I found this revolver at a local shop. I thought it looked a little rough at first, but after consulting some forums online I returned to the store and purchased for $325. I initially thought it may be fun to shoot for a while and then have refinished by S&W, but after cleaning it up I am not so sure. All of the numbers match and it appears that it was made early in the production. SN is 6332XX. How did I do? I am amazed by the craftmanship and fitting of these early S&W. Thanks for looking!
I agree with the others, you stole it. There are folks who seek guns in just the condition of yours. They feel no guilt in shooting it because the chances of damage are very slim. It means you can enjoy it all you want.
Its was made someplace about the 1,000th one, give or take. The first ones were 632,100s. But they also made M&Ps in that same numbering sequence. Chances of you ever coming across a better deal are pretty slim.
I don't think it has been refinished. Pin ends are still rounded, frame corners look sharp, there's no gully at the sideplate/frame boundary. I can't see the front end of the ejector rod, but if the beveled surface of the knob there is "in the white" (polished but unblued steel), it is unrefinished. If the bevel has been blued, that's pretty good evidence that the gun has been refinished even if the other points I made suggest it hasn't.
It has a couple of scuffs and scrapes, so it is marked up enough that it is not a high-condition collector's item. On that basis you should shoot it to your heart's content. These prewar K-frame .22s are some of the best revolvers ever.
You made out like a bandit. Don't refinish it. It looks mighty good for its age. Shoot it occasionally and take good care of it. You got a real prize there.
Thank you for the nice feedback. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something as to its age and value. I realized that it had some wear, but I suspected it would probably would be worth twice what I paid. I used Flitz polishing compound to clean it off and, I must say, it did a fantastic job. I came to the conclusion that the shop must have had it priced as a later k-22 combat masterpiece. I do not plan to have it refinished. Would it be worth the effort to try to use some type of cold blue touchup to clean up the cylinder drag marks?
I feel your pain as I'm a nice guy I wish to offer you my "buy back programme". I will gladly refund your purchase price and any incidentals you have incurred cleaning it. See, that was easy Just so you know, you stole it and many of us, me are jealous. Kyle
They all have cylinder rings to some degree. Just opening the cylinder will mark it. Its part of the history of the gun. Look at it like they are battle scars.
For some reason the first model k22 outdoorsman model seemed to mark the cylinder more than usual.
Leave that girl alone, she is nice! Iwould have run to the gun store at that price, what a gun and you could never get hurt at that price. You should check them out more often!
........ see the front end of the ejector rod, but if the beveled surface of the knob there is "in the white" (polished but unblued steel), it is unrefinished. .
I posted a few more. I will post the K22 later with the box. just excited about the new K38. I'm looking at an Outdoorsman 1st model I will post as soon as I can. I will keep you posted on the gold box for the K38 still in the works.
My 6335XX outdoorsman shipped April 1931 and my 6392XX shipped October 1931. One in the condition of yours would probably be priced around $1700+ at any gun show in the DFW area. You did very well. Probably well worth getting a letter on.