At least I think it is. 22LR, 4" barrel with grips numbered to rest of the gun.
K 294081 makes it 1956? It's been shot and carried but not beat up.

My dilemma is that it was my uncles and I really don't know what to do with it. I'm not a S&W or a revolver guy although I own a few but definitely not a collector of any sort. No one to pass it on to that has any interest in guns, don't need the money nor would it feel right and I'll probably never shoot it.

Do I put it back in the safe and let my heirs sort it out, send it somewhere to have it worked on so that it might interest me enough to shoot it? What would you do?

__________________
NRA Life Member

I would urge you to take it out and shoot it . . . experience the excellence of the K-22. You'll know what to do then . . . and I predict you will keep and enjoy it. There will be someone in the family to carry on the heritage.

Russ

What do you think is wrong with it, that you'd want to send it somewhere to have it
worked on ?

If you know you have no heirs that you would pass it onto, or that you know would not
want it, then sell it. No point in keeping something that is no value to you or your
family.

Mike Priwer

Go Squirrel hunting, you may decide to keep it and get supper too

__________________
Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Try it. If you don't like then sell it. What would you do with any other object?

__________________
No life story has happy end.

Just knowing its history, I'd hang onto it. Sometimes the sentimental value is more important than the item itself, but then again, they are just objects and meant to be enjoyed, however that may be. Selling will not be a hard task if you go that route. Is finding 22lr a problem?

Funny thread. My gunshow partner and friend Joe have this conversation all the time. If you sold it, what would you do with the money. Can't save it, savings aren't paying any interest. Inflation is maybe 5-6% (not the official lies.) So you'd just end up blowing it on a few dinners or something.

No matter what you do, clean it really good then use some quality oil. If you're not going to shoot it, maybe even a little too much oil. It won't hurt it. Its a great gun, and my guess is it will go up in value more than any investment you will find.

__________________
Dick Burg

There's nothing wrong with it. It is just not something that I enjoy shooting. I also have my fathers which is a year or two either side of my uncles and a has a 6" barrel.

__________________
NRA Life Member

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I'll just hang on to then, I have shot it and it runs fine with anything I've fed it. I've always had a few 22LR firearms around so was stocked up before the current shortage.

Thanks again to all that posted.

__________________
NRA Life Member

K288,989 – K317,822...1957 (Manufacturing date)

It could have shipped in 1957 or possibly later. Is it stamped as a Model 17 in the yoke area?

As someone who owned and sold two different and very nice 1950s-era K-22s because I had no particular use for them (I preferred Colt semi-auto .22s at the time), I sure wish I had kept at least one of them.

As someone who collected and competed informally with High Standard 22 semis for many years, my K-22 that I sort of "backed into" at an auction a couple of years ago has moved to the top of my most shot and most loved lists. I let one get out of the family about 10-15 years ago, this one won't! Just my 2¢ worth.

Froggie

My attitude about hanging onto things changed when my mother died and I had to clean out her house. She had every Christmas card, birthday card, pay accounting (and she was retired 23 years), store receipt, etc. stored in shoes boxes.

She had knick-knacks and **** stashed in every closet. Stuff everywhere. I took a dozen pick up truck loads to the Goodwill and another dozen to the dump.

I came home vowing not to keep things I didn't use. I have cleaned out a bunch of stuff. Including selling some guns that weren't holding my immediate interest. If I'm not using it, I don't want it in the house.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

I'd make sure my uncles' fingerprints are the only ones that are on it, rob a liquor store, and "clumsily" drop the gun on your out the front door. Don't rob a bank cuz the Feds are stingy with their plea deals. Liquor stores, on the other hand, is almost seen a victimless crime.

__________________
Why, I aughta.....

^^^ Ha! I like the way he thinks.

No, no model 17 in yoke area.

