Early K-22 with Large Knob Ejector Rod and 3 Digit Serial Number

PMRet · Dec 31, 2011

Looked at an early large knob ejector rod K-22 today, # K9xx. Gun has seen a lot of use, maybe 75% finish remaining with no rust or pitting, bore and chambers appear to be OK. All matching numbers except grips, which have been replaced with Hogue's. The original hammer has been replaced with a .500" target hammer. There is some endshake and lockup is a little loose. Timing is correct, but has been off at some point because there are a few firing pin marks on the cylinder between the chambers.

The gun was on consignment and the asking price was $625. The dealer was a super nice guy, we cut to the chase and he said the owner's bottom line was $500 OTD.

So, how much do the positives (low serial number, large knob) outweigh the negatives (grips, hammer, overall condition)? I left the gun there...

Memphis · Dec 31, 2011

Go buy the gun now.. do not pass go, get it asap (if not sooner).
It's a no brainer. I'm looking for one of those and don't think I will ever find one.
Happy New Year!

Roger
SWCA#2175

DCWilson · Dec 31, 2011

This is going to be a shooter vs. collector type of thing. The collector in me would jump on that revolver. But I understand that many others, given a choice between that gun and, say, a four-screw model 17 in better condition for the same price, would go for the later gun.

How much do you like early specimens of well regarded models? I like them a lot, and have spent some money to pick them up when I find them -- a three-digit .455 TL, a three-digit .38 Regulation Police, a three-digit Ladysmith. If I could find two-digit specimens, so much the better.

LEO918 · Dec 31, 2011

I think I'd buy at that price. Hammer and grips are available, even if hard to find.

rburg · Dec 31, 2011

DCWilson said:
If I could find two-digit specimens, so much the better.

I'm going to guess that 3 digit postwar numbers are as good as it gets. Since the first one was, in theory, K101 (is that 3 or 4?)

Basically, the lower the better.

I admit I have perverted ideas about collecting mid-age S&Ws. My view is that you just buy any 3 digit gun you stumble upon. My lowest is K155, and its the K22 shooter in my pile of junk. K166 is much better cosmetically (the other isn't bad, just that its been fired some). So its my gun and I'm going to shoot it. I value it highly, being too proud to search chicken coops for a lower one. Another point of view I have is when I find what I consider to be a very rare gun, I just buy it. Many I don't think I'll ever see another example of. So the question becomes am I better off having an "experienced" rarity, or leaving a hole in my collection?

Say you find a rare gun. Experts say they maybe made 50 of them. And you have one, what do you do? I keep the postwar 3rd model 4". Do you say pass on it? Its your choice. Better still, you can shoot it without any guilt.

Engine49guy · Dec 31, 2011

Depends on what you like but I would rather have a clean 4 digit large ejector knob than a rough 3 digit.
If it was one of the first 10 made maybe but 900 eh...err.uhh maybe not???
Oh what the heck get it so we can see it...he he

PMRet · Jan 1, 2012

bdGreen said:
"Gun has seen a lot of use, maybe 75% finish remaining with no rust or pitting, bore and chambers appear to be OK."

You have been around here awhile. I believe you know 'rust and pitting'. But, 75% finish left on a blue steel gun makes me want to check it really good, closely and everywhere. Be sure.

75% remaining finish.
Replacement stocks.
Non-original hammer.
End shake, lockup and firing pin pings in the cylinder.

I do not see five hundred dollars worth of gun there. The serial number is novel, but, it shouldn't be a selling point on a gun in that condition.

Now, having said all that. If you have never come across a three digit serial numbered K22 and this is a divine moment for you then any further discussion by me would be moot.

Sincerely, good luck on your chosen path.

bdGreen

Even though I have old K-22's that are much nicer, I don't have a 3 digit/large knob example. And to be honest, I may have been a little conservative on the finish, smitholdtimer saw the gun and called it between 80 - 90%. However, for some reason in my mind I still couldn't make it be a $500 gun, which is why I left it there.

crsides · Jan 1, 2012

I looked at an early 4 digt K22 (#1431 IIRC), in the orig box and original sales receipt last year. It had some rust spot on exterior, looked rode hard and put up wet, the gold box was almost black with grime. It was $750. I left it there too.

Charlie

D R Greysun · Jan 1, 2012

rburg said:
I'm going to guess that 3 digit postwar numbers are as good as it gets. Since the first one was, in theory, K101 (is that 3 or 4?) Basically, the lower the better.

