Model 48

[couse3pt]

I recently purchased a few guns one of them a K-22 Magnum. I believe it is a Model 48. I was told the gun was bought new in 1959 by the ladys father, It has its original box. The serial number is 36193x. Gun is in excellent condition. I am hoping some of the members can share with me when the 1st revolvers were made in this model, and where this Serial number falls. Also if there may be records I could obtain on this revolver.

Thanks Phil

 

[murphydog]

Welcome to the Forum. You have the ID correct (it should be stamped MOD 48 under the barrel, on the frame when you swing the cylinder out). The SN also corresponds to the year 1959 if it has a K in front of it, and this was its first year of production.

Here is a link to order a factory historical letter, which gives background info and also the date and to where the gun shipped:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

Hope this is helpful.

 

[couse3pt]

Thank you Alan. I printed out the request for and will send for a letter on Monday. I did as instructed and opened the cylinder. It is marked MOD 48. Also there is a K in front of the serial number. Is there a record of what serial number was the first of this production?

 

[4-Screw]

Welcome to the Forum.

Here is a recent thread, but there are others.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/258103-m48-0-letter.html

 

[murphydog]

Phil, be aware there appears to be a backlog on letter requests at present, so it may be 2-3 months for a reply. Enjoy that model 48!

 

[Hammerdown]

Hello Phil
Tracking down and exact shipping date on a model 48 without applying for a factory History Letter is going to be tough. The model 48's got off to a slow start as far as the buying public out there in their first year of 1959. That said, here is K-37254X that shipped in December 1959. Later on, it was returned to the factory and fitted with the Optional .22 L.R. Cylinder which is shown in it. The Optional .22 L.R. cylinder's for these revolver's did not become available until after 1961 in the first Production change of the model 48-1's so this one has the left hand extractor threads as can be seen by the small groove just behind the Knurling on the extractor tube. Oddly this was a one owner gun prior to me swapping for it and the owner only fired it with the gun's original .22 W.M.R. cylinder, and I swapped him a S&W Model 2206 semi auto Pistol for it. & according to him it was never placed in the gun Nor fired after it returned from the factory. I have fired it with .22 L.R. cylinder and it is deadly accurate as is it's .22 Magnum cylinder. Just last weekend my son in law & I took our 48's to the range for some Target shooting. He will be taking his Conceal carry course later this week using his 48-4 and we both needed the practice. We Placed a standard 20 Yard slow fire pistol fire target at the 20 Yard line with a small red circle about the size of a dime on it. It did not take long for both of us to hit & wear out that small red circle as these guns are super accurate...We shot CCI Brand Maxi-Mag ammo in them as i have found it to be the most accurate out of these model 48's. One odd thing I Observed though, was to be at Point of impact with my model 48 I had to take the rear sight almost all the way down, but on his gun he had almost a full 1/16" of sight height adjustment left on his. Both guns have the .0146" Height rear sight blade, so I have no idea why mine had to be dropped so much further than his to achieve P.O.A. Hits. Later that day we visited a Local Big box store and I noticed that they had some CCI Maxi-Mag with Lighter weight bullet's than I was firing in mine being 30 Grain weight Opposed to the standard 40 Grain bullets we were shooting that day. I may in the future purchase some of those Lighter 30 Grain bullets to see if it helps in raising my Rear sight a little...Ammo for these .22 W.M.R. caliber is not cheap. I have Tried Winchester Dyna-Point Brand, Remington Ballistic tipped Brand, and a new offering from Fiocci, which I can buy for $8.00 a Box. Out of the Three Brand's mentioned the Fiocci seemed to group the best out of my gun, but not nearly as Tight as far as group's go as the CCI Maxi-Mags will. Most that Talk Smack about this caliber I feel do so because of the higher price of the rounds when comparing them to .22 L.R. They are about Double but they are very rewarding on Target...so, the price of the ammo does not bother me a Bit as I enjoy the .22 W.M.R. caliber much, much more...

 

[couse3pt]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I am sending for the letter this morning. Hopefully I will get out and shoot it this week. When I bought this pistol I was told it was a 22 cal. I was surprized whan I discovered it was a 22 Mag.
Thanks Again,
Phil

 

[couse3pt]

My serial number is K 361934, I would estimate 90% plus condition with the original box. Can I get some opinions on value?

 

[brigham33]

My serial number is K 361934, I would estimate 90% plus condition with the original box. Can I get some opinions on value?

I purchased a model 48 a couple of months ago, similar condition with the box and a few years newer. I paid almost $800. I would guess you are at about $800-900, but I may be off as I thought my purchase was a fairly good deal.