__________________
NRA Life Member

Honestly that is part of the reason I was asking. I'm nearing retirement and have more stuff than I ever thought possible as does my wife. We have one adult daughter that has absolutely no interest in our collections, lives hours away with interests and a career of her own. I'm truly concerned that getting ride of our treasures will be overwhelming.

__________________
NRA Life Member

We went through the same thing after my parents passed. A large roll off dumpster filled with Junk, junque and worthless stuff.

Traderdell this is different, Keep the gun, the 4" is wonderful for carrying. I inherited my Dad's old 3 screw Ruger Single Six, it is the handgun I learned on. I like it, I also inherited my Uncles High Standard 22 LR. I shoot it on a regular basis. I have 4 or 5 other 22 handguns.

I personally would keep the 4" it would be great for packing and plinking.

You've asked a gun question but it appears downsizing is your concern. 7 years ago we downsized homes and did not get rid of some expendable stuff. We sold that home last summer and downsized again. We are now paying for a storage unit that is much bigger than we need.

I know how hard it is to get rid of things. I've wrestled that demon.

I highly suggest that you get some boxes, take some things to charity, get a receipt for taxes.

I would take any metal or aluminum to a recycler.

I would start putting stuff in the weekly trash.

We did all the above and still ended up with too much.

I personally would start tomorrow, no procrastination.

Good luck sir, it gets easier after you start putting stuff in trash cans.

^ All good information to chew on. I guess downsizing is my main objective. It wears on me.

__________________
NRA Life Member

I would find someone who would appreciate it and give it to them. Its a wonderful feeling. think about it for awhile and I'll bet an acquaintance that likes to hunt or shoot, (maybe has a nephew, grandson or granddaughter ready to be introduced to the shooting), will come to mind. I've heard stories of like kindness before and thought what a great jesture.

Charlie

What you have is a 22 Combat Masterpiece, or pre Model 18. The six inch version is the K22 Masterpiece, or pre Model 17.

The 22 CM/pre 18 is one of the most highly sought after Smith revolvers.

If you shoot it it might grow on you. If not it would be easy to sell.

I just saw Crside's post--that would be an excellent gesture as well.

It is also a wonderful training tool for new shooters to learn on. Do you have any children, grandchildren, nephews nieces, etc? They are hard to find. Give it a try and I think you will not want to part with it.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I hear you. Once you sell your collection items and start moving items out the door it really does get easier.

And you start to feel better. Believe me I know. Getting rid of stuff starting last June when we sold our house. I'd look at something and say, gee I've had this since 19aught2 and may need it. But once it was gone I did not miss it and felt better.

Oh, you need to sort your own stuff, the spouse has much less desire to keep what is important like nuts and bolts.

I think that it is completely unfair of you to make a thread about a really cool revolver and not post photos of it.

Am I just supposed to imagine it? Come on!

Hang on to that puppy. I picked one up at a gun show, not perfect but accurate as all get out. Some of the guys on here told me mine was made in 1957. I was in the second grade. I'll hang on to mine 6 inch till God calls me to the train.

Reb

Attached Images

1957 vintage..jpg (43.4 KB, 30 views)

You have a nice gun. If you have other guns, you must be at least an occasional shooter. 22 cal. are inexpensive to shoot and I would shoot that gun. After some time you will decide to keep it, pass it on to a friend or sell it. For now, just enjoy it.

Do you think your father and his brother are the original owners of these two k22s ?
If so i would keep them together. I love the personal history of old firearms and would find a set of two bbl lengths like yours very appealing if some names and a little history were attached to it.
I would guess maybe your relatives would have liked it if the next owner enjoyed the guns and knew who they were. Sort of keeping brothers together in a way.

You might also consider giving it a youth group that conducts firearms training. I coach such a shooting group and I'm sure there are others in your region somewhere.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Not that it particularly matters, but after a long search, I just paid $675 for a 4-screw pre-18 in 90-95% condition and am very pleased with the price I paid. I can't wait to get it to the range and try it out, but it's been too cold hereabouts.