I admit I have perverted ideas about collecting mid-age S&Ws. My view is that you just buy any 3 digit gun you stumble upon. My lowest is K155, and its the K22 shooter in my pile of junk. K166 is much better cosmetically (the other isn't bad, just that its been fired some). So its my gun and I'm going to shoot it. I value it highly, being too proud to search chicken coops for a lower one. Another point of view I have is when I find what I consider to be a very rare gun, I just buy it. Many I don't think I'll ever see another example of. So the question becomes am I better off having an "experienced" rarity, or leaving a hole in my collection?

Say you find a rare gun. Experts say they maybe made 50 of them. And you have one, what do you do? I keep the postwar 3rd model 4". Do you say pass on it? Its your choice. Better still, you can shoot it without any guilt.

Buy it hold it, shoot it, whatever, you can always upgrade as the opportunity presents itself.

D R

Plottman Pops · Jan 1, 2012

I'd buy it just to have a 3 digit...the only ones I've ever seen weren't for sale....

Hammerdown · Jan 1, 2012

Plottman Pops said:
I'd buy it just to have a 3 digit...the only ones I've ever seen weren't for sale....

Hello
I was at the Louisville, Kentucky show about Four Year's ago, and ran into a Pin Hooker toting a Three digit K-22. It was Rode Hard and put away Hot with corrosion and much bluing loss. The seller wanted $750.00 for it as he emphasized it's three digit serial number. Condition is everything to me, so it's serial number did not weigh in at $750.00 for me and I passed on it, as it reminded me of a Door stop more so than a Collectible K-22 in the condition that is was the owner sure did not have any compassion for it.

Less than Three month's later, I was at a Local show here in Knoxville and came onto a Four digit serial number K-22 in it's original box with the tools and Paperwork. After a bit of Haggling, I walked away from the seller's table with it for $500.00 cash and never looked back, as I was stunned at what I actually got it for. The Magna's that came on it are serial numbered to the gun, but I Placed the Diamond Target stocks on it as I Like them better and I am Glad I was Patient and waited for one shown below in much better shape, than the Beat down Three digit gun I had seen prior to finding this one, that was gun only and in Very Poor shape. The Only way I would buy a Three digit serial numbered K-22 is if it was in better shape than this one, and that certainly will not be easy to locate such a gun nor will the sale price of such a gun be as attractive as this one was.

bigmoose · Jan 1, 2012

The negatives on this gun outweigh the positives. It's a shooter. It will always be a revolver with mismatched grips, non-original hammer, and marginal bluing. Are the screws buggered? I would spend more $$ for a more "correct" specimen.

RKmesa · Jan 1, 2012

Hammerdown said:
Hello
I was at a Local show here in Knoxville and came onto a Four digit serial number K-22 in it's original box with the tools and Paperwork. ... The Magna's that came on it are serial numbered to the gun, but I Placed the Diamond Target stocks on it as I Like them better...

HD:

Did you also put on the target trigger, or was it on it when you purchased it?

Thanks for sharing that very nice gun and neat story.

Hammerdown · Jan 1, 2012

RKmesa said:
HD:

Did you also put on the target trigger, or was it on it when you purchased it?

Thanks for sharing that very nice gun and neat story.

Hello Richard
My Pleasure. The trigger is factory and is not of Target width the pictures seem to make it look that way but it is of standard width...Here it is when I first got it shown with it's original serial numbered Magna's on it..

paplinker · Jan 1, 2012

I think a working 85%+ 3 digit k-22 is at least great trade bait if under a grand. In some states i think they just are not ever going to pop up. k-22s appeal to so many people, collector and shooters alike, that someone would pay or trade a little more to enjoy one.

Sebago Son · Jan 1, 2012

Lower Numbers....

rburg said:
"... I value it highly, being too proud to search chicken coops for a lower one..."

What? No Chicken Coop Diving?...

Dick, you don't know what you're missing!...

BTW, Saw Mills are a pretty good place to look too...

Of course you could go looking for the fabled K105....

...which is supposedly at the 15 fathom curve on a heading of 277 degrees out of Ashtabula, Ohio ....

Better hurry... RdrBill is headed out there now and the ice is starting to form up....

PMRet · Jan 1, 2012

Smitholdtimer and I both saw this gun yesterday at a local show, and we both started a thread about it last night. Sam took one of his friends by today to look at the gun and he bought it, so maybe Sam can get some pictures from him at some point to post.

rburg · Jan 1, 2012

I'm glad some of our posters are showing common sense!

It would please me if our posters owned every 3 digit K22 in existence. That's really not that far out of reason. Its only a thousand guns, and some of us already own more than our fair share.

Sebago Son · Jan 1, 2012

Actually Dick, I think it's a little less than 1,000 guns....

Plottman Pops · Jan 1, 2012

Kurt,That is one fine looking K22... maybe one of these days i'll be in front of you at Knoxville instead of a row or two behind and find the one like it

Early K-22 with Large Knob Ejector Rod and 3 Digit Serial Number

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