Masterpiece Week – Part I: K-22

[RangeRover]

I have had a 1950 K-38 for about 30 years, and have been looking for a K-22 to go with it for a number of years now. They're kind of thin on the ground around here, and I nissed a couple and moved past a number more beyond my price range. So I grabbed this one when it came up online here. I now have it in my hot little hands and am looking for some information about it, and answers to a couple of questions.

S/N is K 29921#. It's a four-screw example. Blue is excellent but for the turn line, ejector rod and a bit of bluing loss on either side of the muzzle. Stocks are un-numbered.

Back to the s/n and markings, which have me puzzled. The s/n is only marked on the bottom of the grip strap. There is no serial on the back face of the cylinder – no markings there at all. There is also no serial on the barrel flat. The only marking there is an ampersand (&). As for the yoke and cut on the frame, there are assembly numbers there, which match, and no model #, but stamped onto the yoke, below the number are stamped the letters: "T G". ???

A couple of pictures below. They're the seller's pictures (he's a better photographer than I am). I welcome comment and input. Thank you. Oh, and the same seller had another revolver that I picked up. See Masterpiece Week – Part II.

 

[CajunBass]

Really nice K-22. I'm no expert, but I believe by the time your gun was made (and I'm going by the four screw is all) Smith & Wesson had stopped putting the S/N on the cylinder and barrel. They also had not started to put it in the yoke...that would come later.

Also target stocks didn't usually number to the gun. They're usually an "add on" either at the factory or afterward.

That's a nice set of stocks by the way. I'm a sucker for "diamonds" rather magna or targets.

 

[H Richard]

Those non-relieved target stocks are worth around $250 or more. The gun looks very nice, and one I would grab if given the chance.

 

[fyimo]

Congratulations on the purchase as that is a beautiful K22

 

[RangeRover]

Thanks for the comments. I'm delighted to have one finally. So approximate production/ship date for this one would be...?

 

[Engine49guy]

Very nice K-22 Masterpiece Aka 4 screw pre 17.
I would guess your gun shipped mid to late 1957,

A few observations, first is that your non relieved stocks pre date your gun by about 3 to 7 years as IIRC they first appear in late 1949 to early 1950 and change to a small football cut around 1955.
Next is that your gun is a fairly early 4 screw k-22 as evidenced by the S&W "High Speed" hammer (AKA the Fish hook hammer)

Fish hook hammers are common on post war Five screw K-22's but they are only seen on early Four screw K-22 examples,

One question, could be the lighting but your K22 appears to have a more satin appearance which would be unusual since the high polish "Bright" Blue became the standard by 1955,
As others have stated the soft fitting serial stamps were phased out by the time your gun was made ,

Oh and forgot to mention I have a 4 screw K22 slightly higher in serial than yours that has the same Ampersand stamp in the barrel flat.

 

[glowe]

I really like to shoot K frame Masterpiece revolvers and I am sure you will love that K22 at the range. When I first looked at your gun, the left stock did not seem to fit well and as said above, would not have been original at the time your K22 was manufactured. The football cutout on the left stock would have looked like the one pictured below. Left one with the small cutout would have been available from 1955 to 1965 and the right one is the large cutout offered from 1965 into 1969.

Standard factory stocks for the Masterpiece of your gun's era were actually rounded top Magna Diamond Walnuts and the target stocks were extra. Many Target stocks were purchased after the gun left the factory.

Your K22 is a little late for the matte blue finish, but maybe someone ordered it that way?? Anything is possible, and the gun just looks right, with sharp edged stampings, appropriate wear on the ejector rod, original case hardening on the trigger and hammer, and overall look of the bluing.

 

[mesaman]

I really like to shoot K frame Masterpiece revolvers and I am sure you will love that K22 at the range. When I first looked at your gun, the left stock did not seem to fit well and as said above, would not have been original at the time your K22 was manufactured. The football cutout on the left stock would have looked like the one pictured below. Left one with the small cutout would have been available from 1955 to 1965 and the right one is the large cutout offered from 1965 into 1969.

Standard factory stocks for the Masterpiece of your gun's era were actually rounded top Magna Diamond Walnuts and the target stocks were extra. Many Target stocks were purchased after the gun left the factory.

