How old is this k22?
- Thread starter William54
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The list would suggest that your gun is from 1950.
It’s a bit earlier than that. I’d put it at 1947.
Note the serial number is 5 digits.
Note the serial number is 5 digits.
Welcome to the Forum. That K22 has been worked over a bit. The target hammer on your revolver is not original since they were not introduced until 1950. The stocks either have been worked over and/or not original to the gun.
Nice K22.
DWalt
Member
Early production probably from late 1947
As you have discovered, grips are not original as they are not the correct style of that time period nor for a K-22
Grips also seem to have been crudely refinished
There is an even earlier postwar K-22 version which is somewhat more desirable and collectible
As you have discovered, grips are not original as they are not the correct style of that time period nor for a K-22
Grips also seem to have been crudely refinished
There is an even earlier postwar K-22 version which is somewhat more desirable and collectible
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That sounds right. Did you get a deal?
700 is not bad. If you love it price isn’t important. I have a similar one from 1954. Great shooter
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Frailer is correct: I misread the number as six digitsTijeras_Slim
Member
It seems to run in generational cycles. Here in Albuquerque, 2005-2007 was a happy hunting ground for Smiths. Some are starting to show up again, but with the number of old line gun stores disappearing, replaced by big box and tactical plastic fantastic stores its not the same.
The hammer appears to be what is called a semi-target hammer which is not as wide as a full target hammer, but this may depend on the gun's age. The trigger on the OPs gun is not a target trigger but a standard .265" grooved trigger. As I recall, the target trigger was introduced in 1956 and were .5" wide. They looked something like the image below from a later K-frame model. I think that the shape changed over the years but all target triggers were wide.
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Based on confirmed ship dates, it probably shipped late in the year 1947. Here are nearby examples:
K9863 November 1947
K11270 December 1947
K11739 December 1947
DWalt
Member
$700 is a reasonable retail price today for an average condition earlier K-22 in good working order. You didn’t get hurt. To me, it seems to have the “Fishhook” hammer, not a semi-target. It could well be correct for a K-22 of that time, not 100% sure. I once owned a K-22 of that era, but I don’t remember the fine details of it.
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Engine49guy
Member
I had to go back and look at your pictures twice because Im seeing a correct post war SW "High Speed hammer",
I Agree your gun likely shipped in 1947 and that the wide target trigger doesnt appear until sometime in the 1950's.
The stocks on your gun are known as diamond "Plain Clothes Magnas" Or PC Magnas by the rounded heel, usually found on later snubs and some 4"ers but definately wrong style and era, correct style for your K22 would be "High Shoulder" Magnas with nickel coated brass medallions used from 1946 to 1950.
An interesting feature on your gun is it was one of the last "One Liners" in reference to the large MADE IN USA as that changed to the 4 line address style shortly after. Your revolver exhibits the first change made in post war K22's because it has a straight ejector rod with knurled end, the earliest post war ones had a barrel style "Large Ejector Rod Knob" or LERK that required the barrel to be cut to clear the rod end, some have been observed with the barrel cut but straight rod and speculation was that they ran out of the barrel end rods before they ran out of the cut barrels.
On a side note I dont think the serial number chart in post #14 is accurate solely because IIRC only a couple snuck out of the factory in 1946 before the holiday shutdown, As evidence I have 3 digit serial number
K 345 , 6" Blue shipped Feb 1947.
Here are a couple of others from my notes:
K22, 6" , Blue, LERK , One liner
Serial K 2684 shipped Aug 1947
OP's serial is here
K22, Blue, One liner, straight rod,
Serial K 18529 Shipped Feb 1948
( same features as OPs gun)
I Agree your gun likely shipped in 1947 and that the wide target trigger doesnt appear until sometime in the 1950's.
The stocks on your gun are known as diamond "Plain Clothes Magnas" Or PC Magnas by the rounded heel, usually found on later snubs and some 4"ers but definately wrong style and era, correct style for your K22 would be "High Shoulder" Magnas with nickel coated brass medallions used from 1946 to 1950.
An interesting feature on your gun is it was one of the last "One Liners" in reference to the large MADE IN USA as that changed to the 4 line address style shortly after. Your revolver exhibits the first change made in post war K22's because it has a straight ejector rod with knurled end, the earliest post war ones had a barrel style "Large Ejector Rod Knob" or LERK that required the barrel to be cut to clear the rod end, some have been observed with the barrel cut but straight rod and speculation was that they ran out of the barrel end rods before they ran out of the cut barrels.
On a side note I dont think the serial number chart in post #14 is accurate solely because IIRC only a couple snuck out of the factory in 1946 before the holiday shutdown, As evidence I have 3 digit serial number
K 345 , 6" Blue shipped Feb 1947.
Here are a couple of others from my notes:
K22, 6" , Blue, LERK , One liner
Serial K 2684 shipped Aug 1947
OP's serial is here
K22, Blue, One liner, straight rod,
Serial K 18529 Shipped Feb 1948
( same features as OPs gun)
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