K-22 help

[theDonk]

I am new here and relatively new to ownership so I apologize in advance if I don't give complete information. I have inherited my fathers collection of firearms and there are some blanks that I was hoping to fill in. The first is his K-22. I'd love to know which model it is and its approximate value.

- There is no model # behind the yoke. Just some garbled numbers
- Serial # is K 142XX
- 6 inch barrel
- Post-war adjustable sights

Let me know if you need more pictures/info

 

[bruce5781]

Very nice one liner. Most were shipped late '46 or '47. Someone will be along shortly to narrow it down for you.
I recently picked this one up in the 18XXX range, but don't let the price fool you. Yours has a much higher value.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. You have what could be a very nice early K22 Masterpiece revolver that would have been manufactured in 1947. Please . . . please . . . please remove that rubber one piece stock and hopefully the finish is not damaged under them. There are not a lot of single line address K frame Masterpiece revolvers out there (probably around 20,000) and that one deserves a set of original stocks as shown by Bruce. Pay particular attention to the sharp edge on the top round since that is the one that will be proper for your revolver ebay often has them and they will bring your K22 back to its original factory appearance.

 

[theDonk]

Please . . . please . . . please remove that rubber one piece stock and hopefully the finish is not damaged under them. There are not a lot of single line address K frame Masterpiece revolvers out there (probably around 20,000) and that one deserves a set of original stocks as shown by Bruce.

The rubber grip does look terrible. Thanks for the ebay suggestion. It's absolutely be on my list to replace it with an original grip.

 

[OldChief]

I agree with the 1947 date and as for value, without seeing the revolver, I have to say $800 and up. Condition and where you are located sets the value. As for what Bruce paid for his K22 all I can say is that Jessie James wore a mask!

 

[DWalt]

Regarding K 142xx, it's not possible to provide an exact shipping date without getting a factory letter. However, I show a significant number having nearby serial numbers which shipped in the early months of 1948. The range of serial numbers which were manufactured in 1947 is K615 – K18,731. The factory called this revolver the "K-22 Masterpiece." At a gun show as-is, it would probably be priced around $700-$800. A gun shop/pawn shop, etc. might give you $300 for it.

Obviously the rubber grips are not original but they are not nearly as bad as some who get their kicks from bashing them say they are. I greatly prefer them for shooting purposes over any wooden service or target grips. If you look for period-correct Magna grips, they will be of the K-frame sharp shoulder style. Such as this:

 

[kthom]

VERY nice K-22's, both!!! My most cherished revolver so I'm predjudiced. I would particularly like to own one with a '47 date, for obvious reasons!!!

 

[JP@AK]

theDonk - welcome to the Forum. Thanks for posting.

As others have said, your serial number fits neatly into the 1947 production range. It could have shipped the following year, and you should keep in mind that revolvers did not leave the S&W factory in serial order. I used to own a K-22 Masterpiece with a K10xxx serial number that did not ship until December, 1949!

As for 1946, so far as we know only two K-22s were assembled that year, both in December. I could be wrong, but I don't believe any actually shipped in 1946, and at the most it would be those two only.