A Couple of Pre-War 22-40 Masterpieces

[RKmesa]

Had the camera out and shot a few new photos of some of my favorite subjects.

My most recently acquired 22-40 (687594):

And my close to 100% 22-40 that shipped in an appropriately stamped Outdoorsman box (684735):

As always, I love to see photos of any of your 22-40's. After all, isn't that why we all come to this "grown-up show-n-tell"?

 

[gjamison]

One of those is high on my wish list. Very Very Nice!!

 

[Troystat]

Beautiful revolvers those pre-war Smiths are just stunning. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Neat. Thanks for sharing.

The top side plate screw on both guns appears to be a bit proud in those pictures. Is that just a photo effect, or is that characteristic of the 22-40s?

 

[GF]

"I love to see photos of any of your 22-40's..."

I wish I could....

The best of the best. Thanks for posting.

GF

 

[Sebago Son]

K-22/40's...

Sweet. I like mine too... (shown here with a First Model)

I picked up a second K-22/40 last summer and it's a little scruffier than my first, but the Pre-War Magnas are serailed to the gun so I guess I'll keep it....

With probably alot less than a 1,000 surviviors these guns are tough to find...

 

[RKmesa]

I picked up a second K-22/40 last summer and it's a little scruffier than my first, but the Pre-War Magnas are serailed to the gun so I guess I'll keep it....

Drew:

That is one of the only sets of K-Frame pre-war magnas that I can recall being numbered to the gun. Your Masterpieces are very nice!

Thanks for sharing,

 

[DCWilson]

Well, I just showed this one not too long ago, but since we have a dedicated K-22/40 thread I'll post the pics again. This is 684698, shipped by the factory in April of 1940 and soon thereafter purchased in Rochester NY.

I just love that honkin' big rear sight.

This one even came with its original sight adjustment tool.

Drew is absolutely right about the scarcity of this model. I believe the accepted production figure is 1067 units, of which several dozen must by now have been lost. In terms of scarcity, this model is right up there with other seldom-seens like the .32 Regulation Police target revolver and the Prewar .22/32 Kit Gun. It's not as rare as the K-32 First Model (that's the prewar .32 long target revolver) or the target Ladysmith, but it is still rare enough. I hold a good thought for you guys that are still looking for one; may you find what you are looking for sooner rather than later.

 

[RKmesa]

David:

I never tire looking at your guns and I very much appreciate your regular contribution to our "sport." A question though, does your box number to 684698? The reason that I ask is that my 684735 (some 37 numbers higher than yours) also shipped in April 1940 and it shipped in an Outdoorsman box stamped 22-40, rather than a Masterpiece box...

Here is the box, stamped 22-40:

 

[mkk41]

My #684893 , found it wearing Pachmayrs and red nail polish on the front sight , and lots of dust and dried oil. $500 brought it home.

 

[Sebago Son]

Mkk,

That was a STEAL! These guns routinely bring 4-6 times that...

Glad you saved it!

Drew

 

[mikepriwer]

I only have one left, and its part of a pair of guns done special for
Fred Miller, in 1940. Here is the picture from the auction catalog :

Col. Rex Applegate had put together a sub-collection that he called
"Guns of Famous Shooters". These two were part of that collection,
and were featured in the 1999 Amoskeag auction that sold the bulk
of his estate.

The guns are a matched pair, with the special front sight blades, and
unique Roper grips. Perhaps you can see the extra decoration near
the top of the grips. The K22-40 is the upper revolver.

Mike Priwer

 

[RKmesa]

Neat. Thanks for sharing.

The top side plate screw on both guns appears to be a bit proud in those pictures. Is that just a photo effect, or is that characteristic of the 22-40s?

Dave:

I think that it is just the lighting on the photos. The screws on these guns are just like all of my other pre-war revolvers... BTW thanks for all that you do to make this forum rock (I love the speed of the new server)...

 

[cgt4570]

Here's mine with one of my pre-17s.

 

[DCWilson]

Richard, my box does number to the gun, but I couldn't be sure until I took this photo. Digital imaging brings up contrast my eye couldn't see even in bright light. The label is worn and shelf-darkened, but you can still make out 684698 in the middle.

Even without the barely legible digits, the gun's story suggests that it has to be in its original box. The collector from whom I acquired it reported that he got it 30 years ago from the original owner, who had kept the box, docs and SAT together for 40 years.

 

[Jebus35745]

Those are some beautiful guns. Love this place. The closest for me would probably be a Heritage Model. The coolest part of these guns is the way the rear sight on the top strap looks like part of the frame. To think mkk41 found his for 500, wow. Larry

 

[DCWilson]

A couple of documents

My gun came with some documents. I won't show the Helpful Hins brochure because that one must date to the late 1940s or early '50s; it was added to the box.

Here are pics of the trilingual caution note (English, Spanish, Portuguese) and the K-22/40 brochure that were also in the box. I don't know if this would have been in the K-22/40 box or if it would have been a targeted insert for Brazilian 1917s in either the 1937 or 1946 contract.

K-22/40 brochure, partly unfolded, exterior. Dated March 1, 1940:

Partly unfolded, interior:

Fully unfolded:

I will try to make a flat-bed scan of that K-22/40 brochure and upload it as a PDF file. It would look a lot better.

 

[bdGreen]

Top one is 691386.
Bottom one is 691387.
Or maybe the other way around.

Enjoy,

bdGreen

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[long colt frazier]

BD stop showing off

 

[SDH]

That must make a "French 75" something Really Special!
Love the paper David. Look forward to the scan.