Heavy 22LR

[fuzzyrc1]

I adopted this one today. No model number and it's heavier than my pre-model 10 in
38 SPL. Numbers on crane and frame are clearly legible and match 81432. Number on butt is clear K291808. No numbers on grips. Barrel is heavy. Couldn't find my scale, but the weight is between the pre-model 10 and a model 66-2 in 357.

Year/model?
Are grips original?
Value?

 

[Muley Gil]

You have a K-22. It dates to about 1957. I'd value it at about $400-500.

 

[Engine49guy]

Its an earlyish four screw K22 (its 4th screw is in front of the trigger guard).
The reason it is heavier than a 6" M&P is because it has a barrel rib and much smaller bore holes.
The 6" K22 was weight matched to the 6" K38 which has a much wider barrel rib , the same rib is used on your Model 66 but that also has an ejector rod shroud adding weight.
Shortly after yours was made it became known as the Model 17.
The stocks are correct style for your guns era, most had the serial stamped inside the right panel but sometimes a set has no serial.
On a side note,
S&W uses the term "Yoke" like the thing you put on oxen to pull a plow, generally Colt guys say "Crane" but that usually makes the S&W purists cringe.
The K22 is still produced today in stainless steel with a full underlug as the 617 or half lug barrel as the 617 Mountain gun which cost a little over $1k.
Cosmetic condition is everything in a collectable gun not so much as a shooter, yours is well worn and so in shooter condition, guessing it was carried in the field in a holster for quite some time.
If it has no mechanical issues it might tempt me if priced below $500, (the more the better as a buyer) but I have a few of them already.
A few years ago I found a slightly older one in about the same cosmetic condition for around $350 and was very happy to buy it.

 

[smith17]

Are you sure there aren't some numbers stamped on the inside of the right grip panel? The blurry pic indicates you might.

 

[JP@AK]

The full, correct, name for your revolver is K-22 Masterpiece. As Gil indicated, it almost certainly left the factory in 1957.

 

[fuzzyrc1]

I adopted View attachment 792518this one today. No model number and it's heavier than my pre-model 10 in
38 SPL. Numbers on crane and frame are clearly legible and match 81432. Number on butt is clear K291808. No numbers on grips. Barrel is heavy. Couldn't find my scale, but the weight is between the pre-model 10 and a model 66-2 in 357.

Year/model?
Are grips original?
Value?

You have a K-22. It dates to about 1957. I'd value it at about $400-500.

Thank you!

 

[fuzzyrc1]

Are you sure there aren't some numbers stamped on the inside of the right grip panel? The blurry pic indicates you might.

There were some random stampings, but nothing like a serial number. Thank you for the response.

 

[fuzzyrc1]

Its an earlyish four screw K22 (its 4th screw is in front of the trigger guard).
The reason it is heavier than a 6" M&P is because it has a barrel rib and much smaller bore holes.
The 6" K22 was weight matched to the 6" K38 which has a much wider barrel rib , the same rib is used on your Model 66 but that also has an ejector rod shroud adding weight.
Shortly after yours was made it became known as the Model 17.
The stocks are correct style for your guns era, most had the serial stamped inside the right panel but sometimes a set has no serial.
On a side note,
S&W uses the term "Yoke" like the thing you put on oxen to pull a plow, generally Colt guys say "Crane" but that usually makes the S&W purists cringe.
The K22 is still produced today in stainless steel with a full underlug as the 617 or half lug barrel as the 617 Mountain gun which cost a little over $1k.
Cosmetic condition is everything in a collectable gun not so much as a shooter, yours is well worn and so in shooter condition, guessing it was carried in the field in a holster for quite some time.
If it has no mechanical issues it might tempt me if priced below $500, (the more the better as a buyer) but I have a few of them already.
A few years ago I found a slightly older one in about the same cosmetic condition for around $350 and was very happy to buy it.

Thank you for the information, and I apologize if anyone is offended by "crane." I have no safe queens, and this gun suits my purpose. Good to know I'm OK on the $$$.

 

[fuzzyrc1]

The full, correct, name for your revolver is K-22 Masterpiece. As Gil indicated, it almost certainly left the factory in 1957.

Great information. Thank you.

 

[Truckman]

There were some random stampings, but nothing like a serial number. Thank you for the response.

We would like to see better pics of the insides of the stocks if possible......Ben

 

[S&W 10]

Our revolvers may have passed each other at some point during manufacturing…my old shooter grade Masterpiece is K 291947

 

[Yendor357]

I'd send that baby back to the factory for a re-blue.

 

[Muley Gil]

I'd send that baby back to the factory for a re-blue.

Generally, S&W won't work on a revolver that old, not even a reblue.

 

[MyTurn]

isn't a yoke what you use to tie two oxen or horses together for plowing? Once a crane, always a crane.

 

[Muley Gil]

isn't a yoke what you use to tie two oxen or horses together for plowing? Once a crane, always a crane.

Isn't a crane a bird or a large lifting device?

 

[JP@AK]

From Webster:
a: a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (such as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together
b: an arched device formerly laid on the neck of a defeated person
c: a frame fitted to a person's shoulders to carry a load in two equal portions
d: a bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or carriage is suspended from the collars of the harness
e: (1) a crosspiece on the head of a boat's rudder
(2) an airplane control operating the elevators and ailerons
f: a frame from which a bell is hung
g: a clamp or similar piece that embraces two parts to hold or unite them in position

Note definition g.

 

[MyTurn]

From Webster:
a: a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (such as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together
b: an arched device formerly laid on the neck of a defeated person
c: a frame fitted to a person's shoulders to carry a load in two equal portions
d: a bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or carriage is suspended from the collars of the harness
e: (1) a crosspiece on the head of a boat's rudder
(2) an airplane control operating the elevators and ailerons
f: a frame from which a bell is hung
g: a clamp or similar piece that embraces two parts to hold or unite them in position

Note definition g.

If I was betting, I would bet that Smith came up with a different word to describe the part just so they wouldn't use the same word as their rival Colt. Just like Colt put NP (New Police) on barrels rather than 38 Special or 38 S&W.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know why, but Colts have Cranes, and Smth y Wessons have Yokes.
Colts have Bolts. So do Smiths, but it isn't the same part, they do that job with a Cylinder Stop.

 

[Bald1]

Why not call it an Ichabob ?