K-22 Outdoorsman 1st Model with box & letter - value?

[Mazzman]

Hi people. I have a First Model K-22 Outdoorsman in the red box with an additional set of grips (target style grips: Herrets?). The pistol was researched by Jinks at S&W, who says in his letter that it was shipped April 11, 1939 to H&D Folsom Arms Co. in NYC, NY. Apparently the target sights were added later.

I have shot one box of Federal Match through this pistol and it is a pleasure to shoot and very, very accurate.

Aside from the one shooting / cleaning session, the pistol has sat in the safe for 15 years and I have decided to sell it. As you can see from the photos, there's some muzzle wear and wear on the ejector rod, but the rest of the pistol is a beautiful deep blue with one or two very minor imperfections, typical dragline on cylinder but not much else. The grips are in excellent shape with no chips or dings, very sharp checkering. (I forget how to tell if they are Magnas or not).

The box has the serial number written in pencil on the bottom on a piece of partially torn masking tape.

I would appreciate a knowledgeable opinion as to the current value. The price on the box is $75.00 (written on the end, in pencil), which is a might low in today's market.

Thank you very much!

 

[jmace57]

I am far from an expert (who will likely be along shortly) but would not be surprised to see $1000+. I sold a late-1940s one in similar condition for less (no letter, but in original box) fairly recently. First year may be more valuable. Good luck. It's a BEAUTY!

 

[DCWilson]

The asking price on K-22 ODs has soared in the last year or so. I'm not sure whether the selling prices match the asking price in most cases, but I have seen high quality guns in their original boxes offered at close to $4000.

My more conservative eye (which is another way of saying "slow to adapt to changing realities") thinks that looks like at least a $1500 gun by itself, and the box could add $400 on top. So I suspect that package would bring close to $2000 (and maybe even a little over) almost anywhere. Somebody who is closer to the market than I am is going to have to say how much higher a price might reasonably be paid for that package.

K-22 ODs should not be that scarce -- the company made some 20,000 of them. I think the price increases just reflect the fact the good ones have all gone to ground and demand outpaces supply. They are undoubtedly out there, but the present owners mostly seem interested in hanging on to them.

 

[rburg]

I'm going to guess that DCs estimate is a bit high, at least for around here. I'll be looking this weekend at the OGCA show in Wilmington, OH. What happened a few years ago was the price of boxed K22s took a huge leap upward. Back then the K22 Outdoorsman wa worth maybe $1000 and the addition of a box usually selling then for $200 suddenly upped the price (asking price) into the $1500 range. Now that gun as pictured would probably be priced at $2000 but won't bring it. A motivated seller would probably realize maybe $1800. Yes, the gun does have a few flaws like the blemishes mentioned. I also look at the extractor rod as an indication of actual wear. The OPs gun shows it was fired significantly but also well cared for.

What we see is the gun and box together seem to sell for an increased value. For it to take the next leap, it would need the screwdriver/sight adjusting tool. Remember, these are just my opinions. But the gun falls just below "investment grade" and into the next lower category. Its well above shooter grade. If I were rating the condition, I'd say a strong 90% gun. Its very nice.

The grips are what we usually call service stocks. The standard grade not the optional Magna. Magma is lava from a volcano. The sights are original to the gun. The only other option we sometimes see is a humpback hammer. It also jumps the desirability by an order of magnitude. The gun pictured, if it had the hammer and the optional magna grips would sell fairly fast at $2500 and without the wear, $3000 or more.

 

[Peak53]

The asking price on K-22 ODs has soared in the last year or so. I'm not sure whether the selling prices match the asking price in most cases, but I have seen high quality guns in their original boxes offered at close to $4000.

My more conservative eye (which is another way of saying "slow to adapt to changing realities") thinks that looks like at least a $1500 gun by itself, and the box could add $400 on top. So I suspect that package would bring close to $2000 (and maybe even a little over) almost anywhere. Somebody who is closer to the market than I am is going to have to say how much higher a price might reasonably be paid for that package.

K-22 ODs should not be that scarce -- the company made some 20,000 of them. I think the price increases just reflect the fact the good ones have all gone to ground and demand outpaces supply. They are undoubtedly out there, but the present owners mostly seem interested in hanging on to them.

Does the potentially replaced rear sight affect the value? We are assuming the grips number correctly?
Correction: my post crossed with rburg's about the rear sight. His opinion and knowledge are unquestionable. Peak53

 

[RKmesa]

Mazzman:

Based on what I see them trading for (not what people are asking) and based on the condition of your gun (what I would classify as a nice shooter grade gun), I would expect the gun to trade in the $750 - $900 range and the box (what appears to be a fairly nice O/D box) adds another $250 - $500. Total package: $1,000 - $1,400 range. It may trade for higher, based on the desperation/inexperience of the buyer, but my expectations are that it would trade very quickly at the lower range and a little slower at the higher range.

