Thanks for all the positive comments! I hate putting guns on plastic, however I'm not going to pass up an opportunity to snag a 60 year old S&W with box.

As for the serial number- I left an "X" off. (can't slide anything past the hawk eyes on this forum!!) It is definitely a 1951 gun according to the SC of S&W. (damn book keeps costing me!!)

The best thing about snagging guns that are not NIB "safe queens" is I can take take the K-22 to the range. I can't wait to see if it will out shoot my somewhat more worn 1954 era K-22.
Swapped out the pristine but too small for me magnas for a set of 1950's diamond target stocks.

Hopefully one of these years I will find an early 1950's K-38 to go along with the .22's. The only ones I've come across are either priced way too high or have serious condition issues.