how they came to be on this gun.

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I believe this is an example of what one of the charcoal grey boxes look like, after a lot of fading. Sadly, it just got thrown in with a much later Model 17-2 which eventually landed in my hands. (Posted same pics before)

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Thanks to all that posted! It is great to be able to find out so much in such a short time.! Now, I always have "buyers remorse" so assuming that 95% condition is about right, what should it be worth?

Thanks, Vince

I have a blue solid border box in my box pile, It for a 17-2 serial # k 659236 on it. As for target gripped M-17s , If they shipped with the target grips they came in a box that was taller, If you put a target stock equipped in a regular box it wont seat all the way down. I have both styles in my box stash.
SWCA 892

My Model 17-2 shipped in 1964. K5622xx. Was an online purchase. Came with rubber booties. Found correct era Magnas for it. They are in great shape. My gun is a little earlier than yours. Great shooter. Enjoy yours! Bob

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I like to have correct era stocks for my guns, but that doesn't mean something else isn't better to shoot with. I never use rubber though. Bob

It's hard to put a solid price on any used S&W these days. It seems like prices, especially on older and desirable pieces like yours, are all over the place.

I bought a 1948 vintage K22 at auction a little over 10 years ago. It was about a 90% gun and I felt good about getting it then for $425. I wouldn't take much less than twice that for it now. It came with all matching numbers (incl grips) but no box, tools, or docs.

If you are going to keep it and shoot it, the only person who needs to be satisfied with the price is you. As for the grips, since the originals are gone, you can put a pair of period correct grips ("wrong" number) on it, a set of period correct but un-numbered target grips, or whatever aftermarket grips fit you. Remember, some of those period grips from the well known grip makers are now bringing hundreds of dollars and enhance rather than detract from the gun's value.

Froggie

PS Since they didn't come with the gun, I don't think I would mess with trying to get a "correct" box and accessories for it. A gun is only original once, and you're fooling yourself if you try to make it all original again.