My $0.02,

 

[Trap Ljutic]

Mazzman:
When you decide on the selling price, let us know! I am interested!
Arthur Bodell

 

[Walter Rego]

Mazzman, I can see that you are in SouCal so price guidelines that others have suggested for their regions are irrelevant, with no disrespect to those who offered to help with an opinion. I can't remember the last time I saw a 1st Model K-22 for sale at a gun show for any price. A shop I know of has had one in their display case for a while. I seem to recall it is marked $1895. It's a nice one but has no box. The shop is not known for reasonable prices but often they have guns that you just don't see here anymore so I understand their pricing strategy. I think David Wilson's estimate of $1600-$2000 for your package is not out of the question. I would sell it in CA where you have a rather captive audience. Anyone here who tries to buy one cheaper from an online auction will face sellers who don't want to ship to CA, or transfer dealers who charge $100 just to receive it plus $35 for the DROS fees and now have to collect more than 8% sales tax on top of everything else. There's $250 in charges right there just to bring one into this state. I'd put on my best poker face and start at $2000.00

 

[03Fatboy]

I'm also in SoCal and I like others here share my love for revolvers but this area is not saturated with people who share the same interest in revolvers. In fact, the majority most like black / plastic guns which is fine by me. Don't get me wrong there is a following for them but we are the minority. I haven't shot one of these early K22's but I have read that many favor the post war models for shooters. The gun here is real nice, and having the box is a big bonus. Having said that, I would like to own one but I'm not a buyer at $1500 and I don't think you will get it if you listed it on say Calguns. I think the sweet spot locally is between $1k-1.5k. I don't buy into the fact that we are in CA and we pay a premium, but we do have to wait our turn and the majority of my revolvers have been bought in line with prices I see here in the free states.

 

[Walter Rego]

There are plenty of people in CA that seem to have disposable income still and spending a few hundred bucks more than they think the gun might be worth isn't a big deal for them. They spend a couple hundred bucks going out for dinner and don't think a thing of it. The OP can always start high, and lower it $50 or so per week until he gets a bite. It's a scarce gun here. Even guns that you think would be more common like Model 29's, Highway Patrolmans, Model 19's, 586's and 686's are disappearing if they are pre-lock versions.

 

[bigmoose]

In my opinion, judging from what I see in the pictures, that is a $1000-$1200 package at best. What some eager beaver will pay is another story. The thinning at the muzzle (on both sides) and the thinning of blue at backstrap up near hammer (if I interpret the pictures correctly) put it in the category closer to shooter grade. The box is a nice addition, but it doesn't add $500 to the deal.

Don't get me wrong, it is still a desirable and finely crafted gun. It's just that I have seen much nicer specimens as the price goes to $1500 and beyond.

I paid $349 plus tax at a local gun shop last year for the one I have pictured here. The Magna grips are original. I would classify it as well cared for, but certainly not extremely high condition. No box.

Best of luck selling it, I hope you get top dollar.

 

[DCWilson]

There are plenty of people in CA that seem to have disposable income still and spending a few hundred bucks more than they think the gun might be worth isn't a big deal for them. They spend a couple hundred bucks going out for dinner and don't think a thing of it. The OP can always start high, and lower it $50 or so per week until he gets a bite. It's a scarce gun here. Even guns that you think would be more common like Model 29's, Highway Patrolmans, Model 19's, 586's and 686's are disappearing if they are pre-lock versions.

Very true. If you see a gun you want on a California gun store shelf, you need to cut the best deal you on the spur of the moment and buy it then, because if you wait a couple of days it will be gone. If you want the gun and can't talk the seller into a reduction of any kind, you either let the gun go or pay the asking price.

The OP can advertise that gun for $2000 OBO and see what comes back. I suspect his highest offer will be not too far below the asking price.

I got a high-90s K-22 OD at auction for about half the reasonable price three or four years ago because it had been poorly described in the auction catalog; bidders shied away because they were unsure of what it was. My good fortune was a fluke and does not have anything to do with real-world FMV for that model. If people can regularly get K-22 ODs in 90% condition for a thousand or less, good for them. But that doesn't sound realistic to me.

 

[Mazzman]

Thanks everyone for all of the input. As usual, I learned a lot and enjoyed the variety of opinions. I will be listing the gun on Calguns shortly,and possibly in this forum as well.

Mike Maslow

 

[03Fatboy]

Hey Mike,
Were you able to sell it yet on Calguns?

 

[fat tom]

The OP can advertise that gun for $2000 OBO and see what comes back. I suspect his highest offer will be not too far below the asking price.

This is a prime example.
Smith & Wesson K-22 Outdoorsman Red Box NO RESERVE : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

f.t.

 

[Mazzman]

Best Forum to sell my K-22

So, between Gunbroker.com, Guns America or ??, which do you think is the best site to sell my K-22 Outdoorsman?

 

[fat tom]

If you have decided on a FIRM price,you COULD list it on GunsAmerica,BUT I'd recommend listing it HERE. NO FEES (ain't that GREAT!) If you are willing to take what the market will bear,use Gunbroker (no reserve and start it at $.99). JMO. Good luck whichever you decide on.
f.t.