Acquired a K22. Any info?

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RoyalXJ

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My step father passed away and I came across his old .22 target pistol while cleaning his closet. I was wondering if someone could tell me it's model year and approximate value. Thanks in advance. On the bottom of the stock there is a serial number. K 14782

 
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That is your basic K22 Masterpiece. Looks to be in real nice shape. If stored in the gun rug you're lucky it isn't covered in rust. Second year production if the serial K147xx is correct. That would be 1947.

A very sought after model. Great shooter. Monetary value is really impossible to pinpoint. Way too many variables. Others will come along and assure you they can estimate a value. Pretty much guessing. For insurance I would list it at $800. I see them sell for more, and I see them sell for less.

Sorry for your loss.

Welcome to the forum.
 
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K615 – K18,731…........1947 (manufacture). But it probably shipped sometime in early 1948. What you have is called a K-22 Masterpiece target revolver. Very big in Bullseye competitive shooting through the 1950s and 1960s, but not so much now. It eventually became the Model 17 about 10 years later. Very desirable, and yours appears to have the original stocks. Assuming you do not have the original box, papers, and tools, maybe $700-$800 in a private sale situation.
 
Thanks man. The gun looks to be in great condition. When I found it, it was sitting on the top shelf with no case. I bought the brown zip up one for it so it wouldn't get knocked around. Should I not keep it in there? I'm probably gonna end up selling it. I have no real use for a .22. I would rather see someone have it who could get some use out of it.
 
Welcome to the forum.

That's a very nice old K-22! The Standard Catalog of S&W (SCSW) dates it to 1947. I'll toss out an approximate retail value of $700 but it could go higher especially if your dad kept its original box. Gun stores usually offer half to 5/8s of what they hope to sell a gun for so you might do best listing in the classified ads here or on an auction site. However, I'd rather see it passed on down to the grandchildren. At least consider putting off the decision on whether to sell it.

Incidentally, we have to type fast to be the first member to post a date from the SCSW!
 
DWalt said:
K615 – K18,731…........1947 (manufacture). But it probably shipped sometime in early 1948. What you have is called a K-22 Masterpiece target revolver. Very big in Bullseye competitive shooting through the 1950s and 1960s, but not so much now. It eventually became the Model 17 about 10 years later. Very desirable, and yours appears to have the original stocks. Assuming you do not have the original box, papers, and tools, maybe $700-$800 in a private sale situation.
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No original box, papers or tools. Thanks for the info.
 
One interesting feature on your gun is the one line "Made In USA" on the frame, this changed about a year after introduction so not as common as the 4 line address guns especially in high condition.
My guess is it would sell rather quickly at $800 if listed here.
Do your research before listing it and if you can find the original box docs and tools it will add alot of value as a package.
 
"I have no real use for a .22."

Every shooter needs a good .22, whether he knows it or not. And there is no better .22 handgun than a K-22. Think long and hard about trading it off for something else. The original box and tools would increase the value substantially.
 
Very nice K22. I agree, everyone needs at least one 22 and it doesn't get a whole lot better than that one. Being a family members just adds to it. Before you sell it take it to the range and run a few rounds through it. You'll probably change your mind.
 
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As the others have said. Please think long and hard before you list it for sale. Once it's gone you'll not get it back. I sold my prized 686 when I started carrying the G 17. A week later I thought to myself. Why the heck did I do that. Sold to a friend! Took seven years another firearm and several dollars to get him to turn loose. He has never sold any firearm he has ever purchased except that one. I also gave him a big hug, he didn't ask for that!
 
For what it's worth, it's best not to keep it in the rug you bought. Anything like cloth, leather, etc. tends to hold moisture and can lead to rust.

Wonderful old revolver that looks to be in great shape. I have one made a little earlier and it's a fine shooter.

Before you decide to sell it, take it to the range. A K22 is great fun to shoot and it might grow on you.
 
keep it, or sell it to me

Hello, I would also vote for "keeping it". It shows that your step father had quite an element of taste, its not a Taurus or something like that. Shoot it, and think about days gone by. I guess it's just me but I like to keep stuff from the family. If you finally decide to get rid of it, send an email, I'll start saving now. Have fun. 1947 was a good year, I have a M&P ( model 10 from the same time period and the action is smooooth.
 
DWalt said:
"I have no real use for a .22."

