Beauty In The Eye Of The Beholder

[emptypockets]

In my eye this one is a beauty. Despite the bluing loss from what appears to be a lot of holster wear. A trigger which has had the face ground smooth and all the case color removed, then polished to a mirror shine. Light scratches on the surface on a good portion of it along with a couple of dings in the stocks. A little fluorescent green paint left in the front sight ramp serrations and a little on the blade. Tarnished medallions in the stocks, the usual signs of wear from use. In my eyes it is a beauty. I got this K 22 a few days ago it is a 4screw with serial# K 2845XX. I think it is from late 1956 non model marked. Target stocks without numbers but I think are original. I like the feel of the trigger but don't like the look of it. The stocks have a slight palm swell and feel great in my hands. The finish is a high polish blue and what is left really catches your eye. I have had a chance to take it to the range, what a beauty of a shooter. I wish I could have seen it when it was new, but in my eye it still is a beauty. After some much needed attention it has really cleaned up. I think I will keep it.

 

[Modified]

I think you have a set of Rosewood stocks there. Looks a bit like what I have done with my K-22. In my opinion tossing those stocks on there is the best thing that you can do to a Pre-17.

They are thinner and smaller then the Walnut stocks from the same era:

So it seems like they have some palm swell, when they actually don't. Its just that being thinner they have to have a bit of extra wood around the diamonds/screws.

They are without a doubt my very favorite K-Frame stocks and I've become a bit addicted to acquiring them after I found a set to put on my 19 no dash that had Pachmayr's on it originally:

I'm not really an expert on these, but I would imagine someone here is and can chime in. In my experience the only guns that I have seen these Rosewood stocks on are early Model 19s. I would guess you could order them too, but in all my compulsive auction surfing the only guns I see them on that are all complete and original in the box would be the model 19s.

In my case the plan is to just put them on every K frame I shoot. I have them on my pre 17 because they fit my hand so nicely.

 

[Hondo44]

There's an old expression used around guns: "Just the right amount of wear." I don't think I need to explain that on this forum. But yours is certainly that!

I've had a few guns come to me with the trigger polished. You can replace it of course.

But if you happen to like it smooth, you can fix it. Knock the shine off of it with 800 grit paper, apply thin coat of oil and dab a little OxPho Blue here and there to color it. The dulling of the shine helps a lot and the bluing, applied with a Q-Tip and much of the cotton removed, kind of swirls in the coat of oil and can mimic case colors quite well when done right. I don't even remove the trigger from the gun, just use masking tape on all of the trigger guard and frame around the trigger.

 

[Nframecollector]

I kinda like it! Love the stocks.

 

[stu1ritter]

I think it would have taken me about a nano-second to reach for my wallet for that beauty. I think I would keep it also.
Stu

 

[boykinlp]

In my eye this one is a beauty.

I think that a LARGE majority here on the forum would agree with you!

 

[DWFAN]

But if you happen to like it smooth, you can fix it. Knock the shine off of it with 800 grit paper, apply thin coat of oil and dab a little OxPho Blue here and there to color it. The dulling of the shine helps a lot and the bluing, applied with a Q-Tip and much of the cotton removed, kind of swirls in the coat of oil and can mimic case colors quite well when done right. I don't even remove the trigger from the gun, just use masking tape on all of the trigger guard and frame around the trigger.

What kind of oil? I'm sure it makes a difference.
Thank, Paul

 

[Iggy]

You think you'll keep it?? You think you'll keep it??

HOUSE MOUSE I RECKON YOU SHOULD KEEP IT!!!!

 

[sophie]

You are right in the fact that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that is a beauty to my way of thinking also. Nice gun.

 

[Hondo44]

What kind of oil? I'm sure it makes a difference.
Thank, Paul

I just use whatever gun oil I have at hand. Mostly I use M-Pro 7 CLP.