I picked up my model 18 a few days ago. I have been looking for a while and found it on Gun Broker. It was advertised as unfired with the box and all the original papers. It appears to have been manufactured in 1982. It is in beautiful condition and may indeed have been unfired but no longer can that be claimed. I put about 60 rounds through it and am extremely happy with it. The sights were significantly off but with the click adjustable rear sight I soon had it shooting right to point of aim. I love it. Can't seem to get enough .22s.

Attached Images

	2 S&W model 18.jpg (106.6 KB, 163 views)
	4 S&W Model 18.jpg (101.3 KB, 148 views)

When I was 14, that is the gun I wanted but could not find one. Ended upp buying what I could find, which was a 4" Kit gun in nickle. I still have it, but always wanted a Model 18 too. A couple years ago, a good friend traded me his Model 18 and it did not take long to bond with it. Great revolver!

That's a nice one. Good find.

I wanted a Model 18 for years. Never did get one, but I did find a 1953, 22 Combat Masterpiece. Great shooter.

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John 3:16 .

Congratulations to you [and your heirs and legatees, too..]. This gun will last a wonderfully long time, and not disappoint.

Regards,

Dyson

Model 18's are great revolvers and a ton of fun to shoot and they will out last you in terms of not wearing out.

Congrats for such a nice catch! I also had bad time to put an hand on nice one.
Enjoy that very classic and accurate gun!

Nice going - those Model 18's are a great handgun.

Found mine about a year ago, not quite as nice as yours, but it's a great shooter. Enjoy!!!

I found mine about 2 years ago and just lucked on to it at a local pawn shop. Welcome to the club.

Very nice late Model 18-4,
The dash 4 revision moved the gas ring from the Yoke to the cylinder,
The 18-4 was the last Model 18 produced (until its recent revival with IL) and was replaced by the 4" 17-5 Heavy Barrel .

Early dash 4's have a pinned barrel, large right side trademark, standard grooved trigger and came in the blue two piece Bangor Punta box,
Late dash 4's are unpinned with a smaller left side trademark and came in the one piece Lear Siegler folding box,
Usually found with either a smooth combat trigger or wide target trigger.

The late 18-4 is the first version to appear without the machined grooves ahead of the rear site to match the barrel rib .
Late model Magnas are usually lighter in color , have a blocky heel and have thin checkering at the bottom. (Perhaps the router cutting speed was increased to speed up production ?)

My 18-4 is in the 270K serial range, was made in 1983 and has these late features , (Guessing your is slightly lower?)
The box is the folding cardboard Lear Siegler style.

The changes in their design is what makes them so interesting to study and compare.
Thanks for sharing it !

You have a very nice 18 -- They are a lot of fun to own/shoot. It'll give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

This is my earlier -4 with a pinned barrel.

Engine49guy mentions the interesting differences in the various iterations of the Model 18-4. Mine looks to have no barrel pin, a smooth trigger, machined grooves in front of the rear sight and on the barrel, the checkering on the grips is uniform,and the serial number starts with 228K.The box is a one piece blue with "Revolver" printed repeatedly in a column down the middle with a couple small "Double Action" printed in front of the larger "Revolver"s. On the flap is a small"Smith & Wesson" with an even smaller "Bangor Punta" under it.
At any rate I agree this hand gun will last a long time and I think I am going to designate it for my grandson who is just 6months old.

I purchased a 'new classic' model 18 combat masterpiece from Cabelas here in WA state and although I was skeptical (mostly from reading forums like this) about these new revolvers I now own what I consider to be the most beautiful and smoothest shooting revolver I own. I possess a no dash model 28 Highway Patrolman and a model 3953 9mm. These three S&W's are my favorite weapons in my collection. I would compel anyone who has not handled one of these new revolvers to at least handle one. I am a shooter and not a serous collecter so the trigger lock on a .22 revolver doesn't bother me in the slightest. However, the finish on this revolver is so gorgeous and the trigger pull both on double and single action so smooth and light.. I refuse to even holster it for fear of rubbing on that finish! I have noticed most of the people that knock these new guns haven't had any experience with them. I understand the appeal of the older models but if you want a brand new unblemished model to shoot and admire - I would not hesitate to purchase another one of these new classic guns.

Regardless of its production era, a four-inch target-sighted K-frame in .22 LR is one of the best guns S&W ever made. I have an early Pre-18 that remains the S&W .22 that I shot most accurately on its first range trip. It was almost as though the gun didn't care whether I aimed or not; it knew where the center of the target was and dropped round after round right in the red. Amazing.

Congratulations on your new revolver!

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David Wilson

You need to post some pictures of that beaut!

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Let's see I have 2 model 18's, a 4" 48, a 4" 17-6 (full lug), a 4" 17-5 (no lug), oh and a 4" model 53. Which is my favorite? Can't pick a favorite but the 17-6 is a great shooter and the 53 wakes up the dead when shot

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Jim
Many K and N Frames