Guy at the shop does not know the model #, nor is it stamped on the gun. It a 6", with a screw in the front of the trigger guard (5 screw?). The number on the frame and crane match, and the number on the barrel under the ejecter rod and the cylinder match. It has strange sights, or at least they do not look like most adjustable Smith sights. The front sight has "king" on it. The serial is 106XX.

Sounds like a pre-War K-22 that has had King Sights installed. A picture would be nice, of course.
Another possibility would be that it was an I-frame Bekeart/HFT or the so-called 22/32, but I'm not sure their serial numbers go that low without looking in SCSW.
Maybe somebody else will chime in with more ideas. A picture would be nice, of course. (Or did I say that? )

Froggie

If you can give the letter(s) and digits from the bottom of the grip frame, like K106xx, or alternatively if there are numbers from the front grip strap, that would clarify which .22 model this is. Froggie has the front sight ID correct, and it may also have an aftermarket rear sight.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It's too early to have a model # until 1957. It would only have a model name and that would not be on the gun anywhere.

Is that the number on the grip butt? If from the yoke and frame it's a factory assembly # and no help. Your # will not work for any pre war 22 cal guns and not for a post war K22 unless it has a letter in front of it. It can only be a post war K22 Masterpiece from the 1947 period with a K in front of the number. If no K it's not a valid 22 serial #.

The "strange adjustable sights" sounds like it must be a prewar gun. To be a post war 22 with strange sights it has to be an I frame gun but must have a 6 digit # and no letters.

So a letter or # digit is missing, but most likely not the serial # at all..

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The King Gun Sight Co. in San Francisco was a major supplier of target sight upgrades for both Colt and Smith & Wesson. To my mind, King sights are one of the changes to a S&W that may actually increase its collector value. King sights came in a variety of formats, but one of the most popular was the reflector sight, which had a small round mirror embedded in the base that caught ambient light and threw it back up on the colored bead or post at the top of the front blade. The rear sights often had a white outline around the notch.

If the 106xx you cited is found on the yoke and the concealed surface of the frame, then it is not the serial number. That eventually became the location of the serial number, but in the five-screw era the numbers found there are simply process control numbers that have no meaning once the gun leaves the factory. What is the number you see on the back of the cylinder and the flat underside of the barrel? It should be the same as the number stamped on the grip frame, but if the gun has target stocks, the wood may conceal the actual serial number on the frame. (ATF considers only the frame number to be the actual serial number, but you can get it off the parts where it is duplicated if it is hidden under the stocks and you don't have the chance to take them off.) A prewar revolver will have a six-digit serial number with no letter prefix. A postwar target .22 (if it is a K-frame) will have a K prefix to the serial number, unless you have a small-frame .22 (I or J frame). But that strikes me as unlikely from the way you describe it.

PLEASE post pics! Lots of us here love old .22s and the King sights have a lot of followers too.

ADDENDUM: Ah, while I was typing Jim got in with a quicker summary of the situation.

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David Wilson

David,
I see us 'west coast owls' are out again. (Smile)

Wouldn't it be nice if the digit 6 was missing from the front? It could be an elusive Transitional 22/32 Target.....but of course much more likely to be an Outdoorsman with the serial number different than what was given.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I didn't write the other #'s down, and I have no pics. It had some plastic or bakelite target grips with a thumbrest. Oh, it also had "pat pending" and some other **** on the back of the hammer, which I have not seen before. Anyway, I would like to have the gun, but at $900, I think its way too high.

It may be too high for you, but contingent upon condition and % of orignal finish it might not be too high at all for the gun. Although of course, missing the correct grips which are shown below does effect the value. How much blue does it have? If a lot, are there any signs of re-finish?

I don't think David would mind if I used a picture of one of his "Screamers". Does it look like this pre war K22 Outdoorsman except for the front sight and grips?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

How about the possibility that this is one of those converted Victory Models like we've seen in other discussions? Could it be that the whole thing is non-factory and not just the sights and grips? There's just too little information and too many questions here to make any kind of judgement. Regards to my "West Coast Owl" buddies!

Froggie

Gun looks just like that, except the front sight and grips. It has plenty of blue, but has scratches and nicks, or normal use marks. I take it that the rear sight is an early style?

Yes, the pre WW II style.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44 Yes, the pre WW II style.

The K22-40 is a 'pre WW II'. Doesn't have that style.

I'm just saying...

bdGreen

Yes very true! I just try not to get too complicated if not needed. Then you get into the pre war II style still used on some models post war. There's so many exceptions....
Thanks,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Just want to add that the front sight has a mirror or shiny piece of metal in the base.

Sure would be nice to see pics if it isn't to inconvenient for you. Sounds like a nice revolver.............

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Go big or stay home

Yep, that's a King premium sight option that reflects light up onto the front sight for maximum visibility.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

NLS:

Here is a pre-war K-22 Outdoorsman with the full King treatment (and a factory grip adapter) - called the King Super Target. Did it look like this? If so, then I think the pricing is very much in line, even with a few scratches.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

This is not a K-22, but the photos show examples of a standard King Reflector Sight and white-outline rear sight. THe dark hollow on top of the sight base and in front of the red bead is where the small reflective surface is mounted. The groove around the circular notch on the rear sight would have been filled with white paint when new. There is actually a little of the paint left, but it is obscured by the lighting.

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David Wilson