I haven't taken possession yet, but I'm not going to learn anything from the revolver that I can't get by posting pictures. This came out of Oregon, probably from an estate there according to the seller. Any ideas what the property markings (O.DL 128138) might point towards? I've been all over "Oregon Dept. of L...", but nothing there that I can find. Yeah, it's a long shot. Yeah, I'll probably letter it just to see if there's a clue. This undoubtedly best place to throw it out there.

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Cy

Oregon Drivers License?

Was popular in the 70's to engrave your DL or SS number to aid recovery if stolen. Most certainly a major hit to value in my opinion...

Yeah, I have $650 in it, and I couldn't pass it up. It's my 5th 'one liner' and my 3rd LERK. the others are nicer.

Of course that's almost certainly right. Don't know why I didn't think of it.

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Cy

Hey, an engraved LERK. Big Larry

I know this might be offensive, but will you give us a hint at the serial # range. Just for fun, and because we like it.

Consider the scratching might be property room numbers from a crime or case number.

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Dick Burg

Larry:

I know you said that in jest, but with those DL markings (as long as they're not too deep), it WOULD make a great canvas for an engraving project. My engraver friend routinely "removes" the roll mark on the right side for a large open space or a scene and I'm pretty sure that the DL number could be removed as well. One of my favorite guns is a K-22 (a few years older than Cy's LERK) that I had engraved and pinto'ed.



I wish I had a "before" photo...

Cy:

For $650, you're in that way right and excepting the "engraving" everything else (correct high shoulder magna stocks, trigger/hammer case color, extractor rod still has most of its blue...) looks to be in very nice condition...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Sure, Dick.

This one is K3463. I also have: K4691, K4760 (shipped 9-18-47) which are LERKs. K14716, K21022 are 'one liners', with the newer standard ejector knob.

I considered it might be a property room marking, just because I couldn't imagine anyone would want to scratch up an expensive revolver so badly. It is possible that the engraving took place much later than when the thing was new (and maybe not so relatively expensive), but if that is a driver's license number it appears to be a very low one, which doesn't square with that theory. There were over one million registered vehicles in OR in 1960.

Of course, none of this is important, just mildly interesting.

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Cy

Yeah, I thought so, Richard. It was a rare "impulse buy", which has in the past caused me to back up and divest myself of several guns which don't really fit well with what I have managed to accumulate. I found it at the same time I found that other piece we were discussing, except this one had a "buy now" I thought reasonable.

I have not owned an engraved gun in many years. I haven't even seen this one yet, and I had in mind a "shooter", although I already have a later Model 18 that serves pretty well in that role. I'm going to look the gun over and think the gun over and then I may seek some advice from you. Thanks for the idea!

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Cy

Sounds like you're due for an engraved one...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I too have a early (1937) N.I.B. K22, but in its present state, I would not touch it. Very pretty revolver you have there. Big Larry

Mine is # K 4339 and was shipped 9-23-1947. Just about new condition with original box and papers and SAT. Nope, I do not shoot it either. Safe Queen. Big Larry

QUOTE: I considered it might be a property room marking, just because I couldn't imagine anyone would want to scratch up an expensive revolver so badly.

There have been "recta" in law enforcement since the Centurion offered Christ vinegar on the cross.

Even 40 years ago the practice of scribing one's initials and case number on seized property was taught and practiced without regard for the fact that the item already possessed a unique identifying number. Some I knew thought it conferred some sort of immortality to "put their mark" on something or took glee in abusing the personal effects of an arrestee.

Somewhere in my accumulation is a mid-70s promotional package from the IACP on marking your property that includes a small scribe that would make marks very similar to those scratches. The brochure recommended using either DL or SSN if I recall correctly.

Beautiful acquisition, even scarred.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

The most memorable K-22 I have ever seen or handled was one belonging to a friend's Grandfather. The old boy was a real cowboy, and had carried a revolver as part of his work for decades. I had expected him to have a Colt SA or maybe even a Ruger. But his revolver of choice was a K-22 (very early post-war). It had almost no bluing left, a bulge in the barrel and even wore a few flecks of cow dung here and there.

