K22 en route to me... date of manufacture?

D

desmobob

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2023
Messages
128
Reaction score
145
I'm partway through the paperwork of getting the K22 of a dear departed friend transferred to me.

Serial number: K169825

I've only seen it briefly and forgot to notice if it was a four- or five-screw model (or otherwise).

Can anyone tell the specifics by the serial number?

Thanks,
Bob
 
Register to hide this ad
Thank you, Lee.

I've been wanting a K22 for a very long time but never ended up buying one, and now I'm lucky enough to get one that has strong sentimental value.

I'm finding that 1952 would be the DOM.
 
Last edited:
handejector said:
It is a 5 Screw.
Click to expand...

That right there is from THE man of few words---and you damn well best listen to each and every one of them!!

Aside from that, your K-22 was made in 1952, more than likely shipped in the same year, and WAY more than likely finished in blue. That said, the blue is more than likely what S&W called the Satin Blue---and is (also more than likely) known as "the funky finish".

That which is funky about it is it doesn't shine---under any circumstances----EVER!! That in turn, or so I'm told, is because it wasn't polished before it was blued; but was prepared otherwise. I'm guessing it was prepared by media blasting of one kind of another (or maybe "tumbling"??)---and that's because it was convenient---also known as "Quick and Dirty"------and that (FINALLY!!) is because S&W didn't yet have enough skilled polishers on the job after THE war-----and the next one----AND because they were going to BY GOD build guns and sell them NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

I think that about covers it, but feel free to add any additional information----or even dissenting opinions-----or omitted facts of note.

Ralph Tremaine
 
Last edited:
I did notice, side-by-side with the Model 19 also on its way to me, that the finish was very dull; I had never heard they offered a matte finish.

Now I know what the deal is... Satin Blue!

I'm very excited to be getting this revolver. Thank you gentlemen for helping me understand what, exactly, it is. I appreciate it. Photos will follow when I get the three Smiths (this K22, a Model 19 and a Model 650) in hand.

Bob
 
desmobob said:
I did notice, side-by-side with the Model 19 also on its way to me, that the finish was very dull; I had never heard they offered a matte finish.

Now I know what the deal is... Satin Blue!

I'm very excited to be getting this revolver. Thank you gentlemen for helping me understand what, exactly, it is. I appreciate it. Photos will follow when I get the three Smiths (this K22, a Model 19 and a Model 650) in hand.

Bob
Click to expand...

They didn't really "offer it" as you say---it was more like "Take it or leave it!". Actually, you could have the "Bright Blue" finish if you REALLY wanted it. It was a special order, and the delivery time was a mere SIX MONTHS!! That minor detail proved to discourage even the most discerning buyers, who simply covered their eyes, and handed over the money.

Ralph Tremaine

I know this because I was one of those discerning buyers---and didn't wait the SIX MONTHS!! What I did was send it back to the factory to be refinished in Bright Blue ------and had it back in three weeks----letter perfect and a thing of beauty and a joy forever!!

And "a joy forever" turned out like this: That gun was sold along with the rest of my collection during the last four years ending a year ago---and it fetched $950---for a refinished gun!! I reckon they didn't take notice of the factory refinishing marks---or if they did, they didn't care----'cause it was pretty.

All this reminiscing brings to mind the rest of the story: The gun was sent back with instructions to refinish in Bright Blue, and "have it gone through by your very best craftsman, and make it as perfect as can be". It came back almost immediately as noted above, with no comment and no charge for anything besides the refinish---which was "chump change".

It took me a while (YEARS!!), during which about a half a boxcar of ammunition was run through this gun before I noticed it didn't have a "turn ring". Actually, it did have one------very faint, maybe 3/32" long at the lead into each cylinder stop notch. There came a time when I told all this to the good Doctor Jinks, and he liked to have had a HISSY FIT!! "THEY NEVER SHOULD'VE DONE THAT!!!! IT'LL SKIP CHAMBERS DURING RAPID DOUBLE ACTION FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!" I didn't have the heart to tell him about half of that "half a boxcar" of ammunition had been run through it in my efforts to emulate Ed McGivern---which failed miserably-----and NEVER skipped a beat!!

The moral of this story is "Some folks got it, and some folks ain't got it!!". Whoever messed with my gun to make it as "perfect as can be" got it----no question about it!!

And in keeping with the comments above, the gun I've been talking about here was shipped January 10, 1956 to a distributor in Kentucky---who sold it to Dalton Hardware in Dalton Georgia----where I bought it from them----Georgia, where you could buy a gun after age 18---never mind if you lived in Georgia or not!! (I lived in Missouri. I'd gone to visit my girlfriend (now Boss Lady) who lived in Tennessee---about 50 miles from Georgia---where you could buy a gun after you were 18----never mind if your trip was to visit your girlfriend or not!!) It's funny how these things work out.

Them there was "the good old days"!!
 
Last edited:
desmobob said:
K22
Serial number: K169825
Can anyone tell the specifics by the serial number?
Click to expand...

Hi Bob

S&W revolvers are not tracked by manufacturing date, but by ship date (when it left the factory).

Here are two comparable numbers:

K169502, K169918
Both shipped in February, 1953.

K171435 also shipped in February, 1953.
 
Thanks, Jack. Appreciated.

