David,

Thank you for your reply and insights. I'm always impressed by your knowledge and willingness to share.

I’m somewhat familiar with the early ‘50s evolution of the Masterpiece series and have enjoyed collecting examples of the K38 with both the early tapered barrels and the later “heavy” barrels. My understanding was that the K22 became the 38.5 ounce benchmark to which the K32 and K32 were matched.

I don’t know much about the K32s but understand that the both the tapered and heavy version K38s were available from about January 1950 until approximately September 1953 when the tapered barrel variation was phased out. I am not aware of any such change in the K22 since it was the benchmark.

What I expected to hear is the “equal” weight/balance Masterpiece concept went by the wayside at some point . . . probably in the ’55-’56 timeframe . . . and that the later model-marked K22s had a completely re-designed barrel profile.

Russ

edit to add: I weighed an early K22 s/n K33977 and it weighed the benchmark 38.5 ounces. This late 5-screw weighs 40.5 ounces. Both are loaded weights with magna stocks.