My friend borrowed the handgun from his gramps, and carefully cleaned it - probably the only time it had been cleaned in four decades! A few years later when old Cowpuncher decided which of his many grand-kids to hand the revolver down to, he inscribed his choice on the side plate of the K-22 using his pocket knife. He was not an artist.

I like the option of engraving that nice old handgun. Mine is just blue worn, no writing - I added the fancy handles years back because the walnut ones were all stained and dented ...

Years ago, a friend of mines brother took a 100% matching German Luger he had picked up in the war and scratched "BRUCE" into the numbered sideplate. I saw this pistol a few years later at a gun shop for sale. The gun shop owner said he couldn't give the pistol away. A pistol worth a good $1,000 ruined. Big Larry

Just be glad the person who marked up your K22 hasn't got it any longer.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Shucks, I'd of bought it.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

That was his last name too. His brothers name was Lloyd Bruce. It was a real nice Luger. Big Larry

In Oregon I think O.DL is Oregon Drivers License. One of the most egregious examples I've seen of a moron scratching up a gun. I always wonder why the unique serial number wasn't good enough for these idiots.

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No life story has happy end.

Yep, it was a bad, unnecessary practice perpetuated by TV and movies. I don't know how many episodes of Perry Mason I saw where Hamilton Burger, the prosecutor, would have Sgt. Tragg, the homicide investigator, on the stand and would hand him a gun with a hang tag dangling on it and ask, "Is this the gun you found?" Tragg would accept it, look at the gun, point to it and say, "Yes, sir, that is my mark."

Boy, you hit that one right on the head. After years of collecting US martial arms, some of the nicest ones I found had the US markings obliterated and sometimes a Social Security number put on with one of those vibrating machines. I have a beautiful, documented, Van Orden Sniper M70 that some BOZO ground the US marks off. DUH !!! If you look real hard, you can still see the US. Big Larry

Why not try a replacement side plate or have that buffed off and recut the logo?

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

That's an idea. I usually lean hard towards leaving them alone, but a couple of good ideas have surfaced on here re: this one. Thanks.

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Cy

It really is too bad this is so marked up, because it is excellent otherwise. There's the start of a little wear mark left side muzzle, start of a little circle on the recoil shield indicating it has been fired, and a faint cylinder turn line on the cylinder. There are a half dozen rubbed points in the checkering on the right grip. Other than that (and the engraving) it is pristine.

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Cy

It will still be quite visible but I've used a technique that worked pretty well to lessen the eyesore. Use the edge of a nickel to push the displaced metal back into place as much as possible. Then touch up the bluing.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

That's a very nice and desirable version of an early post war K22!

The first thing that came to my mind is that the hen scratching is all on the side plate. I've never had a Smith refinished, but I'd have the side plate refinished and blue matched. I think Ford's has a die to re-roll the logo.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That, or I may cut the bbl to 5" and engrave it. I'm debating. If it had more wear I wouldn't hesitate.

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Cy

A cheaper option but still interesting would be to have Ford's of Fl get the marking out (if they can) and then have it nickeled to resemble a nickel factory K-22....

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~

Kevin, I tried this out. It did knock off the ragged edges (I ran a fleece polish cloth over it first to see what I was dealin with, and it pulled fuzz off on the ragged edges. First I tried to push with a very small brass punch, which didn't do jack except remove brass, pretty much what I expected. Then I tried the nickel trick, very lightly at first, then a bit more aggressively. Didn't make a mark on the bluing and took the ragged edges down enough so that it didn't pull fuzz, and the difference could be felt rubbing on it with my finger. It also made a wee improvement in how it looked, not much. Then I put on my tying bench, got a good light on it and a big magnifier. I took a sharp pencil and applied cold blue 3 or 4 times, keeping it to the scratches. That made a wee bit more improvement. Wouldn't match the side plate, but not quite so noticeable. Bottom line is, some train wrecks probably look worse than others, but a train wreck is still a train wreck. Thanks for the suggestion.

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Cy

Thanks, Jim. That's certainly another option.

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Cy

Might be Ohio.

I agree on why.

I've seen a few marked with the DL or SSN,

They sort of take your breath away, like a gut punch by Smokin Joe.

5 screws are addictive. I just bought a very used pre 18 ,5 screw that I could not pass up.