Ralph,
I was curious as to the finish on it. Now, I know the story. Though I wish it was a nice, polished blue, I'll be happy that it has a story to go along with it and represents a short period of S&W history.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, gentlemen. I'm not a S&W collector by any means, and never did much reading on the models or history. I just happened to have purchased a brand new Model 66-2 as my very first handgun way back when and recently added a 317-3. They are two of my favorite handguns! Soon I'll have another three Smith & Wessons to appreciate.

Now, I have to do some research on the two old Colts (Cobra and 1908 Vest Pocket) and the Browning (Hi-Power) that are on their way with the Smiths. I don't belong to any Colt or Browning forums. I hope they are full of knowledgeable and helpful folks, too!

Bob
 
Last edited:
As an interesting aside you should check what material the stock medallions are made of, IIRC that's around the time SW switched from the plastic to steel inserts briefly.
Both plastic and steel had a fairly short run.
 
pasound said:
A good coating of RenWax and a rub with a soft cloth or chamois makes those "dull" finishes a bit more shiny. And, it protects the finish.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have some Ren. Wax (a lifetime supply). I bought the larger size tub when I read about how handy it was. It goes a LONG way in use; a small tub would have been a better choice for me. :)
 
In defense of Satin Blue: These were advertised as target revolvers, and as such, action and accuracy were/are of much more importance than appearance. Also, it could be argued that a satin finish caused less glare while aiming. Both my K38 and K22 dated from 1948 have the satin finish, and I didn't miss the bright shine a bit! Shoot, enjoy, repeat!
Froggie
 
Last edited:
Green Frog said:
In defense of Satin Blue: These were advertised as target revolvers, and as such, action and accuracy were/are of much more importance than appearance. Also, it could be argued that a satin finish caused less glare while aiming. Both my K38 and K22 dated from 1948 have the satin finish, and I didn't miss the bright shine a bit! Shoot, enjoy, repeat!
Froggie
Click to expand...

I also like the way a satin finish hides fingerprints and holds a layer of oil to protect against corrosion. No complaints from me!

My paperwork has been submitted to the Sheriff's Office/County Judge and I'm hoping to be able to pick up the handguns as early as the end of this week.
 
Last edited:
Speaking of Satin Blue---and protection against corrosion, it needs protection the same as any other----but don't trust your lyin' eyes to tell you about corrosion!

The "Ren Wax" folks have a surface cleaner (used by museums throughout the world) called Pre-Lim. If/when Pre-Lim is used on a Satin Blue finished S&W, you may be in for a BIG surprise----like I was!

The BIG surprise was red rust stains on my cleaning rag---which was clean before I started, and hadn't been anywhere near red rust------or so I thought. The more I thought, the more an interesting theory came to pass. It goes like this: The surface of a Satin Blue gun is irregular---not so you'd notice right off, but it is---irregular, like a whole bunch of little hills----and valleys. My theory continued to grow----there's what I'll call incipient rust down in those little valleys------nothing you can see there---but you can see it on your Pre-Lim rag.

The good news is no damage had been done before I done got edumacated!

This is another one of those deals where "Too soon we get old, and too late we get smart!"-------although I got smart before any harm was done.

As an aside, part of my "Welcome Bath" given to each new arrival was a good slathering and soaking with CorrosionX, before I put them back together. Now all the CorrosionX that could be blown off with high pressure DRY air was blown off, but not all of it was blown off. I wiped down the exterior of all of them with Hoppes before they went on their shelf in the display cabinet, because there's nothing uglier than a blue gun with oil stains on it. A good number of those guns in the display cabinet had been in there for 30 years or more---with NO further attention other than an occasional dusting with a vacuum brush. I'm inclined to credit the CorrosionX with that result.

Ralph Tremaine
 
Last edited:
Truckman said:
In what state is this onerous burden put on the shoulders of a free citizen...Just curious...:rolleyes:...Ben
Click to expand...

New f'in York. :(

But I'm upstate in the Adirondack foothills, far from the city. Things are more reasonable here and we have a friendly judge. I have a concealed carry permit which is near impossible to get in certain other areas of the state.
 
Last edited:
Lots of good info there about the K22 Master Piece. I've had mine out a few times this past summer; my best poa/ poi revolver I own. My grandson loves it. I was wondering about the finish and never thought about asking yinz guys here about it. On my letter it didn't mention anything about the satin blue. It hasn't had a good cleaning for a while so I'm going to use that pre-wax cleaner mentioned up above. In case anyone is keeping score, etc., Serial # K91609 was shipped October 24, 1950 to Philly, then I suppose it worked its way over to Western PA, probably to the gun shop in New Brighton where Dad probably bought it. Thanks, Dad!
To the OP, thanks for the good thread! You will love you new tack driver! All three of your new guns sound interesting. Hope some pics are coming our way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
K22 build date help any other info possible
Replies
8
Views
778
zonker5
zonker5
DoubleNickel
Model 37 flat latch date of manufacture
Replies
4
Views
716
DoubleNickel
DoubleNickel
C
  • Locked
WTT Colt Special Lady
Replies
0
Views
752
Company Man
C
B
S&W Model 37 - Date of Manufacture
Replies
3
Views
1K
badger99507
B
RM Vivas
NYPD Model 64-1: 4-inch SB, 4-inch RB, 3-inch RB and 2-inch RB
2 3 4
Replies
60
Views
5K
Lou_the_welder
Lou_the_welder

Latest posts

Back
Top