Model 17 k22 lightly engraved ?

[thessler]

Hi I posted a question about few weeks ago about weather this was factory or home made . I finally picked it up. After closers inspection I'm thinking home made , I'll attempt to post a picture thanks for advise.
Tom

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by thessler

...factory or home made...?

Tom:

My guess is that the factory lasered that "engraving" on your gun sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Most of us see that as more of a very fine etching. Here are a few threads on a run of 586-3s that received that treatment:

586-3 info

Any information on this 586-3?

engraved 586-3

The factory also did the same pattern on the stainless 686, but it shows up as black on the stainless. I have only seen it on 586 and 686's, but never on a K-22... until now.

Still a fun gun and not commonly seen on a K-22, especially a pinned barrel K-22. The owner probably sent it back to the factory where it received the "tattoos". But I don't think most of us would consider it to be a collectible, rather a unique example of someone trying something new at the factory. I also have a 586 with the lasered pattern like yours, I just don't have any photos of it. As I'm sure you know, the grips on your gun are not factory grips.

Thanks for sharing,

[Mike, SC Hunter]

Warning! It will wear off if you use and holster the gun. That etching should never be called engraving because its not.

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum. Hard for me to tell from the photos but I would lean toward etching as opposed to engraving as the others have stated. Not seen often but not out of the realm of possibility. S&W being in the business to make money would do just about anything that a customer requested as long as the customer was willing to pay for it.

[wheelgun610]

I agree with most of what's been said. I know for fact that there was a period of time when S&W offered laser "engraving" on customer's guns. I remember seeing a few of them at various places, i.e., shows and gun shops - when I lived in New Hampshire.

They're sorta cool if you're into that kind of thing, but I don't think there's a big market for them - yet. Who knows what they might be worth in 10, 20 or even 50 years. The Wolf & Klar "pawn shop engraving" was chuckled at once upon a time, but try buying a nice example of one of those now. Here's an example of one of those that sold a few days ago: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/756822217

Mark