I am in love...

with a K22 Outdoorsman! I bought this gun about a year ago. (Will post a link to that thread at the end of this post for more pics.) I've been busy, and haven't been able to shoot it much since I got it, but did get to put a few hundred rounds through it last weekend. Then took it apart for a good cleaning. Thought I'd come and share my thoughts and some pics from beneath the side plate.

First off, this gun is just phenomenal in every way. This is my first experience with any S&W that isn't modern, outside of my .38 Single Action 2nd Model, from 1889. I have drooled over pics on here, and seen a few at gun shows, but never spent time at the range with a gun of this vintage, shall we say. We set up steel targets at about 35 yard, a silouette, and a few 10-12" round plates. I felt like I was cheating...just could not miss. The sights are small, but precise and the steel bead on the front post does help to pick it up a bit. Single action is unbelievably light and crisp. I feel like I am pretty snobby about triggers, but this one is just perfect. There is nothing that could improve it in any way. Very light, but not too much so. Crisp. Zero takeup. Zero overtravel. The double action trigger was nice, but I could tell there was probably some old oil gumming things up a bit.

I finally had time after shooting to dive into a good cleaning. I have only ever removed a sideplate on a modern gun, so I had been a bit nervous to do it. I have a few good books, including the shop manual, and all the proper tools...both thanks to the generosity of @rct269 ...so I went for it. Much easier than I was expecting. I just took my time, went step by step, and it was no big deal. The inside was not bad for a 90 year old gun, but definitely needed a good cleaning and a light coat of fresh lube. I wish I had taken better pics. I mostly took them for my own reference when reassambling, not thinking about posting, but I know how this board loves pics, so I thought I'd share a few before/afters anyway.

Oh yeah, my shooting buddy who is more into semi-autos, though does like wheelguns, now wants a K22 after shooting mine. Can't blame him. As for my collection, pretty positive that I now need a .38 to go with this one.

More pics in original thread-
https://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/712832-my-new-outdoorsman.html

That’s a gem ! They are an absolute joy to shoot, and yes you do need a .38 as a companion piece. The M&P Targets are my favorites followed closely with the Outdoorsman’s. Here are a couple of mine after a snowy day wax session.

Keith Brown said:

That’s a gem ! They are an absolute joy to shoot, and yes you do need a .38 as a companion piece. The M&P Targets are my favorites followed closely with the Outdoorsman’s. Here are a couple of mine after a snowy day wax session.

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Gorgeous! A target M&P would be a nice addition. Also have been considering a 38/44 Outdoorsman, or maybe a K38(post war, different than my Outdoorsman, I know) if I end up going with a K frame. Don't feel like my hands are very big, but the K frame is just a tad bit small to me. Not sure though, but that's why I thought of the 38/44. In any case, I see why people get so into all these old revolvers. Everytime I emptied a cylinder, I was smiling. My buddy and I both kept commenting how it was a completely different shooting experience than any of our other guns. Just loading and unloading the cartridges, you could feel the precision, the perfect fit of everything. And again, that single action trigger was flat out perfect.

Side note- Sending you a PM, Mr Brown.

You have a striking piece of mechanical art. I love my Model 48s.

There is an Outdoorsman in our family (1936) that was originally my great-grandfather's and I have now passed it down to my cousin's son, so it is on it's 5th generation. It was everybody's first handgun experience and has thousands of rounds down the pipe. Was starting to get a lot of FTF several years ago, so I gave it a full cleaning and put in a Wolff mainspring and it was back up and running. S&W built great guns in the 1920s and 1930s. Hundred years later and still going strong.

I have a pair also. Both of mine came from my dad. The K-22 is from 1937 and the M&P Target is from 1913.

DARE said:

I have a pair also. Both of mine came from my dad. The K-22 is from 1937 and the M&P Target is from 1913.

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Nice pair! I prefer the feel of the magnas, but those service stocks always just look right to me on a pre-war K frame.

When I got my first k22 Outdoorsman I remember taking apart for a good scrubbing as you describe and marveling at the precision fitting of the parts. I felt like I was inside a swiss watch. When your enthusiasm for the single action trigger pull dies down try a few cylinders full in double action. The old long action is as smooth as glass, no stacking just a long sweet pull. I can actually shoot accurately in DA mode with the long action, not something I can do nearly as well with the modern short action. Thanks for sharing.

Fullmetaljacket said:

When I got my first k22 Outdoorsman I remember taking apart for a good scrubbing as you describe and marveling at the precision fitting of the parts. I felt like I was inside a swiss watch. When your enthusiasm for the single action trigger pull dies down try a few cylinders full in double action. The old long action is as smooth as glass, no stacking just a long sweet pull. I can actually shoot accurately in DA mode with the long action, not something I can do nearly as well with the modern short action. Thanks for sharing.

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Can't wait to try some double action shooting, now that the insides are all cleaned up. Wasn't so smooth before I cleaned out all the dried up oil all over everything in there.

Dare I mention, along with the 38 M&P Target, you might also look for a 32-20 M&P target? I’ve never owned one, but my 32-20 M&P is so much fun to shoot…
Regardless, the pre War K22 is just as sweet as it gets. Long may you enjoy yours!
Froggie

Frieda's Boss said:

Can't wait to try some double action shooting, now that the insides are all cleaned up. Wasn't so smooth before I cleaned out all the dried up oil all over everything in there.

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Get you some snap caps or some folks just use some #4-6 x 7/8” dry wall anchors, and you can try out the double action trigger pull while sitting around watching TV.
Larry

The older S&W 22 revolvers are phenomenal shooters. Top to bottom is a K-22 Outdoorsman (1939), K-22 (1947), and a K-22 Combat Masterpiece (1953). The Outdoorsman does have the original numbered stocks, and the fit and finish are incredible. And yes, I do shoot all three.