K-22 One Line

[tom32]

Finally got my K-22 yesterday. I was a little worried about this one as it was not cheap but advertised in very high condition. In fact, when my dealer opened the box, he thought it had been reblued and about fell over when I told him it had a "born on date" of 1947. I thought I would be shooting it but now...I might just put a few down range to see how it does.
Not the best picture.

 

[sqhead]

really sweet,nice grips,,,i want one of those!!

 

[DCWilson]

A great K-22. Congratulations. And with the large ejector rod knob!

Those large-knob postwar K-22s have got to be one of the most appealing niche varieties that collectors can focus on. Mine will be one of the last guns to leave if I ever have to start selling off the collection.

 

[jughed440]

i see why your dealer nearly fainted...that pretty sight could swoon anyone.

very nice!!!!

 

[rburg]

Ya can't put up a picture like that without also giving us the approximate serial number. We've had too many discussions about these guns.

We've even got members here digging in old chicken coops looking for them. As for shooting it, take another dirty old K22 out and risk damage to it. Buy one with some obvious wear and tear, don't risk a good one soothing your base urges to shoot it. At least if its got a serial number above maybe K300 or it might not be heresy, but we'd still gather an angry mob with torches and pitchforks. People talk about holy grail guns, this one is pretty close. Maybe one of the best. You can only find them if you're really lucky (you have bought a lottery ticket, haven't you?) or have looked long and hard with a fistfull of cash.

I'm still sore at Drew for digging up K117. These days, I'll only buy one if its lower than my K155 or K166. We'll, I say it anyway. Just how many K22s does a man need, anyhow? I'll let you know if I get there.

 

[fat tom]

Very nice! Would you care to share the serial number?
f.t.

 

[Hammerdown]

Hello Tom
Welcome to the One Liner Large extractor Knob Transitional K-22 club. These were short lived and are Now heavily sought after. Below is one I came onto in a small local gun show about Three years ago with it's original serial numbered stocks, but I Placed the Targst stocks on it to enjoy shooting it. I got it for $500.00 and ran like a Scalded Dog after making the transaction... Hammerdown

 

[tom32]

Thanks guys. I do have another one ('48) that should probably be the shooter. This one is K3559.

Hammerdown - Just wow! If I found one like yours especially at $500, I would be looking behind my shoulder for a week. I have over double that in this one but where I live, we never see anything like these, hence my dealer's reaction. He is very knowledgable but I had to explain what it was and the subtle differences. He even thought the sideplate stamp was faked because it was raised.

 

[Hammerdown]

Thanks guys. I do have another one ('48) that should probably be the shooter. This one is K3559.

Hammerdown - Just wow! If I found one like yours especially at $500, I would be looking behind my shoulder for a week. I have over double that in this one but where I live, we never see anything like these, hence my dealer's reaction. He is very knowledgable but I had to explain what it was and the subtle differences. He even thought the sideplate stamp was faked because it was raised.

Hello Tom
These Transitional K-22's like ours do Not show up often, as they had a very short window of production as the factory was using up some Prewar Parts in them, that is why they used the Large extractor ends and had to Mill out the under side of the barrel to allow proper rod clearance when closing the action. I stood at the table where this gun was sitting and called a close friend and told him to bring me $500.00 Now, as I had a gun I just had to have. The vendor that had mine was a Private collector not an FFL Guy so it was a Flat $500.00 in his hand and Off I went. When I was examining it I noticed it had a series of lack of a better way to explain them, Donut shaped round lumps down the entire barrel. At my first look it appeared that this gun had Several Squib loads fired through it. I was so concerned with it, that I Borrowed a Bore light and examined the inside of the bore, which was shinny and as smooth as Glass the entire length so I knew it was not squib loads that caused this Odd issue. I did use the factory Imperfections on the external of the barrel to my advantage in haggling as he had it priced at $650.00, and that made Two Other Players who were waiting for me to Pass on it move on.





I have discussed this Odd lumpy barrel issue with MR. Jinks and he told me that he had seen this before on very few occasion's of other Early Postwar S&W's that shipped out prior to 1948 time span. He added the reason for it was that the general public was so hungry for Guns after World War II that the factory was getting them out as fast as they possibly could, and that is why my gun has these cosmetic donut looking lumpy barrel issues as some slipped under the wire of their final quality control inspection that had some Minor cosmetic issues like mine has, as many workers in that time span were newly hired after the War, and much of the Machinery was tired due to the massive production they kept up with during the War as these were made at the original Plant location on Sturbridge Street. MR. Jinks also added that guns with this Rather Odd cosmetic feature are Very Unique. These Guns really shoot and to me are of a Time when S&W was getting back into the main stream of putting guns in the Public sector's hands again, Running Three shift's wide open to keep up to the Public's demand, it was an end to an old tired plant just before all Operations moved to their current location, under the direction of Carl Hellstrom who was appointed by Harold Wesson due to failing health issues and stress caused by World War II. Mine shipped in November of 1947 and it's serial number is K-366X. Regards, Hammerdown

 

[BlackAgnes]

Which do you all think is scarcer--the one-line large knob or the one-line small knob?

 

[Engine49guy]

Congrats on your "one Line Large Ejector Knob " K22 Tom!
I am curious to know if there were more or less made than Pre war 2nd Model K22's.

I found mine on Lee's table this year at the SWCA meeting in Orlando ,
Unfortunately I only had enough for one more gun and he also had to its twin in 38 special and a nice pre war K22 Outdooorsman with a S&W grip adapter .

In the end the Outdoorsman won but that Large ejector knob K38
is "The one that got away".

 

[Sebago Son]

K-22's...

"We've even got members here digging in old chicken coops looking for them....."

"I'm still sore at Drew for digging up K117...."

"Just how many K22s does a man need, anyhow?..."

How many? Damned if I know... here's a few of mine so far. The rest are packed away. Had to make space for more....

Here's a Glamor Shot of K117 taken a few years ago by our pal and fellow forumite Michael Stern not long after I cleaned off the chicken poo...

BTW Dick, don't overlook old sawmills. I pulled K16,000-something or other out of one last year. Was wrapped up in the cut off leg of an old pair of coveralls and packed with axle grease. Took DW three weeks to get all of the crud out of the checkering... The mill's ancient owner had been using it to shoot red squirrels in his pole barn. Couldn't hit with it anymore. Wanted to trade for an H&R top break .410.

Drew