Looking for history on 22LR handed down

[PACA]

I have a 22 that my 86 YO father recently passed down to me, it was his fathers before that.
The information requested from the "identify you Pistol" thread is as follows

serial Number on both the underside of the barrel and the butt is 639XXX, there are no letters before of after the serial number

It is a Hand Ejector
22 Long Rifle
6" barrel
Pre war sights
and it is a 5 screw.

I understand the grips are no way authentic and frankly it doesn't concern me as this is the way it was passed onto my father and then on to me. I know it's pretty old and would like (if possible) a ball park on value just to make sure I keep tabs on my collection for insurance purposes. My father said he was pretty sure my grandfather got the gun for "2 bits" lol

 

[Doc44]

K-22 "Outdoorsman" revolver probably dating to 1934. Value around $1200 to $1500.

Bill

 

[Jim Watson]

Very nice.
Are the grips real ivory?

 

[merl67]

Jim read my mind if those are ivory it can drastically change the value better pictures would help.

 

[paplinker]

Very nice.
Are the grips real ivory?

Look like Murad pointer grips. More common in black

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Nice gun!
You do know you are a Lucky Dog?

 

[Targets Guy]

That looks to be a well cared for revolver. Verah nice.

 

[DWalt]

Yes, yours is known as a first model K-22 Outdoorsman (AKA K-22 Target).
SN 639xxx indicates that it probably shipped during the 1932-1936 period. I list nearby SNs as shipping in all those years. It would require ordering a historical letter ($75) to pin the shipment date down more closely. That model was succeeded in 1940 by a more advanced K-22 version often identified as the K-22/40. Those are far scarcer than the first model K-22 due to the onset of WWII. After the war, a still more improved model, the K-22 Masterpiece, was introduced. I don't know any details about the Murad grips on yours aside from their not being factory original. They add no value, and you might want to look around for a period-correct pair of factory round-top checkered wood service grips having the small silver medallions. A high-condition pair may be difficult to locate, but keep checking on eBay as they do show up there occasionally.

 

[PACA]

Thanks everyone for the information, sadly the grips are not ivory, they have "Pointer By W. Murad San Carlos CA." embossed on the inside and from what I have been able to dig up it looks like they were produced as far back as 60+ years ago. I will keep it as I received it, it will get handed down yet again but my boys will have to decide which one gets it... Looks like I may have to up my firearm insurance a bit lol Not a bad deal for my Grandfather getting it for 25 cents.. It's priceless to me!
Out of curiosity would this be the correct grip?

 

[RKmesa]

Great gun. Congrats on owning one of the finest .22 LRs ever produced.

This one is SN 635065 and shipped in June 1931. Your grips should look like this:



For reference, I also own SN 639380 that shipped in March 1932.

For your reading/viewing pleasure, this thread has a lot of pre-war K-22 information in it:

K-22 Outdoorsman Appreciation and Photo Thread


Congrats and thanks for sharing,

 

[Jtown]

I would not change the grips, leave it as Dad had it.
Walt

 

[Jim Watson]

That is the Magna grip and was a dollar extra when the K22 was $38.
My King's #19 does not show Murad grips for revolvers but they were $4.50 for a Woodsman. l

 

[hkcavalier]

Unless you hate the grips, leave them be.

Is that a Marble front sight? This was a factory option. When sighted in, it will look like a small circle vs. the Patridge square post.

I ask as my 1931 example has that front sight from the factory.

 

[Waveski]

Welcome - and way to make a grand entrance!
You did well to follow the i.d. guidelines. Could you please post a more detailed picture of the front sight? A plain contrasting background would be helpful.

Fine revolver , fine inheritance.

 

[deyomatic]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, if you didn't know already, I don't believe you should dryfire it since 22LR is rimfire. I'd hate to see that old girl get damaged.

 

[wheelgun610]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, if you didn't know already, I don't believe you should dryfire it since 22LR is rimfire....

That's conventional wisdom regarding most .22 rimfires, but honestly, the only times it's ever an issue with a K-22 is if there's a timing issue, or on the rare occasion where a firing pin is out of spec, or possibly if the head space was a little on the tight side.

Here's a recent shot of the rear face of the cylinder of my '53 K-22 which I know for fact has definitely been dry fired.

Mark

 

[samandglove1]

That looks to be a great gun with a nice family history.

I have one that shows much more "character" (but is all original). I taught my son how to shoot with it. The SN is 659548 and it shipped from the factory in Dec 1936.

 

[Igiveup]

I have the same grips on a .41 long colt my dad gave me when I became Eagle scout when I was 15. I also saw a pair in black on a revolver at a gun show. Comfortable grips to shoot, they are made of plastic, or similar material.

 

[handejector]

Look like Murad pointer grips. More common in black

Correct. I've also seen them in maroon.

Thanks everyone for the information, sadly the grips are not ivory, they have "Pointer By W. Murad San Carlos CA." embossed on the inside and from what I have been able to dig up it looks like they were produced as far back as 60+ years ago.

They were in production before WW II. I have seen a pic of a US soldier holding a gun with Murad grips on it. He was KIA in 1945.
So, you might consider leaving them on the gun since they are contemporary to it. As far as I know, except for Ropers, they were about the only Target grips in that era that most people were likely to encounter.
So, your granddad bought the best 22 around that had the best grips commonly available.

 

[hkcavalier]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, if you didn't know already, I don't believe you should dryfire it since 22LR is rimfire. I'd hate to see that old girl get damaged.

Just buy snap caps. The plastic ones are best IMO, vs. the aluminum ones.