K22 question on a closed auction.

[b3337]

I was watching an auction on GB and I must be missing something. The auction is Smith & Wesson K-22 5-Screw Frame : Revolvers at GunBroker.com which sold for $950. It seems to have a cut down barrel and non period stocks. So I was wondering what the experts make of this K22, and is it worth what it sold for.

 

[lowhog]

You pretty much said it all. Cut barrel, miss matched grips. Bad deal.

 

[Jimmyjones]

I wouldn't,

but I bought one in better shape, un-cut with original stocks, box and tools for significantly less recently.

 

[bdGreen]

In one picture you can see the 'diamond' following the serial number on the barrel flat. Barrel replacement at some point by the factory. The frame is stamped '10 56' which indicates service by the factory on that date.

bdGreen

 

[410bore]

I think it is a neat gun and I bid on it each time it was listed prior to the sale. Its a neat shooter grade gun and worth $600 to me but apparently that wasnt enough for the seller.

 

[Engine49guy]

AS a collector gun its ruined but as a shooter it would cost an owner probably $300 to have a 6" early K-22 cut back 2"....

This example predates the 4" CM so the point is mute
Also IMO an original early 1950 4" K22 can be had for near the same sales figure so kinda defeats the purpose.

 

[b3337]

In one picture you can see the 'diamond' following the serial number on the barrel flat. Barrel replacement at some point by the factory. The frame is stamped '10 56' which indicates service by the factory on that date.

bdGreen

Thanks, I missed those.

 

[DCWilson]

I agree it must have gone back to the factory in October 1956, but I don't know if that was when the barrel was cut. Maybe it's just the lighting and lack of shadow, but that muzzle looks uncrowned and pretty flat to me. I also don't think the factory would have left the rib grooves in place when they moved the sight back. If the front sight was lower by a hair, you wouldn't have to crank the rear sight up as far as it is in the seller's pictures. (Also, that rear sight foot looks a little swaybacked. Maybe the front mounting screw needs to be tightened.)

A one-liner and a LERK variety too. Even chopped it gets a value kick for that. I wouldn't have paid $950, but if it could have been had for half to two-thirds of that (and if I had seen it), I might have put money in it just to finish the muzzle treatment and have a cool 3.5" shooter with a desirable Patridge sight.

 

[feralmerril]

I would like it but not for that money.

 

[rct269]

The only thing you're missing is the fact there ain't no accounting for some folks' taste----and count your blessings!! The good news is if you've got something to sell, somebody----somewhere will buy it----guarandamnteed!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[JSR III]

Personally not for me but it is a 4 digit serial number and if cut by the factory is an interesting piece of S&W history. Some folks like the odd and unusual and a gun going back this soon in K 22/pre 17 production for a barrel cut is kinda different.

Again what makes life interesting is that some folks like vanilla and some folks like black raspberry.

 

[glowe]

. . . Maybe it's just the lighting and lack of shadow, but that muzzle looks uncrowned and pretty flat to me.

I agree David - I would not think any factory returned gun would have ever left the factory without them completely finishing the barrel crown. The other question that begs to be asked is why the seller did not place any disclaimer about the barrel in the description? To the novice, there is no indication from the seller that the barrel "might" have been cut?? Any seller wirth 650 sales should know better.

 

[bullmack]

I contacted the seller about all of the aforementioned issues. he never replied. It would have been a neat gun around $600 but not at what he wanted. I'm afraid the buyer got snookered.

 

[bgrafsr]

Barrel looks crowned to me, but I do not like the gun in its present state. No way worth $600.00, let alone $950.00.

 

[trashy]

I also took a gander at it, but for only a minute, as I'm wanting a 5 screw 22 CM. After I saw the cut barrel I continued on to something else. IMO if you could have gotten it in the $400 - $500 range, it would possibly be worth it as being "unique".

 

[handejector]

Neat gun.
My guess is the Factory cut the original barrel in 56 and reblued it.
So, it comes in about as cool as a King modified gun to me. They are no longer original, but we Oooohhhh and Aaahhhh about them all the time. A $500 M&P with a King rib and cockeyed hammer jumps up to $1500. Why is this one so different?

Also, I mean, like really, uhhh, you do know...... a gun wearing Roper grips is MISSING the original grips?

The buyer may have known full well what he was getting, and simply thought it was worth it as a rather unique Factory customized job. People buying $1000 guns with odd barrel lengths and Factory rework marks SHOULD know what they are bidding on.

Eye of the beholder.......

 

[bullmack]

Neat gun.
My guess is the Factory cut the original barrel in 56 and reblued it.
So, it comes in about as cool as a King modified gun to me. They are no longer original, but we Oooohhhh and Aaahhhh about them all the time. A $500 M&P with a King rib and cockeyed hammer jumps up to $1500. Why is this one so different?

Also, I mean, like really, uhhh, you know...... a gun wearing Roper grips is MISSING the original grips?

The buyer may have know full well what he was getting, and simply thought it was worth it as a rather unique Factory customized job. People buying $1000 guns with odd barrel lengths and Factory rework marks SHOULD know what they are bidding on.

Eye of the beholder.......

Lee - I'll defer to your assessment but that sure didn't look like what I'd expect for a factory barrel cut-down.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Something seems wrong? Yep.

Look at the bid history. Appears that the buyer bid himself up from $600 to $950. Am I reading this incorrectly?

10/4/2014 8:28:21 PM EST $950.00 M***. A+(17) *
10/4/2014 8:27:52 PM EST $855.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:24:21 PM EST $850.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:23:10 PM EST $800.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:47:05 AM EST $750.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:45:55 AM EST $700.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:45:31 AM EST $650.00 M***. A+(17)
10/2/2014 12:03:51 AM EST $600.00 M***. A+(17)
9/29/2014 8:14:30 PM EST $500.00 B***k A+(97)
9/29/2014 6:23:27 PM EST $200.00 A***o A+(22)

 

[410bore]

Something seems wrong? Yep.

Look at the bid history. Appears that the buyer bid himself up from $600 to $950. Am I reading this incorrectly?

10/4/2014 8:28:21 PM EST $950.00 M***. A+(17) *
10/4/2014 8:27:52 PM EST $855.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:24:21 PM EST $850.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:23:10 PM EST $800.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:47:05 AM EST $750.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:45:55 AM EST $700.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:45:31 AM EST $650.00 M***. A+(17)
10/2/2014 12:03:51 AM EST $600.00 M***. A+(17)
9/29/2014 8:14:30 PM EST $500.00 B***k A+(97)
9/29/2014 6:23:27 PM EST $200.00 A***o A+(22)

uh, yeah you are. The auction had a RESERVE. He was bidding to break thru it.

 

[handejector]

Something seems wrong? Yep.

Look at the bid history. Appears that the buyer bid himself up from $600 to $950. Am I reading this incorrectly?

10/4/2014 8:28:21 PM EST $950.00 M***. A+(17) *
10/4/2014 8:27:52 PM EST $855.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:24:21 PM EST $850.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:23:10 PM EST $800.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:47:05 AM EST $750.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:45:55 AM EST $700.00 M***. A+(17)
10/4/2014 8:45:31 AM EST $650.00 M***. A+(17)
10/2/2014 12:03:51 AM EST $600.00 M***. A+(17)
9/29/2014 8:14:30 PM EST $500.00 B***k A+(97)
9/29/2014 6:23:27 PM EST $200.00 A***o A+(22)

You have a habit of jumping to the worst possible conclusion.
Ever noticed that?