Yesterday I stopped in to an out-of-the-way hardware store that I knew had a small selection of rifles & handguns. Looking over all the new stuff, I noticed a used 22 caliber wheel gun on the back shelf. It looked interesting enough for a closer look, so I asked the clerk to get it out. Turns out it was a consignment gun & upon closer inspection, I found it to be an S&W K frame, 5-screw, 3-line logo with diamond stocks. My limited knowledge kicked in & suggested that it might be a late 40's or early 50's piece. Today, I went back, armed with a s/n list that I downloaded off this forum, hoping that it numbered to 1949, my birth year. According to the list, it is a 1951 - too bad, but I bought it anyway. The grips number to the gun & it locks up nice & tight. Since there is no model designation stamped on the frame under the yoke, & only marked "22 long rifle cartridge" on the barrel, I am wondering of this is an Outdoorsman model or just a K22? The pix are off my cell phone, but do a good job of capturing the overall condition. I'm looking forward to trying it out, hopefully next week. John

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With the 4" barrel, it would be a K22 Combat Masterpiece. I think the "Outdoorsman" name applied only to pre-WWII K22s. I'd say yours shipped in late 1951 to early 1952, although I don't show any K22 SNs that are very close to yours.

Thanks DWalt, this is my first 22 cal S&W, so I am really thrashing about the woods for info. It joins my other 22 revolver, an H&R 999 Sportsman that my grandfather purchased new in 1931. I like the heavier barrel/rib combo and thicker grip panels than my only other K frame, a pre-victory model that went to Australia.

Nice find indeed. According to my data sheet, a K22 Combat masterpiece just a few digits earlier than yours shipped in April 1952. Enjoy it.

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NRA Cert. Inst. RSO

Your K22 Combat Masterpiece is most likely a 1952 like the guys said,
The wide target hammer could have been ordered that way or added after it was purchased , I would lean towards the latter.

If you closely examine the grip medallions they should be grey plastic in that serial range.

If your interested in the evolution of thi model I have been chronologically detailing its evolution in this thread.

Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy

Thanks Engine49guy, that's quite a collection you have! I cannot tell if the medallions are plastic or some sort of pot metal but the washers on the insides are steel & the posts appear to be peened a little bit to hold them on. The post on the left one is broken & the washer falls out with the broken pin still attached when the stock is taken off the frame. Until I read your post, I had not picked up on the significance of the target hammer, only that it had noticeably deeper checkering - like my 28-2 has. Do you know if original medallions are still available? Since this is not a "collector" per se & I am going to enjoy shooting it, a later medallion set might be advisable. Thanks again for the info, John

A nice find indeed! I have a 1953 vintage K-22 with box that is marked "Target Hammer" and indeed it does have one along with a standard trigger. I think the "Target Hammer" was available in 1952 and the "Target Trigger" was not available until around 1955 or so, I'm sure someone here could confirm or deny this. Let us know how it shoots and enjoy that one!

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Stay safe people!

THAT is a nice find indeed! I never see those around here, and they even seem pretty scarce on the 'net. Good on ya, you are going to like that gun!

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Nice find! It looks to be in very good condition.
Like DWalt posted, it's known as a K22 Combat Masterpiece or a pre Model 18. I've got an early one, serial number K88139 that according to Roy Jinks shipped September 1950.

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Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435

A nice pre 18 is a hard find these days. And when they do show up for auction they bring a premium. They have been going very high lately. Seems like all collectable smiths have taken a huge jump in the past year. When these local gun shops sell at blue book and don't check current prices its your benefit.

I own a K 22 (pre 17) K 85403 that shipped in June 1950 and a K 38 (pre 14) K109736 that shipped September 1951 that might give you some idea on timeframes.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Perfect condition for a woods carry/shooter. Not to perfect for the woods but clean .... with stories to tell and time to make more!

My 18-4 .....has a target hammer and standard trigger.......IMO a great combo for single action shooting.

Vulcan Bob..... if you ever want to sell that 53...LOL..... drop me a PM....I've been looking for a "birth year" gun.

Thanks again to everybody for all the info! Since this is a K frame I am thinking it would be nice to fit another cylinder in 22 mag or wrf to ,make it into a convertable. Any thoughts on this (I do not wish to destroy the original cylinder by boring it out.) Anybody have an extra 22 LR or 22 mag cylinder they would part with? John

Diamond, I think for the money involved in making your gun a true convertible you'd be better off something with both cylinders already.

Also, are you aware that 22LR, 22WMR, and 22WRF all have different bullet diameters?

22LR------.223 in.
22WMR---.224 in.
22WRF----.226 in.

A gun that will work good with one will not necessarily work well with another.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Good point, 2hawk. It was just a thought. I converted a M&P 38 S&W to 38 Special, but that was going down in bullet size, not up like you pointed out. I have also fitted another cylinder to my mod 28 which had previously been converted to 357/44 B&D. It is nice to have the option of choice. John

Sounds like you just need to buy a few more guns. Convertibles are best left to automobiles.

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James Redfield
LM #497

In the for "whatever its worth" category, I have a pre-18 (1955) and had the same thought about adding a magnum cylinder. A "new" one (old stock, who knows. . . didn't appear to have been shot or fitted previously) turned up at the local parts shop. I was aware of the possible issues due to the difference in bullet diameters but decided to try it anyway and had a smith fit it to the gun and it works just fine with both cylinders. Wouldn't hesitate to try it again, the trick though, I think, is to find the S&W 22 WMR cylinder.