4 digit k22 masterpiece, say hello to k708x

ky wonder · Feb 13, 2023

Well I went and looked over the old one liner today
While a little more wear than I could see in sellers picture it still found its way home with me.

While it's not a LERK, it's still a very good hand gun

I might have paid to much but I got it for $750 cash, if I paid to much it want be the first time.

I can get more pleasure from the pistol, than from the cash.

Lock up and timing are excellant. Grips match all the other numbers,Bluing has some loss , but for a 76 year old gun she looks pretty good.

100 dollar bills are getting cheaper every day. Decent old smiths not so much.

Photos are pre clean up,

peterdeb · Feb 13, 2023

I think you did real good for a 4 digit, o Congrats on the new pickup.

JH1951 · Feb 13, 2023

Congratulations! I have a 1947 one-liner in the safe too. They are exceptionally well made and provide enjoyment for generations.

bruce5781 · Feb 13, 2023

You did good. Enjoy it.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

Bald1 · Feb 13, 2023

I like it. Grips appear to be in nice shape from what I can see.

JP@AK · Feb 13, 2023

Nice revolver. The stocks are not original.

rjm6120 · Feb 13, 2023

I think that will clean up very nicely! You did well on the price IMO.

JH1951 · Feb 13, 2023

JP@AK said:
Nice revolver. The stocks are not original.

Hi, Jack..... What tips you off that the stocks are not original? I'm not up on K-frames as much as some others, so I'd like to learn. Is it the "fit", as I notice it being a bit off, or something else?

RGallaher · Feb 13, 2023

I have one from the 70s. I don't remember what I paid for it several years ago - but I wouldn't sell it for anything. A favorite with me and my grandsons!

JP@AK · Feb 13, 2023

JH1951 said:
Hi, Jack..... What tips you off that the stocks are not original?

The pictures clearly show a tapered shoulder. From 1946 until 1952, that shoulder was sharp (actually before the war too, but with a different checking pattern). The tapered shoulder Magnas did not start shipping until 1953. It is possible some may have left Springfield in late 1952, but I've never seen any that did. But a four digit, one line K-22 would have had the sharp shoulder Magna stocks.

ky wonder · Feb 13, 2023

JP@AK said:
Nice revolver. The stocks are not original.

The numbers match but il admit they don't look like the grip numbers I have seen in other guns

JP@AK · Feb 13, 2023

ky wonder said:
The numbers match but il admit they don't look like the grip numbers I have seen in other guns

Yes. Probably someone marked them to match the gun. See my reply just above your most recent post.

Engine49guy · Feb 13, 2023

Agree with Jack the tapered shoulder is the giveaway, the earliest tapered top magnas have raw steel medallions instead of nickled brass because of brass shortages during the Korean conflict (52-53 IIRC).

ky wonder · Feb 13, 2023

Engine49guy said:
Agree with Jack the tapered shoulder is the giveaway, the earliest tapered top magnas have raw steel medallions instead of nickled brass because of brass shortages during the Korean conflict (52-53 IIRC).

Ok would either of you be able to post pictures of the two types so I can compare and know what to start bird dogging

I never knew about the difference in the magnas except diamond and non diamond
I guess I need to do some home work, fixing to break open the book

Model19man · Feb 13, 2023

Even if the stocks are not the originals they are certainly not valueless.

Engine49guy · Feb 13, 2023

I wouldn't sweat the stocks they are SW factory made stocks, most likely got swapped out by accident with a slightly newer gun or the old ones got damaged and replaced.
If it was a lnib collectors piece I might be tempted to swap them but as a shooter no big deal as only a handful of ocd guys would ever notice.

Here's a link to a set, scroll down to post 7 focus on the very top how they have a sharp shoulder instead of a taper

K22 masterpiece one liner value

Pss if you scroll further down to the k22 on the green background (post 13) those stocks are rounded at the heel (plain clothes or PC Magnas) and likely came on an M&P snub are incorrect for a K22.

JH1951 · Feb 13, 2023

Here's a picture of the stocks on my 1947 one-line address K-22....

I added the two following pictures thinking they show the sharp shoulder well from another angle....

kscharlie · Feb 14, 2023

Here are a few pics to help you out. The right side stock with stamped serial number. A 4-digit serial would look like this, one digit on top, 3 digits underneath, just below the stock circle. The pair shown together is from my 4-digit K-22, and are the "sharp shouldered" variety that Jack discussed. The last pic is the right stock panel from a 1953 K-22 with the smooth rounded shoulder.

If your serial number looks legit, one more possibility would be that someone at one time sanded the shoulders down. Don't know why anyone would do this, but still a possibility.

Could you provide a picture of the stock with the serial number?

Hope this helps.

Inland7-45 · Feb 14, 2023

In 2007 I bought a four line address K-22 that was made in 1950. No box or papers but very nice shape with original numbered to gun high shoulder magnas. I paid $475 for it and had second thoughts for awhile about the price. The following year I used this gun in an indoor .22 pistol competition.

I have a lot of experience shooting double action only. So I went up against Model 41s, Rugers, and Browning Buckmarks shooting DA with open sights. Sort of like racing a 50 Mercury at Daytona. It was a lot of fun and I managed to hit a high score of 269. Using this gun in competition made me appreciate it even more. The enjoyment you can get from an old K target or Colt Officers Match outweighs the cost.

Regarding stock style, my father had a K-22 the was purchased new in 1952. It came with tapered magnas with raw steel medallions. This gun had target stocks on it when he sold it. I still have the original stocks. Some day I will find another K with the wrong stocks and will have a place for these.

By the way I just picked up a 17-3 and 14-3, no box or papers with either. What I paid for these puts $475 for an early 50s K Target in perspective. In my opinion even without original stocks, boxes and literature these are still desirable collectable guns. Yours is a nice gun. Even if the stocks are,nt quite correct they are vintage and still look good. You can always find an early pair of target stocks with center diamond. Those would look great.

The post war to late 70's K target guns represent the best years of S&W.

Green Frog · Feb 14, 2023

Over ten years ago I was at a gun auction run by a local guy who doesn't know half as much as he thinks he does. Anyway, a single line K-22 with a 5 digit serial was in the mix and didn't get a lot of play… in fact it didn't even come up until very late when many of the buyers were tired, spent out, or gone. It was somewhat finish worn and kinda dirty, but solid and not abused or altered. Back then there were no add-on fees etc and I got it for $425. I would be surprised to see it bring much less than twice that today.
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