Model 22 of 1917: what is the right section for this S&W?

Joined
Feb 6, 2025
Messages
110
Reaction score
264
Location
Normandy - France
This model was born in 2007, but it has 5 screws and a pinned barrel, so where to put it?

Of course I am newbe on the forum and have not explored all the sections, so be indulgent if i made a mistake postin here :D

The fact is that I would like to know the date of production of this gun that is a copy of the historical model of 1917.

So I attached some picture as requested for having an answer for which I thanks by advance for your time to let me know at least the year of production.
 

Attachments

  • Modèle.jpg
    Modèle.jpg
    18.8 KB · Views: 44
  • numéro de série.jpg
    numéro de série.jpg
    18.9 KB · Views: 50
  • longueur du canon.jpg
    longueur du canon.jpg
    19.1 KB · Views: 55
  • Calibre 45 acp png.jpg
    Calibre 45 acp png.jpg
    19.2 KB · Views: 42
  • Organe de visée.jpg
    Organe de visée.jpg
    19.5 KB · Views: 48
Register to hide this ad
The Model 22 with a 5.5” barrel, is in my opinion, a copy of the Model 1950 Army revolver. I say this because the Model 1950 had the improved short action on better sights than the Model 1917. Is that splitting hairs? Maybe, but it is a subtle difference.

Welcome!

Kevin
 
According to the SCSW 5th Ed DBF serial prefix translates to 2005. It's interesting in that while your prefix was specifically listed, I can find neither of mine (DBB & DBD).

Model-22s-Cased-2021-03-28-15-09-59-UTC.jpg


Maybe because, at least on the one, it was sent to Turnbull for finishing. I would assume the nickel gun was done in house, but maybe the serial numbers for the nickel guns were reserved in a block. These quirks and anomalies are what makes collecting S&W's interesting.

I'd say something appropriate in French, but my sister got all the linguistic smarts in our family, so, "welcome to the forum" in good old American English (is that an oxymoron?).

Adios,

Pizza Bob
 
Last edited:
It is a post-1980, 4 screw frame, unpinned barrel. But you found the right section!
 
Last edited:
The Model 22 with a 5.5” barrel, is in my opinion, a copy of the Model 1950 Army revolver. I say this because the Model 1950 had the improved short action on better sights than the Model 1917. Is that splitting hairs? Maybe, but it is a subtle difference.

Welcome!

Kevin

Thanks for your subtle comment StrawHat. So subtle that my poor mind is stille trying to understand why 5.5 barrel should be specific distinction on which your opinion is based to say that the model 22 could be a copy of Model 1950 since the S&W 1917 origin had a 5.5" barrel.
Even if you did not wanted to Split hairs ;)
 
According to the SCSW 5th Ed DBF serial prefix translates to 2005. It's interesting in that while your prefix was specifically listed, I can find neither of mine (DBB & DBD).

Maybe because, at least on the one, it was sent to Turnbull for finishing. I would assume the nickel gun was done in house, but maybe the serial numbers for the nickel guns were reserved in a block. These quirks and anomalies are what makes collecting S&W's interesting.

I'd say something appropriate in French, but my sister got all the linguistic smarts in our family, so, "welcome to the forum" in godd old American English (is that an oxymoron?).

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Many Thanks, Pizza Bod, for your research in the SCSW 5th Ed that seems bring a first information of value, dating my S&W mod 22 of 1917 in 2005.

Your guns are very nice.

Nevertheless I have read that this model 22-4 has been produced for the first time in 2007.

Where is the truth?

This riddle add to the pleasure of searching about S&W revolvers.

Don't worry about French language, it's for me a pleasure to read and write English. As I'm retired I have less opportunity to do that now, so its a good training for me.

And thanks also for welcoming
 
Nevertheless I have read that this model 22-4 has been produced for the first time in 2007.

Where is the truth?g

The 22-4 was reintroduced in Oct 2005 as a Thunder Ranch special with a 4" barrel and a serial prefix of TRR. You are correct in stating that the 5.5" barrel didn't enter the mix until 2007. So here we have one of those anomalies that I spoke of: Serial prefix that dates to 2005, but the rest of the gun consistent with the 2007 intro. Maybe yours was an early prototype? Maybe the example that Supica and Nahas examined was a prototype or maybe they just got it wrong.

Regardless, enjoy the gun. I love revolvers chambered in .45 Auto - I have 11 including the two in my OP.

Adios,

Pizza Bob
 
The 22-4 was reintroduced in Oct 2005 as a Thunder Ranch special with a 4" barrel and a serial prefix of TRR. You are correct in stating that the 5.5" barrel didn't enter the mix until 2007. So here we have one of those anomalies that I spoke of: Serial prefix that dates to 2005, but the rest of the gun consistent with the 2007 intro. Maybe yours was an early prototype? Maybe the example that Supica and Nahas examined was a prototype or maybe they just got it wrong.

Regardless, enjoy the gun. I love revolvers chambered in .45 Auto - I have 11 including the two in my OP.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

The riddle will remain, that is an other source of interest.

I do enjoy this revolver chambered in .45 acp, perhaps not at your level! I'm impressed by your collection :)
 
Thanks for your subtle comment StrawHat. So subtle that my poor mind is stille trying to understand why 5.5 barrel should be specific distinction on which your opinion is based to say that the model 22 could be a copy of Model 1950 since the S&W 1917 origin had a 5.5" barrel.
Even if you did not wanted to Split hairs ;)

The Model 1950 Army was a fixed sight, 45 ACP revolver with a 5.5” barrel. It differed from the 45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917 by having improved sights (a square notch rear sight and a wider front sight) and the short action.

The images below are, left to right, a 45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917, a Model 1950 Army, a 5.5” Model 22-4 and the SCS&W description of the Model 1950 Army. Note, the front sight on my Model 1950 Army has been modified for a better sight picture.

Kevin
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0581.jpg
    IMG_0581.jpg
    46.6 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_0702.jpg
    IMG_0702.jpg
    42 KB · Views: 8
  • IMG_0491.jpg
    IMG_0491.jpg
    49.5 KB · Views: 8
  • IMG_2611.jpg
    IMG_2611.jpg
    94 KB · Views: 6
The Model 1950 Army was a fixed sight, 45 ACP revolver with a 5.5” barrel. It differed from the 45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917 by having improved sights (a square notch rear sight and a wider front sight) and the short action.

The images below are, left to right, a 45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917, a Model 1950 Army, a 5.5” Model 22-4 and the SCS&W description of the Model 1950 Army. Note, the front sight on my Model 1950 Army has been modified for a better sight picture.

Kevin

Thank you very much for enlightening me with the pictures and the note.
Now I understand why it is possible to take one model for another.
Nevertheless, when comparing the picture of your 22-4 with mine, I thing no doubt remains, they are the same.
Unfortunatly my Revolver is not an origin... but a moderne copy of this famous S&W model 1917.
 

Attachments

  • S&W mod 22 of 1917 45acp before.jpg
    S&W mod 22 of 1917 45acp before.jpg
    113.3 KB · Views: 2
Back
Top