K-22 Masterpiece lineage?

I appreciate either a link to or quick explanation of the K-22 Masterpiece timeline.
I don't yet have a S&W book to refer to (on it's way) and I'm reading conflicting information, perhaps you can help me out. I have read some info in the Blue Book and it seems that it's missing some info (not unusual).

It's established that there were about 1000 K-22 Masterpiece guns made in 1940 and then production stopped.

I have also established that in 1958 the Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece was introduced.

What happened between 1945-1957? I assume there were K-22 Masterpieces made? From posts I read many of you feel that some of the best guns were made 1945-1957.

So what kind of markings did these guns have? 1945-1957 How can I tell a K-22 Masterpiece from a Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece?

Are the 17's marked "17" somewhere?

Do the 1945-1958's have a different serial number range? If so, what is it?

Appreciate the help.


thanks,

Rob

S&W introduced their first K-frame .22, the K-22 Outdoorsman (or K-22 First Model), in in 1931. They manufactured it until 1940. There were about 20,000 of these made. They are easily identified by their prewar hammers and the lack of a barrel rib. These are not Masterpieces in the marketing sense, but they are the direct precursor of the K-22s that got the Masterpiece designation.

In 1940 they introduced the K-22 Masterpiece (K-22 Second Model, or K-22/40), which had a shorter action and an improved adjustable rear sight. It was manufactured for only a year before the company suspended commercial production and converted to production under military contracts. Fewer than 1100 of these were made. Serial numbers are in the high 600,000 range.

After WW2, the company reintroduced the K-22 Masterpiece with some design changes and a new serial number sequence beginning at K101 in late 1946 or early 1947. The K-22 was manufactured continuously under the Masterpiece designation thereafter. In 1957 the company introduced model number designations and the K-22 Masterpiece became more commonly referred to as the Model 17.

The K-prefix in serial numbers identifies the adjustable sight K-frames of whatever caliber, so K-22s and K-38s of any barrel length, as well as the rare K-32s are all numbered together. Model marked guns were introduced around serial number K325000, but that is not a crisp dividing line. Some non-model marked guns may be found with higher numbers, and lower numbers may be found on guns that are model marked. The model marking is found on the frame under the yoke.

A couple of quick indicators: Any five screw guns (easily identified by the presence of a sideplate screw at the top of the plate near the hammer) are NOT model-marked guns. The earliest four screw guns (top sideplate screw not present following a design change) are not model-marked guns and are few in number, because they were made for only a few months before the Model-stamping began.

If you have a five screw gun with a single line address block (MADE IN U.S.A.), it was made before late summer 1948. The four line address block (MARCAS REGISTRADAS, etc.) is found on guns manufactured in late 1948 and afterward.

There were probably about 150000 non-model marked postwar K-22s manufactured. I have only four, so there are presumably lots left for interested parties. They are great revolvers. Good luck in the hunt.

I am not the most knowledgeable person on K22's, and I'm not sitting on the right-side of the most knowledgeable K22 person (I'm sure that they'll be along here pretty soon), but I'll take a whack or two at your questions.

Firstly, welcome to the Forum. There's a lot of knowledge and humor around here; I think that you'll enjoy it.
Next: what you really need is Supica and Nahouse's "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson", 3rd edition; AKA SCSW3 around here. It will definitively answer almost all of you current questions and probably a lot of future ones. Just having that book almost makes you a S&W guru. The down side to it is that exposes you a lot of very nice guns that you may not have previously been aware of, and it therefore can cause pangs of envy and greed, ultimately leading to vast expenditures of money and frequent conversations of interest with your significant other. At least that seems to be the trend amongst most of us that hang out here.

Now as for K22's mfg'd between 1946 and 1958: I believe that there were only a couple hundred made in 1946; some of the earliest have been reported to have many of the features of the pre-war K22/40's (specifically pre-war grips and ejector rods). One of the more illustrious Forum members here even claims to own a couple of them. Unfortunately he has not yet learned the art of digital photography and so as far as most of us are concerned, that report should be classified strictly as rumor and speculation until proven otherwise.

Serial numbers for the early post-war K22’s started at around K100 and rose to around K300000 by 1957 or 58, at which time they started stamping “M-17” in the yoke area. The sn’s progressed concurrently with all other K-frame revolvers up until the early 1970’s at which time the started to float the “K”. SN’s such as 1Kxxxxxx abound after that time. I do not have my SCSW3 with me, but there are some fairly good tables with years of production and associated SN’s in it. Again, that book is highly recommended for anybody that collects S&W’s.

Anyway, that’s about all that I feel comfortable stating without “the Bible”. As mentioned, there’s lots of people that know a whole lot more about them than I do. About all I know is that I like ‘em a lot and they’re costing much-o bucks these days. Hope this helps a bit. –S2

And becasue it would be extremely hippocritical of me to disparage another Forum member without offering some photographic evidence of my own K22 addiction (...er make that collection), I will offer the following several examples of K22's made between 1947 and 1955 from my own humble stable:





Along with the rest of them (the K22's that is):

Nice concise history line.

I have a chance to buy a 17-5. What can you guys tell me about that model?

The price wanted is 500 Canadian dollarettes.


Mr. Squinty

The model 17-5 is the model that was introduced in 1988 and didn't have the pinned barrel but does have the recessed cylinder chambers. It also had the improved yoke system and was made only for one year. It was replaced by the full under lug barreled version with the introduction of 17-6.

Here in the USA they would sell for at least $500 if in very good condition so in Canadian dollars I would say if it's in great shape it's an excellent deal. The S&W 22LR revolvers are a hot selling item these days and the prices have actually gone up while other models saw their prices soften this past year.

Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for the history lessons, it's appreciated and clarifies things for me. Speedo, that quintet is a beautiful sight, if you ever decide to sell the 1955 give me a call, I would love to have one that left the factory the same year I did!

Before checking back here I decided to give S&W a call about this and I was put through to a very helpful gentleman, Joe in the service center.

Joe listened to my question and took a couple of minutes to get "the book", he actually checked the records.

According to S&W's records the post war K-22 was made from 1944-1956, and the serial numbers were from K-101 through K-288988.

After that he said all guns were model marked.

He also gave the range for 1955 to help me find a birth year gun, 231256-266164.

Nice folks, I'm looking forward to getting my first K-22!

Again, thanks to all.