Factory Chromed Outdoorsman

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ontheroad20

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Pictures are not the best but wondering if this could be a factory chrome job. The grip frame has 6.48 stamped on it, could the original owner have sent it in to be chromed in June of 1948? The serial number 834441 has star stamped beside it on the butt of the grips. The trigger has nice case coloring but the hammer is wrong. All numbers match including the wood grips. Just putting this out there to see what info I can get.
Could Mr. Jenks have records that would indicate a rework in 1948?










 
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It may be a factory nickel refinish. "6"34441 would be in the SN range for a prewar K-22 Outdoorsman, and a letter of authenticity followed by an SWHF records search may turn up the repair order. Cool gun :).
 
Unless it is some sort of yellow lighting, it looks like nickel to me as well. There appears to be a slight yellow cast to the finish, indicating nickel. Chrome usually shows mirror silver color. I see clear deep stamping and proper case colored hammer and trigger. Is the rework stamp '43? I bet not many guns were repaired during WWII, since the factory was so busy turning out wartime guns.

It might be interesting to get a factory letter on that K22, since factory nickel guns are seldom seen. I think the 1st Model could be had in nickel by special order. Of course, a refinish at the factory is also possible in 1943 when it was sent back. The SWHF (Historical Foundation) could have repair orders for that gun available as well.

Looks to me to be a well cared for K22. Those stocks show little use as well. I can't tell what if any difference in the appearance of the hammer from others in you pictures and a handful of pics make it almost impossible to be certain about a refinish as well.
 
Interesting gun, may be worth the letter. H Richard correctly notes the sights, which would be odd for a factory refinish, but the extractor is blued, which is usually not the case in an aftermarket refinish. The remaining case color on the hammer and trigger is at odds with aftermarket work. The pitting on the grip frame is interesting, as the factory would have buffed/polished that in '48... but may well have occurred after that. Thanks for posting this! Please let us know if you letter it.
 
As noted above, most especially concerning the sights, I'm very comfortable opining there's no way this work was done at the factory----not even by an apprentice on a Monday or Friday----not even early Monday or late Friday!!

Ralph Tremaine
 
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There were a few factory chromed K22's. Two were in a display at S&WCA in Concord a few years ago. It was done as an experimental finish and is extremely rare. Letter would be only way to authenticate. I'm in agreement with the others, it looks nickel to me. I would get letter to see what story it might tell. Nice K22, Good luck!
 
At this point I haven't purchased the gun, coming here seeking knowledge to help me make the decision. Is the STAR stamp by the serial number indicate going back to factory for something?
 
ontheroad20 said:
At this point I haven't purchased the gun, coming here seeking knowledge to help me make the decision. Is the STAR stamp by the serial number indicate going back to factory for something?
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My recollection is the star indicated more than minor factory work, and placed so that the gun could not be resold as new. This would usually mean any work that would have made the gun appear new, as in a refinish.
 
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"Is the rework stamp '43? I bet not many guns were repaired during WWII, since the factory was so busy turning out wartime guns."

I have a 3rd model .44 Special that went back to the factory and received a 1942 stamp. I asked Roy Jinks about it and he said that the company didn't abandon its customers during the war.
 
We have letters dating back to 1937, from S&W, when owner of a RM asked for a "chromium" finish, S&W replied, they do not do that.

They did, however, do some experimental 1905/4ths. Dad has 2 that letter as factory chrome in a mid 1930s SN range but shipped with 28 others in 1960 to a Dealer in NYC at a bargain price.

Very unlikely S&W would refinish in chrome. If so, it was likely ANOTHER refinish after the factory refinish.

That is one concern collectors must consider is: If the finish on a factory refurbished S&W is "the" refinish relative to the date on the frame.
 
Muley Gil said:
"Is the rework stamp '43? I bet not many guns were repaired during WWII, since the factory was so busy turning out wartime guns."

I have a 3rd model .44 Special that went back to the factory and received a 1942 stamp. I asked Roy Jinks about it and he said that the company didn't abandon its customers during the war.
Click to expand...

The stamp is 6.48
 
glowe said:
Check the gun for more stamps like a diamond, RP, anything on the butt-frame , cylinder, or under the barrel other than the serial number? Let us know.
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There is a diamond under the barrel by the serial number and a few more on the grip frame. I will try to get more pictures tomorrow, my problem is getting GOOD pictures of them.
 
I don't know about the plated sight; that's a red flag. But if you zoom in on the patent dates on the barrel, (the photo's high resolution lets you get very close), those are indeed exceptionally crisp and pristine, and show no sign of a refinish.

As has been mentioned, we have no way of ascertaining whether the re-work was finish-related.

I think Gary has alluded to this: Shouldn't a blued pre-war Outdoorsman have the B on the barrel flat?
 
ontheroad20 said:
At this point I haven't purchased the gun, coming here seeking knowledge to help me make the decision. Is the STAR stamp by the serial number indicate going back to factory for something?
Click to expand...


Walk away. It's an ugly aftermarket nickel job. The factory wouldn't nickel the hammer, and the rear sight and the front sight blade, or roll the edges of the sideplate. Spend your money on a good gun, not this one. Even if it's dirt cheap, it will make a poor shooter with those shiny sights.

It would be interesting to know what the seller thinks it's worth.
 
ontheroad20 said:
There is a diamond under the barrel by the serial number and a few more on the grip frame. I will try to get more pictures tomorrow, my problem is getting GOOD pictures of them.
Click to expand...

There's no way it's a factory nickel, the over polishing, nickeled hammer, nickeled sights are all things the service department didn't do.

At best this gun is a shooter grade 0% finish gun. If you like it and its cheap, buy it, but all collector value is shot.

It does look like it was back to the service department at least once, I think I see a date stamp under there, but I can guarantee it wasn't for the nickel that is on there.

I'd say paying anything over 400 is way too much for this gun. Even then it's only worthwhile as a gun you want to shoot.
 
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