Morning all, I'm Bill from California and wanted to share my new .22 Pre-18. I've been looking at 22 revolvers for some time and happened into a local shop that does used and consignment about 6 weeks ago. Most of the 17's and 18's are priced in the $600-800 range, and had not found a really nice one. Well, they had a .22 that was marked "M & P 22" for $400. Never heard of one of those, but looking at the gun I couldn't find much wrong with it. The story is the guy was in jail and needed money for his attorney. I bought it.

When I went int o pick it up (10 long days later) the guy said "I have a surprise for you." He brought out the original box with the Helpful Hints pamphlet inside. Beneath that was a receipt when the owner had a target trigger installed in September 1957. As far as I an tell, the gun was born in 1955 or 56 (K248XXX). Numbers on barrel, cylinder and butt all match. Shoots great. Let's see if I can post a picture or two:

Attached Images

	Combat Masterpeice.JPG (121.7 KB, 333 views)
	S&W Box.JPG (133.1 KB, 195 views)

Very lucky find and a good deal, especially for guys (like myself) who are in California. Congratulations.

Hello Bill and thanks for sharing your 5 screw "K22 Combat Masterpiece".
The SCSW says it is probably a 1955 but the only way to know when it shipped is with a factory letter.

$400 is a GREAT deal and to have the original box just sweetens it that much more.
They had it marked wrong as an M&P and you are correct that it is a "Pre" Model 18.

You said they installed a target trigger but it looks like they probably installed a target hammer.
Your gun probably would have come with what is known as a "High Speed" hammer being a post war 5 screw gun.
The red ramp may have been added afterwards as well.

Your handgun probably came with "Diamond Magnas", indicated by the 4 metal rings on the corner of the box.
The grips on it now are post 1968 target grips.

If you can track down the original grips they will have the serial number stamped on the inside of one grip.
If not and you want it to be period correct you can replace the non diamond target grips with un relieved diamond targets .

Wondering if the box has the serial numbers written on the bottom in grease pencil?

Anyway they are fine revolvers but highly addictive.
Best regards

Very nice. Too bad it wasn't really an "M&P .22", at that price it would have been a steal. The M&P .22 is the M45 and it's "Pre" version. They go for about four times that amount in good shape.
Sometimes the ineptitude of the people in gun shops just amazes me. But I've gotten some really good deals because of it. About ten years ago I spotted a M18 at my local national chain store. They had no idea what it was. I got it for $225. It pays to watch for deals.
Jim

Congrat's on the pruchase or should I say theft.

I'm sorry, it is a target hammer, not trigger (although I wish it did). The guy paid $9.00 for the hammer, including labor. I know the grips were not original, as there is no number on the inside of the grips. My guess is the owner put the target grips and sight on later. The number on the box does match the gun. I bought it to shoot but the box, receipt and all is just a little added bonus.

I wish I could get at target triggers. I need 3 additional triggers as I'd probably have to grind them down and don't want to do that on this or my 28 and 67 (both from around 1971 or 72). I'd like to keep the originals so I could put back to how I got them.

Nice score! shops that are used to selling mostly plastic autos, frequently miss marked older revolvers. I have even seen model marked S&W misidentified. I think they get it wrong about 30% of the time on pre-model number S&W's.

Engine,
Are you talking about the reinforcing staples on the corners of the box? Because my pre 18 came with factory target stocks and the box has the 4 metal ring reinforcing staples.
Wild Bill, You got a heck of a deal!!
Ken

Here is my Pre-18 and I think these might be the original stocks. I am going to letter this gun, so we will see.
Congrats on a nice piece. Just make room in the safe, they grow like rabbits.

All.
Another pre 18 if you will. It letters as a 4 inch early K22. K 75510. Shipped 26 May 1950. One of an order of 20 identical guns.



Group photo, there is one more since this pic was made. They do grow on you.


This was the add on from the road trip to the Kingman ARIZONA gunshow.


Bill@Yuma

Bill,

All of your K-22 are all beautiful, but that early one with the Patridge front sight is absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.

Do I have your permission to print it out and have it framed?

Russ

+1 but still a great gun at a very good price. They are a blast to shoot. You can make a quick 50% on your money by listing the gun on the classified section

PS. Bill did that gun letter with the patridge sight, I like it. Now I am going to have to look for one. You just cost me some $$

__________________
Jim
Many K and N Frames

With regards to the staples anything is possible with S&W and a letter is the only way to find out how it shipped for sure . Target grip gun box's needed to be deeper and usually have 5 rings instead of 4......I could be wrong and often am,
these are free observations and worth exactly what you paid for them..ha ha.

Bill that early 4" patridge site k22 is the cats pajamas...
Since seeing the Bowan 5" custom posted the other day it has me dreaming of cutting down my 6" 1948 4 line , especially since recently acquiring a one line 1947 model.

Another Plain Jane from 1952. # K 162068, no XXXX's, was purchased at the Big Reno Show for $400. All matching too. No box though. Big Larry

Russ.
You can use the pic as you see fit. One of these days I'll try to take a better pic of it. I am still learning the digital camera thing and my eye sees things and I always think I can do better.
Bill@Yuma

Thanks for the reply, I only ask as my pre-18 shipped with a 4 ring staple box and it had target stocks on it. (Sorry for the picture. I've posted it ad nauseam.)
I guess when we talk of the way Smiths were shipped we shouldn't use the words "always and never".
Ken

This is my CM, #246894, red ramp also, TH, TT.

Recoil Rob, do you know the history on your CM? Was the red ramp sight factory? Just curious.

Love seeing all these old 22 revolvers. Nice collection guys.

Yes, old Smith revolvers do have a way of multiplying. Three weeks after I found the pre-18, I happened across a Model 67. Since I didn't have a .38 (I have 2 .357's, but that's not a .38, is it?), had to add to the group.

Bill,
I only know who it was purchased from and the gentleman was old enough to have been the original owner but I'm not sure if he was. I purchased a 5 gun lot from him including 3 Pythons, two of which were sent to Magnaport for porting and trigger jobs so the red ramp on the Pre-18 may have been added. OTOH I have seen others and with the TT & TH the package may be original. Only a letter will confirm.

I got mine through a local shop. The receipt for the target hammer was made out to a George M (can't read the last name). The guy who had it on consignment had the initials JM. Since it has the box and all the numbers match, I'm assuming it's a son or grandson, but pretty sure it was in the same family until I got it.

Of course, that really doesn't make any difference to me whether the target grips are original or if the sight was added. I just put on target grips on my 28, but kept the Magna's it came with. I got the thing to shoot (and it shoots really nice), and it's in nice shape. Other stuff is a no cost bonus.