Going to look at this one in the morning serial number is in the K96000 range so thinking 1947 guy us firm at $350, but I figure if mechanics, chambers, and bore check out it should be worth that. Here are the few pictures he sent.

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Randy

Looks like Sile grips.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Even though its a little rough cosmetically with non S&W stocks if the bore and cylinder are rust free $350 is a bargain if your looking for a quality shooter.

The wide target hammer was likely added sometime but in the $350 price range its a bargain as long as it is mchanically sound.

PS inspect the cylinder face for any sign it might be out of time,
also not advised to dry fire any 22 since the firing pin can land on the cylinder face so examine the cylinder face closely.

Looks like a handsome dog to me.

A little Kroil, a little effort, and a set of stocks and ... whoo-hoo !!!

Thanks for the replies this will be my second K22 my other one is much nicer. I don't really need another one but at $350 I don't see how I can go wrong.

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Randy

It is called character.

I would say that s/n puts it in the late 1950's range.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

they look like franzite grips to me and the ser nr puts it in 1950 so I should get second chance since that is my birth year. lee

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VFW, NRA, VVA, S&WCA 1758

Wow!
You LUCKED out! It takes a lot of HONEST use to get a K22 to look that good.

If she's not up to your standards, I'll take her!

Jim

I own worse. Heck that hasn't even been bead blasted and parkerized. Give the man his $350 before someone else does.

A friend's K 90,xxx .22 books 1950 so I agree with Lee on the year but not on the stocks. They're wood, probably Sile's walnut. At the time S&W was giving buyers a choice of that ones Standard Barrel or the Heavy Barrel that would supersede it and continue on through a few decades of Model 17 production. The Standard Barrel is classier.

*** IS A ***, and will always be. Look at he For Sale guns and see what never sells...
~~Heavily edited by others~~ is there euphemism for hunkajunk?

Boldly venture out into the world with $350 and try to buy a better utility .22 revolver then post what you find.

That's not "ugly"; just has a bit of honest character.

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John

I'd say it's worth $350 and there is a good chance it will get shot, rather than "put up."

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I would buy that K22 for $350 with no hesitation. A multi-day Kroil soaking, and then some light bronze wool treatment is all it needs. If it functions properly you should scoop it up. One of my local shops would give me $400-450 for it, and then sell it for $600 in a week (after cleaning it up a bit).

At $350, that gun wouldn't last an hour in the classifieds here.

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Ash

If it is mechanically sound, chambers and bore free of corrosion, I'd say it is well worth $350.

Agree, a little cleaning and light polishing to make it a great shooter. Hopefully the owner took better care of the internals...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

A initial buffing with Mothers Mag polish, then a coat or two of Renaissance wax and it will look considerably better. It probably needs a good internal cleaning as the screws look unmolested. Clean, lube, polish and you have a $550+ gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Nice, good bargain

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"Free dirt, you dig."

Picked up the K22 this morning action, timing, bore, and chambers all checked out. I just got done putting about 100 rounds through it with a little sight adjustment I was hitting a golf ball at about 20 yards. I am very happy with it going to give it a bath inside, out this weekend.

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Randy

I'll agree that a $350 K22 opportunity is not common , and such an opportunity arouses interest and enthusiasm , but in my book corrosion of that type does not constitute honest character. The condition of that revolver speaks of poor care and maintenance. Long term exposure to a moist environment. And the upper side plate screw has been tweaked. Hopefully the internals look better than the exterior.

I look forward to seeing the "after" pictures ; cleaning that one up could be rewarding.

A good deal , yes.

At that price, I’d have the gun reblued and shoot it like crazy.

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Some Might Say.

She might not be the belle of the ball, but it sounds like she has it where it counts. Enjoy that "seasoned" K22!

Gonna shot it or look at it. If you just want to look at it, thats not so great. If you want to shoot it its fine. I have a model 18 that is no beauty queen that shoots great and has given me many years of fun shooting.

That gun would be with me every time I went shooting.

