I have a friend out of the area that has an older (early 50's he things 22lr revolver. He knows what a model 18 is, and is calling this one a pre 18. Was there such a thing, or is it some other model. S is the starting letter of the serial number. He said there is bluing loss, but orginal diamond grips.

He doesnt have pics handy but wants to know if i am interested in buying it. Any very rough idea on value would be helpful in addition to model info.

He says its a shooter, bluing loss if evident, but no rust or abuse. no box or anything.

Thanks

It would be a k-22 with a 4 inch barrel.Value is hard to determine without photos,but I hear they are good guns and prices are headed up.

Are you sure the S/N begins with an "S"? Early K22's had no alpha prefix, and Postwar K22's had a "K" prefix. The "S" prefix was on "N" Frames. The K22 Combat Masterpiece (Pre-18) (4") also had a "K" prefix S/N. Depending on condition, SCSW +10% =Poor, 185; Fair 260; Good 315; VG 385; Exc 480; ANIB 580. Keep in mind book values are only guidelines, and you will encounter prices 10-15% either side of them. I bought this one, made in Feb. 1953 a few months ago for just over $400. It was a little more than I wanted to go, but finding a decent pre18 is getting harder and harder.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

sorry, my mistake, it is a K prefix. k1708xx. I am told its about 1953. I would venture similar condition to yours, maybe a little more bling loss by the sound. He said diamond grips.
Thanks

Yes, that would put it in 1952 - 1953 time frame. Since S&W didn't ship in S/N order, it's hard to say when shipped exactly.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Unless something has changed in the last several months, a pre-18 (or .22 Combat Masterpiece, as S&W called this model) would bring a premium over the comparable pre-17, a K-22 with a six-inch barrel -- and those have been expensive for two or three years. There are far fewer four-inch guns, and some of us have found that we can shoot the .22 CM far more accurately than we can the six-inch K-22.

Unless this gun looks as though it has been left out in the weather or cleaned a few times with sandpaper, I would think a fair price in most parts of the country would be closer to $500, if not a little more.

I have to say that I think H Richard got a screaming deal if he paid only a little over $400 for his.

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David Wilson