Large Ejector Rod Knob Masterpieces (K-22 and K-38)

[RKmesa]

There have been several recent posts on large ejector rod knob Masterpieces lately. I had the Cannon out and thought that I'd share a few photos of my pre and post war K-22 and K-38 Masterpieces WITH large ejector rod knobs. So here goes:

1) - Pre-war K-22 Masterpiece SN 6847XX (aka 22-40) that shipped in a "22-40" marked Outdoorsman box:

2) Post-war K-22 Masterpiece SN 336X:

3) Post-war K-38 Masterpiece SN K4564:

4) Post-war K-22 Masterpiece SN K517X:

5) Post-war K-22 Masterpiece SN K538X:

Please post the photos of your LARGE EJECTOR ROD KNOB MASTERPIECES. If anyone has one of the K-32 varieties, that would be a treat to see.

Thanks,

 

[DCWilson]

OK, I'll play. This should be a great thread.

This is my only large knob Masterpiece, K-22 K4267 (shipped Sept. 1947).

I'd love to have a large knob K-38 some day, but I don't think that more than a couple of hundred of them were ever produced, if even that many. I have never seen one at auction.

As to the large-knob K-32s, I know of only one with a serial number low enough to be a large knob candidate. There may be one or two others, but these are rare rare rare.

 

[RKmesa]

I'd love to have a large knob K-38 some day, but I don't think that more than a couple of hundred of them were ever produced, if even that many. I have never seen one at auction.

David:

The K38 came to me in the "normal way" - namely I was looking for something else and found it. I was walking down the aisles of a local gun show looking for early K-22's, when I spotted the K-38. I initially thought that it was a K-22. Once I picked it up, I knew that it was coming home with me. Although the guy would not budge on his ask price, I laid down the cash and walked away with the K-38 and a smile. I picked it up several years ago and I believe that it is the only one that I have seen, either in photos or in person. I am hopeful that a few more will get posted here.

 

[JP@AK]

Question:
My one line address K-22, serial number 10xxx, does not have the large knob.
Do you guys know what the ratio was, and why some do and some don't?
Thanks.
JP

 

[50 target]

RKMESA, can't post pics but I have a large knob K38 like yours and they were mates on the assembly line as the ser. # is K4562. Also have a large knob K22 with ser. # K1174, both guns one line address on side of frame.

Nice guns you've shared with us.

Bob

 

[cgt4570]

Here's my K22-40 shooter wearing some Ropers.

 

[Memphis]

Just for the record that's the only K38 big knob I've ever seen. I'm sure others exist but it's my first sighting. AND it looks in great condition to boot! RK, I saw where you almost had another 2nd K22 about a week ago. It was one of those mis labeled ads and I almost jumped on in too. But I had about, um...$127.38 to my name so I just drooled.
Great photos guys.

Roger

 

[RKmesa]

Question:
My one line address K-22, serial number 10xxx, does not have the large knob.
Do you guys know what the ratio was, and why some do and some don't?
Thanks.
JP

JP: As with all things S&W, I do not believe that there was a hard and fast date or SN that they discontinued the large knobs. It was probably when they ran out of the pre-war large knobs that they went to the knurled ends with no knob. I have tried to keep track over the years of the highest SN for the large knob Masterpiece guns, and the highest that I have jotted down was SN K5680. My recollection is that there are a few with lower serial numbers that have the small knurled end.

 

[mkflyfisherman]

How can "we" post pictures????

You have all of them!!!! Fabulous looking revolvers.

 

[GF]

"Please post the photos of your LARGE EJECTOR ROD KNOB MASTERPIECES..."


GF weeps.


GF

 

[Walter Rego]

Here's mine. The "Crossed Key's" stamp above the trigger is the family cartouche of the original owner. From what I have been able to research, he was a WWI Cavalry vet and liked to add lanyard loops to his revolvers. The gun did not letter with the loop but it is installed exactly like a Victory Model loop and the hole just missed the 4 digit serial number on the butt. It came out of his estate and was shipped to a sporting goods store in my city.