Your K22 is a little late for the matte blue finish, but maybe someone ordered it that way?? Anything is possible, and the gun just looks right, with sharp edged stampings, appropriate wear on the ejector rod, original case hardening on the trigger and hammer, and overall look of the bluing.

Was very pleased to see this photo and commentary on the K-22. I have one, unfired, still in original paper in box, with tools, SN #5k88410, and was purchased in the late sixties. Hadn't been interested in the history of it until I just read this. Now I am suddenly motivated. Thanks for the stimulus.

 

[huntrfishr1]

Pre-17 K-22

I have a 5 screw, mat finish, old style hammer, with a higher serial # stamped on both the rear of the cylinder and the barrel flat ( K 148775 ), is it possible you have another number you didn't see, or did they start another numbering sequence at some point of manufacture?

 

[pistolpal]

I have one of the little sweethearts, 4" barrel and Bisley style grips. I don't have it handy so can't give ser. # or screw count. Have box and have had this little pistol for over 40 years. Had another one like the one pictured here but sold it to somebody as a favor. Also sold him my 4" 1958 Python. Yeah, go ahead and kick my ***! I've been doing if for years. Ha Ha Ha

 

[Bodiebadman]

Huntrfshr - the thread starter showed an Alpha-6 digit number but instead of using X as his last character he used #. His ship year is 1957 while yours is 1952.

 

[RangeRover]

A few observations, first is that your non relieved stocks pre date your gun by about 3 to 7 years as IIRC they first appear in late 1949 to early 1950 and change to a small football cut around 1955.
Next is that your gun is a fairly early 4 screw k-22 as evidenced by the S&W "High Speed" hammer (AKA the Fish hook hammer)

Fish hook hammers are common on post war Five screw K-22's but they are only seen on early Four screw K-22 examples,

One question, could be the lighting but your K22 appears to have a more satin appearance which would be unusual since the high polish "Bright" Blue became the standard by 1955,

Thanks for all the comments thus far. I'll take my own photos this weekend to try to draw out a bit more of the finish for comment here. And I wondered about the hammer. Thanks.

Interesting comment on the stocks. As can be seen in my Part II thread, I acquired a K-32 from the same seller (out of an estate). That revolver S/N K 27218#, has stocks with the football cut. I'm wondering if at some point, depending on the estimated vintage of the K-32, if the stocks got swapped between the two revolvers.

 

[RangeRover]

Here's my effort at a couple of photos to respond to a question about the finish on the K-22. A professional photographer I am not. I took this shot of my, now, three Masterpieces. And the difference in finish between my 1950 K-38 5-screw and the K-22 and similarly-dated K-32 is quite clear.

The other thing you'll note is that one of these things is not like the others. I bought the K-38 way, way back, when a young pup, and didn't even ask if the revolver came with the original wood stocks. Urggghhh.

Didn't really bother me until I got the two new revolvers. Now I feel the need to make the K-38 conform. I see some repros on that big auction site. Are they a solid product? What's the best place to keep looking for a set of original stocks?

Top to bottom: K-22, K-32 and K-38

 

[Engine49guy]

IMO the K-32 stocks are likely from 1967-1968 so too late to have come on any of the three guns you have.

Good news is the stocks on your K-22 are period correct for your wide rib K-38 "Heavy" Masterpiece which would likely be from 1950 - 1954 judging by the satin finish and 5 screw frame.

Have to keep your feelers out for a set of period correct stocks as they do pop up for sale on occasion but can be pricey depending on condition.

 

[rburg]

The best place to find grips is at big gun shows. The advantage for the buyer is the ability to view multiple sets and buy the one that pleases you most. At today's OGCA show I bet I saw 50 sets of K frame grips for sale. The bad news is everyone knows what they're worth and charges accordingly. Still, people have different preferences in grain and coloration.

 

[rustypelican]

This thread got me to inspect my K22, a four-screw with K 144xxx s/n's on the butt, cylinder and barrel flat. The yoke has small ko above 5842 with a 5 centered below and the 5842 repeated on the crane.
This was my first S&W pistol, lots of honest wear, but still a great shooter. It lead to my K17, K18-3, K617-6 and two 41's!

 

[153]

My K-22 is the last handgun I would let out of my hands ...