What Makes a "Good" K22 Collection?

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hardscrabble

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I read a post in a recent thread that made me think it might be useful to get some opinions regarding “what would “THE” definitive, K22 collection look like?”

I have had this in mind:

K22 1st Model, early with left side trademark
K22 1st Model, latter example with side plate trademark

K22 2nd Model

K22 3rd Model with large ejector rod knob
K22 3rd Model with standard ejector knob and one line address
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, plastic grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, steel grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, bright blue
K22 3rd Model pre-model marked, 4-screw
K22 Model 17 (“no dash”)
K22 Model 17-1

….and so on (my interest in them ends with the end of 4-screw guns). These are the guns I would consider essential to a well represented collection of standard variants, without getting into the options like humpback hammers, non-standard grips, optional finishes, etc. Not to say that those options don’t appeal to me (they do) but my thinking is they are not “essential” to a representative collection. (For example, you could take the last 5 on that list and say, for example, “with target grips, target hammer, standard trigger” and you’re off to the races, maybe muddying up the water. I’ve been there.)

I’d like to hear what you think. What do you think is missing from this list?
 
I have never considered the type of medallion in the Post-War Magna stocks as a "definitive" example, more like minutia to me. What would be important to me it to add the Combat Masterpiece to the collection and add finish type. The Masterpiece was 6" and the Combat Masterpiece was 4", and there were blue and nickel examples made in some K22 models.

You also need to consider the "Heavy" Masterpiece revolvers and those with standard hammers and triggers vs. target hammers & triggers.
 
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hardscrabble said:
“what would “THE” definitive, K22 collection look like?”

I have had this in mind:

K22 1st Model, early with left side trademark
K22 1st Model, latter example with side plate trademark

K22 2nd Model

K22 3rd Model with large ejector rod knob
K22 3rd Model with standard ejector knob and one line address
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, plastic grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, steel grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, bright blue
K22 3rd Model pre-model marked, 4-screw
K22 Model 17 (“no dash”)
K22 Model 17-1

….and so on (my interest in them ends with the end of 4-screw guns). These are the guns I would consider essential to a well represented collection of standard variants...
Click to expand...

As an admitted K-22 addict - what makes a good K-22 collection? Answer - any of the above revolvers would be a "good" start on a K-22 "collection". However, you also used the words "'THE' definitive" collection - qualified with an I'm only interested in guns through the 4-screw era. That would be a whole different answer and I would say that no one has compiled "The definitive K-22 collection", but I would have to say that in order to make a good dent in such a collection you would collect the items you mentioned (probably more than one of each;))...



...other items you may want to consider:

Maybe a two-screw rear sight Outdoorsman and one-screw rear sight Outdoorsman, along with the gold bead front sight and silver bead front sight (note that most gold bead front sighted guns come with the one-screw rear sight)...









I would agree that you have to throw a few Combat Masterpieces in there as well...





And...what would any K-22 collection be without an engraved one or two...:D:cool:







And then of course you need to collect all of the different box styles...and the tools...:eek:





...and maybe a King modified Super Target...



...and of course a complete set of the brochures and catalogs (of each style and era)...













...and you cannot forget the period advertisements...





...maybe one with the optional grip adapter...



...or a factory installed lanyard...





...perhaps you'd add a 4-screw Model 48 in the various barrel lengths...



...maybe a Model 45 (a fixed sight M&P K-22 that I cannot remember if it came in a 4-screw version or not...)

And even after you have all of the above, there will be variations that you come across that you did not know existed (e.g. Jim Fisher's 2" snubby Outdoorsman with fixed sights, Bill Cross' Outdoorsman with the ivory bead front sight, etc...).

I am 10+ years into collecting the K-22s and look forward to many more years of searching and refining my start...:);):cool::rolleyes::eek::D
 
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How about adding one of those fixed-sight USCG guns from the 30's? Heck, I've never even seen a picture of one of them.