Every shooter needs a good .22, whether he knows it or not. And there is no better .22 handgun than a K-22. Think long and hard about trading it off for something else. The original box and tools would increase the value substantially.
Click to expand...

I want to add personal experience here. My K22 has been the one gun that always goes to the range with me, and that is always shot the most. It is one of only a few guns that I believe every gun owner should buy or aspire to buy.

There is no other gun I know of as pleasant to shoot, accurate, and nice to look at while still eating any 22 you care to throw in it.

It truly is, in my opinion the best gun ever made for the sportsman, plinker of cans, gun lover, or anyone who just enjoys fine pieces of Americana.
 
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SixgunStrumpet said:
It truly is, in my opinion the best gun ever made for the sportsman, plinker of cans, gun lover, or anyone who just enjoys fine pieces of Americana.
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Bingo. I finally found an opinion on the internet that I can agree with. Quick, let me show this to my wife, who has a major issue understanding why #10 is getting picked up tomorrow and I'm sitting at the darn computer looking for #11.

Let me add one more reason:

Yesterday my 7 month old pup, which I have come to love like a daughter, was bitten by a copperhead right next to the patio and 5 feet from where the spouse mentioned above happened to be sitting at the time. Thank goodness she didn't get much of a dose and she's doing much better this morning.

The snake (the 5th one so far this summer) was dispatched with a model 18 K22 and a load of CCI rat shot.
 
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I hate snakes.

Nice find and it has some history about your relative. My past generation in my family (grandfathers) had guns but everybody else got them. You should keep it and cherish it. There's nothing like guns being handed down through generations of the family. The money means nothing.
 
DWalt said:
"I have no real use for a .22."

Every shooter needs a good .22, whether he knows it or not. And there is no better .22 handgun than a K-22. Think long and hard about trading it off for something else. The original box and tools would increase the value substantially.
Click to expand...

I think the s&w k22 is the icon of the s&w line up even today. It was my very first s&w revolver. It's smooth feel of its action made me take another look at s&w revolvers.
 
My personal opinion, FWIW, is that everyone who likes guns should have both a K-22 and a centerfire K-frame target revolver, a K-38 for us po' folk and/or a K-32 for the carriage trade. It's just the right thing to do. As soon as my lottery number hits I'll be adding the K-32 to my other two, both of which date to the late '40s. :D

Froggie
 
Department of oversight correction: I should have said earlier that your gun is considered a narrow-rib/tapered barrel variety; in the late '40s that was the only type the company was producing. Later S&W introduced a wide-rib/heavy barrel option. Eventually that one became the popular favorite and the taper-barrel guns were discontinued. When you are shooting, in some people's hands the heavy barrels yield better accuracy. When you are not shooting but just staring and appreciating, the tapered-barrel guns have the more attractive profile. (Or so say I; disagreement is anticipated. :D)
 
DCWilson said:
When you are not shooting but just staring and appreciating, the tapered-barrel guns have the more attractive profile. (Or so say I; disagreement is anticipated. :D)
Click to expand...

I can't decide. The bright blue pre-models are very, very pretty. IMO, the prettiest firearms ever mass produced. But I really, really like those narrow ribs.

On my short list, however, is a factory-option, high polish/bright blue, narrow rib K22. My understanding is that it was an option, and some are owned by forum members.
 
Whwn I first took up bullseye shooting in the early 1960s, I bought a used postwar K-22 for the .22 stage. A few years later, I traded it off for a Colt Match Woodsman, which I later traded for a Hi-Standard match pistol. Back in the late 1980s, I bought another used postwar K-22, which I again traded off for another Colt Match Woodsman (NIB), Then I sold the Colt Woodsman in about 1992. For years I have really regretted these transactions, and wish I still had at least one K-22 and at least one Colt Woodsman - respectively the best .22 revolver and the best .22 semiauto ever made. But at least I still have the Hi-Standard which is pretty good also. It's my only current .22 handgun.
 
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Engine49guy said:
One interesting feature on your gun is the one line "Made In USA" on the frame, this changed about a year after introduction so not as common as the 4 line address guns especially in high condition.
My guess is it would sell rather quickly at $800 if listed here.
Do your research before listing it and if you can find the original box docs and tools it will add alot of value as a package.
Click to expand...

If you want to sell it quickly, don't depend on cell phone pictures. Take some DETAILED high quality pictures. The more, the better. Don't forget to take close-ups.
 
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