Sile:Sile Grip Medallion Set | Gun Parts Corp.

Franzite:Franzite Grips For Baby Browning 25 Auto For Sale at GunAuction.com - 7492836

They're Sile grips.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

That's an interesting way to say "neglect".

While it breaks my heart that no one cared enough to clean and oil that revolver, so it wouldn't rust, I'd still buy it.
I'd clean it up and if it shot as well as it should, it would be my constant woods companion.
Since the PO didn't care to maintain the finish, you don't have to worry about a mirror blue finish getting scratched up.
While the Sile stocks aren't original, the ones I have are great. Mine fit correctly, and the J frame "target (combat?)" grips I got from them fit my Improved I frame .32 just as well as they fit my 31-1 and 36, and are very comfortable.

Collector's piece? No. Great field and woods companion? Absolutely.

I'd be on that like ugly on a Glock.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Seriously? We can't even say Papa Oscar Sierra here?
You've got to be kidding me. That's ridiculous.
How will we ever discuss Point of Sale credit card scanners?

I guess we could say "Davis .380" instead, since those are synonymous with "hot, steaming, pile of fecal matter".

After repeated failures to find a word that can be substituted for the sake of those with virgin ears. Finally found one we can say.
We can say it's a piece of dookie.

Papa Oscar Sierra is not the same as saying the exact phrase.
I don't see why it would be objectionable to the vast majority of members.

I love this forum, but sometimes I just have to scratch my head.

ANYWAY, even with the finish issues, I don't see you being able to find a .22 revolver that is anywhere near as well designed and built as that one, for $350.
I'm not even sure I'd get it reblued. I'd hate to scratch up the new blue finish.
That K22 would be great for any time you hunt/fish/hike.
Plus, I've been known to buy an ugly gun or two and shoot the fool out of them.
It's like adopting a toy from the island of unwanted toys, from Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.
They don't appeal to everyone, but someone will love them.

If you think that K22 is ugly, you should see my 10-6 4". It was an evidence locker (suicide) gun.
I call it Ugly Betty. She has a sad history, but I thought she deserved a second chance.
She was so happy to be adopted by me, that she rewarded me by shooting as well as my 15-3, 15-6, and 586 (another one who's not so pretty, until you pull the trigger).
Eager beats pretty.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I agree with most here. That is a perfect tackle box or farm truck glove box gun. With the finish like it is, take the grips off, dunk it in a bucket of Ed's Red, blow it out and wipe it down. Good for a year after that.

I like that, Papa Oscar Sierra long but expressive~~
Save your money, get a decent one.

Here is my "if I were in the OP's shoes" version:

$350 is not a lot of money when discussing vintage S&W revolvers these days. If that old K22 passed a thorough function test , AND if I were inclined towards a minor project , I would buy it , go straight to the Ed's Red bath , then disassemble it and get out the bronze wool , Flitz/Mothers' and get to work. Pretty good chance that the removal of the surface corrosion will yield something of a patina appearance , also partially in the white - which I would not mind. Well rubbed out , smoothed out an lubricated - you may well have something there.

If all else fails , once it is well cleaned it would be very easy to flip that K22 and get the money back - but I think it would be nice enough to keep.
Sounds like fun. That's what I'd do.

At $350 I'd have been all over it, and I don't care for 6" barrels. I've have cleaned it up with Flitz, then given it a couple of coats of Ren Wax, and then I'd have decided if I was going to go against my "no more 6" barrels" rule or sell it. I enjoy cleaning them up.

Not too long ago, this year in fact, I bought this 1953 K-22 CM for $350. I'm reasonably sure it's been refinished, but who cares? I gave up trying to be a collector. Now I think it'll do for what I want it for as I'm sure the OP's gun will.





Note: It's got a set of diamond targets with the football cutout on it now.

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John 3:16 .

