At approximately what serial number did the front sight blade and rear notch on a K-22 Masterpiece (third model) change from 1/10" (.100") to 1/8" (.125")?
Thanks, Russ
Thanks, Russ
K-22 sight width question
- Thread starter linde
- Start date
Russ,
I don't think the change can be pinned down to a serial # cut off. Because both widths appear to have been optionally available from the introduction of the micro click sight on the pre war K22 Masterpiece, 2nd model thru the 3rd model and Model 17. The .125" having been more prevalent and gradually taking over.
I don't think the change can be pinned down to a serial # cut off. Because both widths appear to have been optionally available from the introduction of the micro click sight on the pre war K22 Masterpiece, 2nd model thru the 3rd model and Model 17. The .125" having been more prevalent and gradually taking over.
Hi Russ
I'm not sure how much help this is, but my one-liner, serial number K10xxx, is still wearing a 1/10" front sight. So it would have to be after that.
By the way, this revolver didn't ship until December, 1949, according to Roy. Pretty late for a one-line address gun!
Jack
Added: I see Jim posted before I finished writing my post. He has given a much better and more useful answer than I gave. FWIW I can tell you that my 17-3, bought new in 1975, has the wider front sight.
Edited: Just realized I wrote the wrong fraction!
I'm not sure how much help this is, but my one-liner, serial number K10xxx, is still wearing a 1/10" front sight. So it would have to be after that.
By the way, this revolver didn't ship until December, 1949, according to Roy. Pretty late for a one-line address gun!
Jack
Added: I see Jim posted before I finished writing my post. He has given a much better and more useful answer than I gave. FWIW I can tell you that my 17-3, bought new in 1975, has the wider front sight.
Edited: Just realized I wrote the wrong fraction!
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OP
Jim, I wasn't aware there was an option on the width of the sight blade. Perhaps when we have more responses we'll see the overlap. Thanks.
Jack,
Thanks . . . I have K33997 and it's also the narrow 1/8" blade.
Russ
Two more----K7568, shipped 12/17/47----.105". K55489, shipped 12/07/48-----.100------an apparent improvement in quality control!
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
My K22 Masterpiece, postwar 3rd model, K152821 shipped September 1952 with .125(1/8") front sight. Standard calalog of S & W 3rd edition says 1/10" deleted 1952.
Actually, I'm pretty good with calipers---also with a micrometer---which was the tool of choice here.
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
OP
Here's what I have so far . . .
With 1/10" (.100") wide, 7 data points - with K58450 (12/48) being the latest.
With 1/8" (.125") wide, 2 data points - with K141249 (5/52) being the earliest.
So far we don't have any overlap and it appears sometime in 1952 the change was made. I would now like to gather data points on those between K100000 and K140000 . . . no doubt there will be some overlap.
Thanks for your input,
Russ
With 1/10" (.100") wide, 7 data points - with K58450 (12/48) being the latest.
With 1/8" (.125") wide, 2 data points - with K141249 (5/52) being the earliest.
So far we don't have any overlap and it appears sometime in 1952 the change was made. I would now like to gather data points on those between K100000 and K140000 . . . no doubt there will be some overlap.
Thanks for your input,
Russ
OP
K4760 measures .105" as well . . . must have been a 3 or 4 digit serial number thing
Russ
Russ
I hope you caught my correction. Typo on my first post. But the serial on that one is so low, it pretty much couldn't be anything else.
Jack
OP
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Causing him great frustration due to his old eyes, a friend's 1950 (per SCSW) K 88xxx has a 1/10" Patridge. For a while I held out faint hope he might get flustered enough to sell it, but he says I'd have to pay his attorney to rewrite his will.
My old beater 1952 skinny rib has a 1/8" IIRC.
My old beater 1952 skinny rib has a 1/8" IIRC.
OP
front sight blade & rear slide notch width ***UPDATE***
Hondo - further study supports your post that both 1/10" and 1/8" sight blade widths were available until the 1/10" was deleted in the 1952 S&W Centennial Catalog.
I added K-38 samples to the study and found examples of the 1/8" (.125") width Patridge as early as January 1950 . . . may have been be earlier but I didn't have examples.
Would still like to confirm the earliest example of the 1/8" blade. If anyone has a K-22/K-32/K-38 with a 1/8" (.125") sight width earlier than K80861 (January 1950), please let me know.
Thanks to all who responded,
Russ
Hondo - further study supports your post that both 1/10" and 1/8" sight blade widths were available until the 1/10" was deleted in the 1952 S&W Centennial Catalog.
I added K-38 samples to the study and found examples of the 1/8" (.125") width Patridge as early as January 1950 . . . may have been be earlier but I didn't have examples.
Would still like to confirm the earliest example of the 1/8" blade. If anyone has a K-22/K-32/K-38 with a 1/8" (.125") sight width earlier than K80861 (January 1950), please let me know.
Thanks to all who responded,
Russ
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larryofcc
Absent Comrade
K-38 #K 75735, no XXX's, shipped 5-1949, has the 1/10" rib. The only lettered revolver I have that actually states 1/10" rib, is my K22 # 4339, no XXX's, shipped 9-23-1947. Big Larry
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