I do not believe there is a 'Heavy Barrel' K-22 per se. As far as I know, the factory never used the term, and I have a fairly extensive catalog and paper collection.
The K-22 barrels were changed merely to make the 3 KMs match more in appearance,
in my opinion.
As discussed, the 32 and the 38 were made Heavy to match the weight of the 22 when all three were loaded with target ammo. Why would the K-22 be made intentionally heavier to upset that equalization?
I just weighed a 5 screw 1948 K-22 and a 1977 Mod 17-3, both without grips. The 17-3 with the wide rib is 47 grams or 1.658 oz heavier. The 17-3 is both dirtier and oilier than the K-22. The K-22 is also a special order Bright Blue, so it was polished much more than a normal gun for that year, so there is PROBABLY not really a difference of 1.658 ounces between the two versions IF one were to weigh two fully clean examples made within a year or two of each other instead of nearly 3 decades apart.
I also wonder if the 32s and 38s were altered ever so slightly at the time K-22 ribs were widened to keep the weight match among the trio.
What would be most interesting would be to weigh three clean guns supposed to be equal weight, like say three 1952 guns with HB 32 and 38, LOADED with target ammo, and see how close they really are.
THEN, let's weigh a 1955 or 56 trio which includes a wide K-22, equally clean, and LOADED with target ammo of the day. It needs to be contemporary ammo because bullet lubes and powder changes could affect weight by several milligrams.
It may be possible that the wide 22 did not upset the equality because the 32 and 38 were too heavy when made Heavy. Maybe they never truly matched them.
Or, as I said earlier, maybe they were lightened ever so slightly when the 22 got wider/heavier.
Ahhhh, the joys of collecting, with questions, questions and mysteries, mysteries.
So, someone should strip, clean, dry, load, and weigh two trios matched by year(or very close) without grips and get back to us. We can't risk manufacturing variation that might occur from year to year or decade to decade. They, of course, must have matching hammers, triggers, and sights, and be weighed without grips to avoid variation. You have to understand how much difference a red post and a white outline or a Target Trigger could make!
I may not sleep well till I know for sure if their IS a HEAVY K-22, or merely a WIDE K-22.
I GOTS to know!