 

[Engine49guy]

Currently Only have one large knob "Masterpiece",
This post war large ejector knob K22 #K 2684.

Found it for sale on our very own "Handejector" Lee Jarrett's table at the SWCA Orlando meeting this year.

He also had a large knob post war K38
and this pre war K22 Outdoorsman w/ S&W marked K frame grip adapters .

I really wanted all 3 but funds being limited I could only afford to take two home.

About one hour later that K38 was gone as was my dream of owning it.
I am sure it went to a good home but it will always be one of those ones that got away .

 

[boykinlp]

Here's mine. The "Crossed Key's" stamp above the trigger is the family cartouche of the original owner.

Nice gun with a good story. WOW, I knew my family was missing something.....our own cartouche. Not knowing how a cartouche comes about, was this a "famous" family?

 

[Walter Rego]

Nice gun with a good story. WOW, I knew my family was missing something.....our own cartouche. Not knowing how a cartouche comes about, was this a "famous" family?

The gentleman who owned my K-22 wasn't "famous" per se, but he was a charter member of the National Benchrest Shooters Assoc. when it formed in 1951 and was the director of the southwest region. I am aware of a Colt Match Target Woodsman and a Browning A5 with the same cartouche and I'm pretty sure there is a Registered Magnum with that mark and a lanyard ring floating around out there as well. I thought the crossed keys may have a Masonic connection but I have never been able to determine if he was an active Freemason.

 

[needsmostuff]

Treading a little out of my depth here but I think this is what the assignment is. It seems to have a large knob and a rear sight but is it a masterpiece?. I am not sharp on the big knob criteria. A wee bit crusty it is well into the shooter range.

 

[50 target]

NEEDMOSTUFF, yours would be a hand ejector target, pre war when large knob ejector rods were the norm. The K22 and K38 in this thread are for early post war #2 guns made and they then changed the ejector rod knob to be the same diameter as the rod itself and they are normally low ser. # preceded by a K and have a one line address on the side of the frame below the cylinder on the side plate side.

I have a hand ejector 32-20 target and am shooting it and like it a lot. It filled a hole in my "needs" list and really am surprised that I can shoot those sights as well as I do. Nice gun. Enjoy.

 

[needsmostuff]

BINGO. I think I got it now. Pre-war they are Targets and that included the 32-20. Post war they were Masterpieces in 38,32 and 22 . The 32-20 never resumed. I think I knew this at one time but needed a refresher.Thanks for the good "splaining"

 

[Hondo44]

BINGO. I think I got it now. Pre-war they are Targets and that included the 32-20. Post war they were Masterpieces in 38,32 and 22 . The 32-20 never resumed. I think I knew this at one time but needed a refresher.Thanks for the good "splaining"

needmorestuff,
Yours is a pre 1930 Knob or "mushroom head" ejector. Then they went to the larger knob or barrel head which lasted a little thru the early post war era and as was said did not correspond to a serial number transition. They had to match them to whatever barrel that came out of the parts bin, with or without notch underneath for larger knob.

The Outdoorsman moniker was only used on the pre war K22s and pre and post war 38-44 N frames with target sights IIRC. The K22 Masterpiece (K22 2nd Model) was introduced before the war in 1940 when it replaced the K22 Out. and was the 1st Smith and only pre war Smith to have the Micro click rear sight and short hammer throw, but no barrel rib. All post war K22s were Masterpieces and the narrow barrel rib was standard except possibly for some transitional models. Please forgive me if I'm rehashing stuff you already knew.

 

[MJS5678]

K-22's,

your K-38 is great, I have never seen a large knob K-38 for sale and have only seen one other pictured on the forum.

 

[DWFAN]

Well I recon this could be one.
DW
K22 SN 662390