Hi! My husband inherited a gun recently from his father out of state. He wasn't really aware of the gun and would like to find out more.
On the bottom of the handle it says K 204527
It also has the following "markings":
Trademark Registration US Pat. off
Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG
Made in USA
Marcus Registratis
Springfield, MA

Any info. would be so greatly appreciated and I do not know if we have missed any other markings on gun or where they would be.
Thanks!

Sounds like he has a K22. A picture would help. It will probably have either a 4- or 6-inch barrel. Inside the frame cut for the yoke you may see a "MOD 17" or something like that. Take a look.

K204527 should be 1953 for manufacturing date according to Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson. Therefore it was made before model numbers were assigned, likely a K22 masterpiece. The serial number should be on the barrel where the extractor rod goes, on the cylinder, and on the extractor I think.

What the other two posters didn't mention is the K22 is one of the finest shooting target revolvers ever built, and depending on condition is sought after by many shooters and collectors. Without pictures it is impossible to estimate any value but it would fall somewhere between $300 and $800. Being as it was his fathers, it would be priceless and something to be used in his memory and passed on to your children. Taken care of it will last several lifetimes.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Other things you need to be aware of are laws regarding the interstate transfer of handguns. I'm not an expert and don't want to be an alarmist, but I think that unless the handgun was specifically willed to your husband as part of an estate after the death of your father-in-law, the transfer from the state in which the father resided to your husband should be handled through a Federal Firearms Licensee - an FFL dealer. Is this likely to be a problem? Maybe not, but to be in compliance with the law, you should be sure the transfer from one state to another is done correctly.

Boy, if the feds had to try to run down every person who acquired a gun from a relative in another state and took it home they wouldn't have time to do anything else.

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No life story has happy end.

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! That is a very nice inheritance, no matter what the physical condition. These target revolvers were top-of-the-line S&W guns and remain sought after for their workmanship and accuracy. S&W made the "Masterpieces," as they were called, in .22, .32 S&W Long, and .38 S&W Special calibers striving to make each caliber identical to the others so a shooter could switch calibers and have essentially the same feel while shooting. Your husband and you should really enjoy shooting this heirloom.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Welcome to the forum.

That revolver became the Model 17 after 1957. Does it look like this with 6" barrel? Then it's a "Model K22 Masterpiece":

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Jim
S&WCA #819

It's insulting to call me boy.

Surely you can't be serious...

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No life story has happy end.

Now your going really make him by calling him
"Shirley".

Well, it hasn't been made clear in previous posts, except for the fact that your husband's inheritance is a K22.
But actual model depends on the length of the barrel;
If, measuring from the front of the cylinder it's 4 inches, it's a K22 Combat Masterpiece.
If it measures to 6 inches, it's the previously mentioned K22 Masterpiece.

Welcome to the forum and very sorry for your and your husband's loss.

The answers to your questions have pretty much been answered above. The S&W K 22 Masterpiece is one of the finest .22 revolvers ever made and desired by collectors. Make sure to get the original box from the estate if there was one. The original box and gun together adds even more value.

These are excellent guns to learn to shoot with as the .22 long rifle is a very mild caliber as far as firearms go. My wife and daughters absolutely loved going to the range and plinking with my K22 when the girls were young. If you have never shot before, you will really enjoy shooting this gun and trying to improve your aim.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Here is a picture. Thank you for all the replies, it really helps

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