date help please

[driley]

I have a k38 5 screw #k145942 and would like to find year made


were the k22 numbered in the same series


thanks Daniel

[g8rb8]

#k145942 should be circa 1952.

Yes. The K-22 would have been numbered in the same ranges as the K-38.

[driley]

thanks Daniel

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by driley

were the k22 numbered in the same series

Daniel

g8rb8 gave you the correct answer, but allow me to expand on it a bit.

After the war (1946), S&W began to use the K prefix serial numbers to designate all K frame models for which adjustable sights were standard. Initially, this included the K-22, the K-32 and the K-38. A bit later, it also included the Combat Masterpiece and the Combat Magnum lines. This practice lasted until about 1983, when the three-alpha, four digit numbers took over.

[JSR III]

JP@AK gave you the correct answer, but allow me to expand on it a little.

S&W typically did runs of frames in groups. 50, 100, 200, 300 at a time depending on demand. SO, while it is possible to have a K 22 with serial number K 123456 and a K 38 with serial number K 123457, you won't find another K 22 with serial number K 123458.

In other words, they would run a batch of K 22's K 123456 through K 123500, and then possibly a batch of K 38's from K 123501 through K 123600. You won't find them randomly interspersed within the same serial number block.

Hopefully that makes as much sense in writing as it does in my head.

[g8rb8]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

.........
After the war (1946), S&W began to use the K prefix serial numbers to designate all K frame models for which adjustable sights were standard. Initially, this included the K-22, the K-32 and the K-38. A bit later, it also included the Combat Masterpiece and the Combat Magnum lines. This practice lasted until about 1983, when the three-alpha, four digit numbers took over.

JSR III
.....S&W typically did runs of frames in groups. 50, 100, 200, 300 at a time depending on demand. SO, while it is possible to have a K 22 with serial number K 123456 and a K 38 with serial number K 123457, you won't find another K 22 with serial number K 123458.

In other words, they would run a batch of K 22's K 123456 through K 123500, and then possibly a batch of K 38's from K 123501 through K 123600. You won't find them randomly interspersed within the same serial number block.....

JP@AK and JSR III,
Thank you for more eloquent and enlightening answers than I provided. I had suspected, but never had confirmed, about the batching of specific models as discussed by JSR III. It certainly makes sense. The tip of categorizing K prefix guns as generically representing adjustable sight models as mentioned by JP@AK is a good piece of information too. THANKS. Guys like you keep this site interesting.

[DWalt]

"In other words, they would run a batch of K 22's K 123456 through K 123500, and then possibly a batch of K 38's from K 123501 through K 123600. You won't find them randomly interspersed within the same serial number block."

This is because there are some design differences between the frames of the K-22 (which is a rimfire) and the K-38 (which is a centerfire), even though both frames have the same physical dimensions.

The manufacturing SN range for 1952 is K136,691 – K175,637. I do not show any very close SNs to yours on my list, but enough to indicate that it was probably shipped during the latter part of 1952.

[driley]

thanks for all your help I was wondering about the k38 and k22 numbers because I have a k22 # k152137 so it is roughly 6000 later and I thought that was close to not be in the same series