Combat Masterpiece .22

CHARLIE699 · #1 01-02-2021, 12:09 PM

Good Morning All & Best wishes for a safer, better New Year!!
I see many threads on "Target" and "Magnum" Masterpieces. Let's make this one on the 4" COMBAT revolvers. I started this in the 5 screw because of my Christmas present. I have been looking to replace a M-18 I regret selling almost 40 years ago. When my mentor decided to part with his 1952 .22 Combat Masterpiece, I had to give it a home!

,,, and here with her younger siblings, a 67 (First year) and 67-1

Let's see what you have in 4". Caliber does not matter

22hipower · #2 01-02-2021, 12:21 PM

Here's my oldest Combat Masterpiece (pre-18 with extra 22 WMR cylinder) and my newest 4 inch .22 which is a 617-6 but seems like it should be called a 618.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

arjay · #3 01-02-2021, 01:09 PM

‘52 or ‘53 CM .22
‘74 15-3

colt_saa · #4 01-02-2021, 01:51 PM

Charlie,
I have two of the 22 Combat Masterpiece revolvers and lots of the 38 Combat Masterpiece revolvers.

However very few of the 38s have been photographed

My oldest Model 18 is from 1958. This is one of those revolvers that sat in a sock drawer for 45+ years. The revolver is beautiful and has seen almost no shooting. However when you turn it over, the frame and cylinder have bluing loss and freckling from sitting on top of a cloth for a few decades. So this one is my shooter

I have a 20 younger example of the Model 18. Manufactured in 1978, This came out of a friends collection that was inherited from an uncle. If this was shot after leaving the factory, it was very little. This 22 Combat Masterpiece revolver is complete with the correct box and all items. This one is my safe queen.

I always see Combat Masterpiece revolvers in blue steel. This nickel one caught my eye. The previous owner put that awful scope mount on it. I have removed it and replaced the rear sight. I just have not taken my own photo of the revolver

The newest Combat Masterpiece revolver that I own is also one of the odd balls. It has a Color Case Hardened frame that was done by Doug Turnbul. I know that this look does not appeal to everybody, but I have always liked CCH frames. Perhaps that influence is from the Colt SAA. I am sure I paid a little too much for this one when I bought it, but you almost never see these come up, only 200 were produced.

I still have another half dozen of the 38 Combat Masterpiece revolvers that have not been photographed.

I have a USAF of the 38 Combat Masterpiece revolver with a target trigger and target hammer that is mostly in great shape. Somewhere along the line a previous owner buffed of the Air Force markings and cold blued the metal. I am guessing he thought it was stolen or something. The serial number was not touched so it is weird. This is one of my shooters. One day I will come across a USAF example in good condition at a bargain price and I will take it into the fold

I do not own any Combat Masterpiece revolver in stainless steel. In my mind the word Masterpiece conjures up blue steel and wood

BTW, what are these:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHARLIE699

"Magnum" Masterpieces.

I am not familiar with that term

LEO918 · #5 01-02-2021, 02:04 PM

Here are a few of mine...

CHARLIE699 · #6 01-02-2021, 06:29 PM

Thank you Gentlemen for sharing! Some great revolvers out there. Great photography too. The lighting in my shop leaves much to be desired.
A question Please? I see different style hammers between them. My pre-18 bears ser# K202--- and has the narrow upswept hammer I'm used to seeing on the early revolvers. Did they transition in specific serial range or was it when they moved from 5 screw to 4 screw?

Art Doc · #7 01-02-2021, 07:12 PM

The "High Speed" hammer was used 1948 to about 1957.

Pair of CMs in 22 and 38. Shipped in 1952 and 1951 respectively.

Wiregrassguy · #8 01-02-2021, 07:23 PM

Frank, I think the term "high speed hammer" was S&W marketing speak for the short throw action which continued well beyond 1957. However, the early hammers had what many folks call the "fish hook hammer" due to the shape of the hammer tang. Later hammers had a much reduced shape and the target hammer came out.

SuperMan · #9 01-02-2021, 07:36 PM

NICE gun... I have a 1952 K22 and had a 1951 Combat at one time...

The .22 Combat Masterpiece/Model 18 is one of the THE BEST .22 revolvers ever made...

Have owned about eight over the years but a few years ago I "downsized" and now just have one...1960s vintage and had a .22 Magnum cylinder fitted to it... The 60s vintage polish and bluing is just a cut above all others...

Bob

below is the 1951 and a 70s vintage "Round Butt"...what all 18s should have been...

c.w. · #10 01-03-2021, 05:58 AM

Here is my 1954 version in matt finish...I have since installed a smooth trigger...

RKmesa · #11 01-03-2021, 09:50 AM

Nice 4"ers!!

I've got this little 22 CM that shipped in January 1954...

... somewhere in its life it got scratched up a bit.

CHARLIE699 · #12 01-03-2021, 10:29 AM

That's ARTWORK!!!

andy52 · #13 01-03-2021, 10:37 AM

Here's one of mine it's also a birth year gun 1952.

RKmesa · #14 01-03-2021, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colt_saa

The newest Combat Masterpiece revolver that I own is also one of the odd balls. It has a Color Case Hardened frame that was done by Doug Turnbul. I know that this look does not appeal to everybody, but I have always liked CCH frames. Perhaps that influence is from the Colt SAA. I am sure I paid a little too much for this one when I bought it, but you almost never see these come up, only 200 were produced.

Mark - the color case on that 38 is very very nice! I can see how come you forked over a "little too much" for it. Had I come across it, I too would have paid up to take it home.

Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us,

Art Doc · #15 01-03-2021, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

Frank, I think the term "high speed hammer" was S&W marketing speak for the short throw action which continued well beyond 1957. However, the early hammers had what many folks call the "fish hook hammer" due to the shape of the hammer tang. Later hammers had a much reduced shape and the target hammer came out.

I believe you are confusing short action and high speed hammer. The HSH was a specific hammer style that is colloquially called the fish hook style. It disappears in late 1950s.

turnerriver · #16 01-03-2021, 11:34 AM

Here are a couple of mine.
.38 CM with a Myres holster.

.22 CM with a Heiser flap holster.

A box insert used by Evaluators Ltd.

Regards,

LPD256 · #17 01-03-2021, 11:51 AM

I only have one, a December 1952, one week before my actual birthday Pre-18. Enjoy.

vrichard · #18 01-03-2021, 01:37 PM

Pre S&W 18 are nice.

Dick
Top 34-1
Bottom
pre 18,ser.#K197078