I bought this a couple of years ago and I really like it a lot. I was told it was made in 1948 but I would like some of the experts here to tell me what I really have.

Testing to see if this loaded. If so I have pictures of the serial number and where the model number usually is located.


20220417_185833(0).jpg

20240318_235147.jpg

20240318_235211.jpg

Serial seems to indicate 1948, sure.

Grips/stocks are newer than the gun. Appears to have been refinished with the case hardening on the hammer polished off and the trigger blued. Front sight replaced or altered.

__________________
Psalm 27:2

You don't have a Outdoorsman, but instead a K22 Masterpiece pre Model 17.
Very nice gun and congratulations.

Okay---where to start?

Actually, this is a fairly simply process of elimination: If this is an Outdoorsman, it wasn't made in 1948--and if it was made in 1948, it isn't an Outdoorsman. Bottom Line: Praise be, you've come to the right place! Better yet, you gave us some pictures---kind of takes all the fun out of it!

1. You don't have an Outdoorsman, but a K-22 Masterpiece. (An OD is a pre-war item---the Masterpiece is (mostly) a post-war item, but we won't bother to pick that nit just yet.)

2. It was sure enough made in 1948---and it's a NICE one---never mind someone's messed with the hammer along the way---no real harm done---it can be fixed.

That's enough for now---

Ralph Tremaine

I see some real typists beat me out, so the heat's off; and I'll go on:

The Outdoorsman is a K-22 1st Model (1930's). Not surprisingly, it was followed by a 2nd Model----the first Masterpiece (1940----only----and not many made---probably because everybody was gearing up to do war stuff). Your's can be considered the 3rd Model, but not hardly anybody bothers to call it that. The fourth model's the same, only different, and has a wide rib. Then, following a bout of brain fade, S&W lost the ability to be creative---and started off with Model numbers. That occasioned folks who didn't know the name of any given item to create a new identifying term----"pre". After that, it didn't matter what the name was----yours will be referred to as a "pre Model 17" by most/some---but it probably isn't---it's a "pre-pre Model 17"---pre'd by yet another Masterpiece---probably.

Then there's the matter of "one liners" and "four liners". These identifiers refer to the "address" stamped on the right front of the frame----and no collection is considered complete unless you have one of each. A "one liner" says "Made in USA"---or maybe with periods after U.S.A.. A "four liner" came along in October(?) of 1948---and has three more lines of "address". If you're following along with all this drivel, you're about half way to understanding the difference between "collectors", and "lunatic fringe collectors"---which is a goodly number of us----those with more guns than good sense-----but happy campers!

This'll be a good place to stop.

I don't recall the nebulous cutoff point (there was some overlap), but it seems to me that it's in a serial number range where it could be either a "one liner" or a "four liner".

__________________
SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thanks guys! I have a thing for S&W double action revolvers and Colt single actions. Plus Winchesters, Savages, Marlins and well, you understand. So this means mine is a four liner?

I know single actions a bit but I am still a novice regarding S&W. I only have 2 19-3's (blue & nickel) 1 36 B, 1 36-1 N and this K 22 Masterpiece. I'm looking hard at a 6" #48 though.

So tell me about the front sight. Has it been shortened or reshaped? Would it have had the smaller wood grips that don't extend beyond bottom of the grip frame?


20220417_185849.jpg

Yes...Likely Magnas, maybe sharp-shouldered Magnas...The larger Goncalo Alves target grips seen in the picture did not exist in 1948, but they have value all by their lonesome......Ben

__________________
Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

It appears your front sight has been altered. The back of the sight should be squared at the top, then rounded toward the front. The stocks on your gun are target stocks post 1968, so yes, they are incorrect.

Here are a few pics of some details on my 1-liner from 1947. Even 1-liners had differences between them, depending on when they were assembled using parts available.

The correct numbered to my gun stocks are termed "sharp shoulder" stocks. You can see there is a distinct edge on the top, not rounded over as done on later versions. One line address. Barrel shaped ejector rod knob, sometimes referred to as LERK (Large Ejector Rod Knob), which is a term somewhat frowned on by purists. Note that use of this rod knob necessitated cuts in the barrel to accommodate the knob. Some 1-liners had this knob, some had the straight knurled ejector rod. Front sight. And entire revolver. It's all in the details, details, details.

Attached Images

	DSC07855.JPG (122.9 KB, 26 views)
	DSC07857.JPG (88.5 KB, 21 views)
	EDSC07867.JPG (129.2 KB, 21 views)
	DSC08550.JPG (178.0 KB, 23 views)
	EDSC07871.JPG (135.6 KB, 26 views)

__________________
SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

I'm going to withhold judgement on the front sight, having reached an age far beyond any reasonable expiration date and having decided it'd be best to leave behind a pile of money rather than a pile of guns. It took a bit over three years, but the guns are gone---leaving nothing to compare with.

The rear sight appears to be all the way down. These guns were made primarily to be used on targets 25 and 50 yards down range. Shortening the front sight gives the same results as raising the rear---which is far more easily accomplished---as in why bother.

Ralph Tremaine

Having gone back and looked more closely at the picture, yep---the front sight has been messed with. Why? In all probability, it seemed like a good idea at the time---maybe it was scuffing up the inside of the holster----never mind it doesn't appear to have spent much time in a holster.

Thank you for the pictures and information. I thought the sight should have been straight on the back. I guess one can still find the correct grips for this revolver although I like the feel of the ones that are on it.

Like my SAA fetish , it's all in the details! That's what makes this hobby so very interesting.

If you decide to make it "more" original, I'm sure there are a few people on here who would trade you period correct magnas for those diamond targets. The only real bugaboo is the fact that those replacement magnas will have a serial number stamped on one panel that will almost certainly not match your K-22.

A previous owner probably came to same conclusion you have --- the targets feel better in the hand --- and the originals went in the trash or are in a box in someone's garage somewhere.

__________________
Psalm 27:2

This is the inside of the grip

20240318_235405.jpg

That's a replacement grip sold by S&W in a blister pack......Ben

__________________
Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Oops, my bad on the target stocks. I thought they were non-diamond, and now see they do have the diamond center. The football relief, diamond stocks were made from ca 1956 - 1968. The diamond was eliminated during 1968.

At some point in the 60's, you could order stocks from S&W or buy them over the counter in blister packs. It was from this time frame when S&W was ink stamping the inside of the stock panels, as shown in your picture. KT stood for K frame Target stock. I think the 357 indicates they were intended for a Model 19 (.357 Magnum), although they would fit any K frame revolver. The LH signifies Left Hand panel, so your other stock panel should be marked RH. The number 5950 would be the S&W part number.

__________________
SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Those K22s are the finest .22 handguns ever made IMO. Yours appears to be a very nice example OP

__________________
Some Might Say.

I bought some grips. They are what I think would have originally been on it.

20240326_111258.jpg

20240326_111249.jpg