M45's, CM's and M48's have already been mentioned. I'm not sure when the 8-3/8ths bbl made it's appearance, but I'd add one to the "definitive" K22 collection for sure.

Oh yeah; I realize that it's well beyond the 17-1 limit, but one of those case-colored, non-ribbed 17-8(?)'s would also be nice.

A million good day dreams to dream on, but that one would surely be a favorite day dream of all. -S2

(...with apologies to Merle)
 
Boy this thread sure produced some nice K-22 pic's! I guess that an idea of a collection differs a bit. For my own meager K-22 "collection" I have a post war "single liner", three five screws,one four screw and two three screws and a M-18. The one thing I would like to find is a pre war Woodsman. However if I stumble across a few nice examples that would be nice too. Good luck in your search!
 
The truth is that one of the best parts about old S&W collecting is that you are never done, there's always another gun to add to your collection, and it almost doesn't matter how narrow your collecting niche is.

My advice to Hardscrabble is to buy the K22s that you like and get to know the more common ones intimately so that you can appreciate the weird ones. It's a great place to be in as far as collecting S&Ws is concerned, and should keep you occupied... forever.
 
After reading the thread title, I was going to be a wise *** and say "K 22's" but after seeing all of the real answers and beautiful photographs, it somehow didn't seem funny anymore. So I'll just say "SEE ABOVE". ;)
 
That's good advice.

I've worked my way through this list, less the second model, and I'm going to keep looking for a higher end late SN Outdoorsman than I have. More accurately, I've worked my way through it twice, since I didn't take some good advice I was offered and ended up with a bunch of guns that I wasn't satisfied with. I've spent a bunch of time and money upgrading and I've been through a lot of guns. I have some duplicates, I have a Model 18 (keeping an eye out for a pretty 5-screw pre-18), and only one or two aren't in original boxes. I need that 2nd Model, but the right one will come along eventually.

My only purpose here is to do a quick "am I missing something obvious here?" at the point where I'm about to finish up the grouping I set out to acquire several years ago. I "do" 1917's too, so it's not like I think I've crossed a finish line or something. ����
 
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Speedo2 said:
How about adding one of those fixed-sight USCG guns from the 30's? Heck, I've never even seen a picture of one of them.
Click to expand...

Did not ship to the USCG, but Jim Fisher posted a photo of a 1930's fixed sight 6" "commercial model". Here's the photo, posted in post 61 of this thread http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...preciation-photo-thread-2.html#post137554800:

bmg60-albums-k-22-rex-applegate-picture8249-k-22-commerical-coast-guard.jpg


Very cool gun...
 
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A few months back........

a fellow forum member had presentation case for sale in the classifieds. Since joining the forum in the last year, i've only seen two for sale. 1 here and the other....???
I think I should've bought it. Anybody got one of those?
Bob
 
Don't remember when, but I got this one in the Accessories for Sale section from a good friend and member here. Maybe a year or two ago. Is this the one you were thinking about? It is holding my 3 digit K22. This is the only one of my K22's that will fit due to the hammer style. There is an oriental mark in the lid top with the date 3-27-48. Nothing on top of lid but the initials SF.

Charlie

 
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crsides said:
Don't remember when, but I got this one in the Accessories for Sale section from a good friend and member here. Maybe a year or two ago. Is this the one you were thinking about? It is holding my 3 digit K22. This is the only one of my K22's that will fit due to the hammer style. There is an oriental mark in the lid top with the date 3-27-48. Nothing on top of lid but the initials SF.

Charlie

Click to expand...

No Sir. I just did a quick search and could not find it. I can't remember who was selling it. If memory serves, it was not wooden. Well, it might have been but it was covered with something. It was a darker blue, had the S&W logo and a hook type clasp. I can't recall the interior either. A google search didn't do me any good either. For ever gone I suppose.

Nice Masterpiece by the way.
Bob
 
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