Help with identifying a K-22

[inboost]

Hi All,

I've got a really nice 3rd model K-22 on my bench that seems a little outside the envelope of a standard piece. I was hoping for some of you more familiar with these to give me an idea of what this is? I doesn't appear to be a Combat Masterpiece, but it does have a 4" barrel hence my confusion. Any guesses on it's year of manufacture would also be welcomed.

Thanks for any help!

Here is what I have measured /observed with respect to significant features mentioned in the Standard Catalog of
Smith & Wesson 3rd edition:

• 5 screw
• 6 groove fore-strap and back-strap
• 0.375" wide hammer
• 0.265" wide serrated trigger
• Cylinder is 1.618" long
• Front sight is 0.105" wide and 0.132" high off base
• 4" (3.993" from muzzle to forcing cone) Pinned Barrel has ever so light taper to it
• Barrel top rib is 0.25" wide, runs full length of the barrel with 10 ridges in the serration
• Slide hammer block
• Unsure of long or short action (photo in Supica/Nahas book is pretty small!)
• Four line trademark
• Butt serial number is K 367**
• Checkered stocks w/ diamond and S&W monogram in silver serial numbered to the gun
• Serial numbers on butt and under barrel, but assembly numbers in frame window and yoke (which match each other)
• Cylinder is serial numbered to the gun
• Ejector knob is 0.238" diameter (small I believe?)

 

[Cooter Brown]

I ain't no esspert but given that the roll stampings on the barrel are off centered I'd say that is a six inch gun on which the barrel was shortened.

The patridge front site is more typical of the six inch gun as well.

From the serial number I'd say '48 or so, but I'd have to get my book to be sure.

Should be a great shooter.

 

[handejector]

Show us a few GOOD pics of the muzzle from the front and BOTH sides, please.

 

[inboost]

I'd say you nailed it Cooter. Pics as requested Handejector! Thanks for the help guys!

 

[H Richard]

Definitely a cut barrel, but appears pretty well done, especially the muzzle crown. I'd say it will be a good shooter.

 

[mikepriwer]

Definitely a cut barrel, but I disagree about the quality of the muzzle
crown. I think its not right, at all.

There are a number of indicators here, as regards the cut barrel.
One, as noticed, is the way off-position of the roll markings. (One of
my McGivern K-22's was cut, and has the same mis-positioning.)
Second, the height of the front sight is wrong, as also noticed. I
have the original K-22 4" prototype, and the sight is much lower.
Third, the pin holding the front sight is clearly wrong. Fourth, its
way too early, serial-number wise, for a 4" K-22. And fifth, that muzzle
crown is wrong. This gun looks cut straight across -a factory crown has
a lot of curvature to it.

Mike Priwer

 

[Cooter Brown]

Definitely a cut barrel, but I disagree about the quality of the muzzle
crown. I think its not right, at all.

There are a number of indicators here, as regards the cut barrel.
One, as noticed, is the way off-position of the roll markings. (One of
my McGivern K-22's was cut, and has the same mis-positioning.)
Second, the height of the front sight is wrong, as also noticed. I
have the original K-22 4" prototype, and the sight is much lower.
Third, the pin holding the front sight is clearly wrong. Fourth, its
way too early, serial-number wise, for a 4" K-22. And fifth, that muzzle
crown is wrong. This gun looks cut straight across -a factory crown has
a lot of curvature to it.

Mike Priwer

Well, I MEANT to say all that!

As it is, I'd carry and shoot the heck outta that thing. The job around the rifling looks pretty good although the rest of the job looks a little rough--have you shot it?

 

[inboost]

Unfortunately it's not mine to shoot. It was loaned to me to clean up as it was crudded up pretty good. There was also some worry as to rust on and in the gun. Other than a few raspberries on the cylinder and under the cylinder latch and what looks like some good pitting under the rear corner of the left stock it was clear of any major rust. The exterior stuff cleaned right up too. A little cold blueing and the gun just looks wonderful. I want to keep it!

I'm going to agree with mikepriwer. When it came to me for inspection the muzzle was bright and I noted what looked to be saw marks. What threw me off is that the barrel is within 0.007" of 4 inches exactly which seems a little too good to be true for your average gun hack. Especially so as it doesn't appear to be lathe turned / parted. Additionaly the actual crown at the rifling interface looks well done, at least I'm not sure I could produce much better myself. The front sight pin definitely isn't right, but I thought this could be attributed to a sight that was knocked a little loose and had to be re-fit with an over-sized pin to correct it. It's not perfectly flat on the rib either, I'd say it's got 0.003~0.005" of a gap on the muzzle end. So since I'm not an expert S&W guy nor have I even seen a K-22 in person before I knew were to come to get the straight answers.

Thanks all for you help!

Any takers on narrowing down the year of manufacture?

 

[Cooter Brown]

The book says K18732-K73121 is 1948, but guns sometimes shipped out of sequence.

 

[inboost]

Thanks Cooter! Probably good enough to satisfy the owner's curiosity. He can letter it if he needs something more specific.

 

[RdrBill]

Sir.
This is K 75510, letters as 4 inch K22. Shipped May of 1950, if memory serves me.

Bill@Yuma

 

[inboost]

Bill, thank you for those shots of that stock 4", beautiful gun!

 

[inboost]

Sir.
This is K 75510, letters as 4 inch K22. Shipped May of 1950, if memory serves me.

Bill@Yuma

Bill, would you check your front sight height for me? The gun on my bench has a total height above the rib of 0.300" with the blade standing 0.128" above the base. I'm expecting a chance that yours might not to be not quite as tall, but judging by the photos it may be the same.

Thanks!

 

[Hondo44]

I, like you, would buy it if and when it became available especially since the collector value has been eliminated. It'll be a fine shooter.

I doubt that the front sight is too high. Unless it hasn't been fired since it was shortened, the position of the rear sight indicates it has not been elevated to compensate for a front sight that's too high (shooting low).

The 1st thing I'd do is correct the 'shade tree' shortening job by having it properly crowned with a proper front sight pin. It's a nice early post war with 1st style post war thumblatch.