K22 and Fitz stocks?

[oink]

LGS has a K22 I might be interested in. It's a shooter as there is a fair bit of finish loss but it seems tight. Unfortunately it doesn't have the original stocks. However it may have period correct custom target stocks, which I don't like. Fitz is engraved in the bottom of them. 1st, What do you think of the gun? 2nd What approximate vintage is it? 3rd what are those stocks worth? Any chance they are worth enough to make up for not having the originals? Whould they be valuable enough to pay for period correct originals?
Thanks
Pics:

 

[Nightowl]

Looks like a shooter for sure! I like that style of hammer on those early post war K22s. I'd estimate that it shipped in 1948. I'm not familiar with those stocks, but some better informed folks will be along to answer your questions. I seldom pay attention to the stocks as I put on Hogue stocks on all guns I shoot. If the asking price is reasonable, I would probably spring to that one. It's really hard to beat those nice post war guns. The .10 front sight shipped on a number of them, so that would be a good check.

 

[RKmesa]

I've had several pairs of those Fitz stocks (they also made them in a plastic of some type). They are comfortable to shoot and nice, but they have not achieved a level of value that some other stocks have. Not sure what they are asking for the gun, but it would most likely have shipped with high-shoulder diamond magnas. While you can find those, they are not always easy to find and a nice set could set you back $120-$150.

Good luck,

 

[rct269]

Approximate vintage? It's our good fortune we don't have to deal with approximates with K frame targets---just look in the book. That says 1948 for all from K18732 to K73121---busy little beavers they were. As to when it shipped gets you back into approximates and SWAG's again, but a letter from the S&W Historical Foundation will tell you that-----right to the day.

As to the value of the stocks---WAY more than enough to make up for not having the originals----especially if they fit your paw----and WAY more than enough to pay for period correct originals-----although I'm wondering why you'd want them---different strokes for different folks I reckon.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Pizza Bob]

Well, if you can find somebody willing to buy those K-frame SB Fitz stocks, maybe they also have an N-frame SB lurking about, looking for a matching set. If so, send them my way...

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Yendor357]

What a cool old 17! Honest wear is totally acceptable. (I won’t buy anything with rust) I’ll bet that gun would have stories to tell.

I’d buy it and worry about stocks down the road.

 

[Truckman]

Well, if you can find somebody willing to buy those K-frame SB Fitz stocks, maybe they also have an N-frame SB lurking about, looking for a matching set. If so, send them my way...

Hmmm...I'm beginning to develop a fondness for custom target stocks, and have a small but growing family of both K and N frames with such adornments already...I also have a number of K and N candidates for which genuine Fitz stocks might look right on...The question remains of whether my meager finances could withstand such punishing blows......Ben

 

[oink]

Thanks for the responses.

I didn't make it back to the shop Sunday and they're closed on Mondays. It has a fair bit of finish loss but I didn't see any rust. The finish loss and holster wear tells me it seen a fair bit of use but it felt tighter than I would have expected with little shake. I didn't have any feeler gauges but the spacing looked good. I think the sticker was around $530. If it's still there Tuesday what do you think would be a fair price for a shooter like that?

 

[DARE]

Recently paid $650 for this one. Serial number K51403. Shipped September 12, 1949. Seller's pictures were not very good. Could not tell it had this much wear. With good pictures I probably would have passed.
$530 seems like a good price to me for the gun you are looking at.

 

[oink]

I snoozed!

 

[diecidecimi]

I like a lot the old wooden Fitz grips. They are quite scarce today, specially if you want them in decent shape. Strangely they are not valued very much , despite their quality: around 50-70 bucks. In my opinion, if you want to shoot this k17, keep them! They fit better than the factory ones.