Your honesty is appreciated even though we will have to agree to disagree. I do have a nicer one, but enjoy these orphans if the price is right. Based on the responses here I think you are in the minority 29-1 is pretty good odds. I think I would have no trouble making a few bucks on this one if I ever decided to sell (Lee will have first dibs) Here is my nicer one I got about 8 years ago for under $500 and one of my favorite orphans before, and after I have named Lazarus.

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Randy

Ya could had a nice .22 Outdoorsman for the price of three "orphans".

I quit buying them because I was never happy with poor guns and they are difficult to do better than break even on, IME.
See how many folks would pay $400, even cleaned up?

My rattiest S&W, scarce pre-30.

I think the previous replies to this thread speak to this pretty well. I have basically one rule when buying guns, even if I am buying for possible resale. I buy only what I like that way I am happy either way. That being said I don't recall too many guns I lost money on. I hope you enjoy your collection as much as I do mine after all isn't that the point.

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Randy

Yes, to each their own... I've seen worse sell for more. Looks to be the perfect carry gun. And personally, if you can hit golf balls at 20 yards with that one, Id say it lives up to the purpose for which it was made. Great find!

John

Randy

Looking forward to see how it cleans up .

Regards, Mike Priwer

Randy, that .22/32 you pictured in an earlier post is quite a rescue. Is there a thread on the forum about this one? I would sure be interested in knowing how you did that trigger guard.

I, too, am looking forward to seeing the results on this K-22.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Here is the thread
Thinking About This .22/.32

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Randy

Most of us have bought one or two "Dogs with character." Here's mine.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

The way you described that gun shooting, I would say you did just fine. Golf balls at twenty yards sounds pretty good to me.

I've never bought guns with an eye to resale or trade value. I've always bought them to shoot, and with a specific use in mind. Probably I would have jumped on that one, carried it, shot it, and passed it down to my son.

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Oh well, what the hell.

A few family pictures after a little cleanup on the K22 of the Ugly Bunch.The internals were cruddy but once given a bath look pretty good.

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Randy

Looks right at home.

Hi John,

That is one interesting rear sight! Is that a custom modification to the original sight or another brand sight altogether?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Randy

Can we get some closer-up pictures of the K-22 after its cleanup ? I'm particularly interested in the surface condition of the metal, and the hammer and trigger. It looks a whole lot better now ! What did you use -a Kroil soaking and brass wool ?

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike
I used half auto transmission fluid half acetone and bronze wool. I will take some closeups tomorrow in natural lighting still needs some cleaning at least in my opinion most of the metal is smooth with an exception on the barrel
Overall I am pleased with the gun, and wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. I shot it today on paper at 15 yards weaver stance best I could do was a two inch group. I am sure a better shot with younger eyes could have improved on that.

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Randy

$350, no problem. Heck I just paid $150 for just the cylinder from a K22. Parts are hard to find. Going to make another 32 S&W cylinder

I have some beautiful guns and some guns with character. I enjoy and shoot those with character more than the beauties.

Mike here are a few pictures.

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Randy

Randy

Your cleaning technique got rid of a lot of the apparent dirt & grime & rust. From here, you might try a couple of things. First, make up a mixture of crushed charcoal and 3-in-1 oil. Using a burlap rag, rub this on the surfaces of the gun, let it sit for a couple of hours or so, and then wipe it off. Repeat this every other day, or so, and see if this brings back some of the blue. Second, try rubbing on a good coat of Rigg grease, and let it sit like that for a week or so, Wipe it off, and do it again. I've found that, sometimes, it brings back some of the blue. All this is a lot of work, and messy, but sometimes it helps. A fellow collector told me about the charcoal technique. It's supposed to have been used by old-time gun-smiths! Something about the 3-in-1 oil releases some sort of chemical in the charcoal - it certainly is a black mixture!

Thanks for posting the pictures. Its always fun to see how much recovery takes place with lots of elbow grease!

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike
Thanks for the suggestion,I will certainly give it a try, and see what happens.

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Randy

It's some sort of aftermarket sight - probably from the same period of time (shipped March 17, 1917) - just as beat-up as the rest of the gun.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -