My first K frame .22, Model 18

[gfors]

Just bought this M18, from a fellow forum member. It arrived at my LGS/FFL, late yesterday. Background check took an hour, instead of the usual 10-15 minutes, and range was closed, by the time I took possession of this beauty. Spent last night getting lost in its deep blue, and dreaming of shooting it.
Today, it got to to the range with some of its new family, a 70's 28-2, a similar vintage 66 No Dash, and a High Standard Supermatic, from the 60's. This Model 18 is from around 1958, according to SCSW #4, and almost a birth year gun for me (1959). It seems to be an accurate shooter, but I had a hard time seeing the front sight. And, as others have noted, chambers are tight on these things. Still, I was able to keep all my shots, between 15 and 25 yards, within a dinner plate, a few of those left handed. What an awesome trigger!

 

[Hondo44]

Nice catch.

You might find from a letter that it didn't actually ship until your birth year.

 

[jmark1651]

A great 22 revolver and my favorite. I use a touch of hot pink nail polish on my front sites. Does well for me.

 

[LEO918]

That's about the perfect start down the K frame trail. Here's one of mine...

 

[wundudnee]

I'll venture a guess it won't be your last K frame .22.

 

[Grayfox]

That's a beaut!
The Model 18 is my absolute favorite .22 revolver. I love mine and give it full credit for teaching me to shoot a revolver in DA mode well.

 

[Jtown]

Great gun, I like the 22's. Haven't got a 18, but do have a Model 17. Not sure but shouldn't the grips have the diamond center.
Walt

 

[Green Frog]

What a nice addition to the "family!" My K-22 is also a "conception year" gun rather than a birth year gun... it was born in 1948 and beat me here by a year since I didn't arrive until June of 1949! I like to think it was here waiting for me.

Your High Standard Tournament Model also caught my eye... I collected High Standard for many years and my first "real" modern Bullseye gun was an old slant grip version of the same model with those old burgundy plastic grips HS used back then. I'd be curious to see how these step siblings would stack up in a head-to-head competition... I've never tried it with mine, but seeing yours together in the pix has inspired me. I've got at least one more range project on my to-do list now.

Congrats on a good find and a well placed addition to the family!

Froggie

 

[CajunBass]

Congratulations. I also bet it won't be your last K-frame.

Mine is a 1954, K-22 Combat Masterpiece.





I added the target stocks after I got it. The original Magna's, numbered to the gun, have been put away for safekeeping.

I helped the sticky chamber problem by using small patches cut from a "lead wipe away" cloth to clean the charge holes on mine, then followed up with a normal cleaning. They load and eject easily now.

 

[gfors]

Great gun, I like the 22's. Haven't got a 18, but do have a Model 17. Not sure but shouldn't the grips have the diamond center.
Walt

Yes, it came with the diamond Magnas, that I swapped out with the Targets that were on my 66. I wanted to see how the 66 felt with the smaller grips, and I wanted to see and shoot the M18, with Targets. With the 66, I am thinking of a slimmer profile, for carry.
Anyway, here it is with the Magnas, that came on it. They don't number to the gun.

 

[gfors]

A great 22 revolver and my favorite. I use a touch of hot pink nail polish on my front sites. Does well for me.

I'll give that a try. Might try yellow, as I have a hard time seeing some colors, pink included.

 

[gfors]

Nice catch.

You might find from a letter that it didn't actually ship until your birth year.

I had the same thought. It might worth taking the gamble, on a letter.

 

[Jtown]

Yes, it came with the diamond Magnas, that I swapped out with the Targets that were on my 66. I wanted to see how the 66 felt with the smaller grips, and I wanted to see and shoot the M18, with Targets. With the 66, I am thinking of a slimmer profile, for carry.
Anyway, here it is with the Magnas, that came on it. They don't number to the gun.

That's better.
Walt

 

[Leon55]

I have a Smith & Wesson model-18 22 cal revolver trying to find the year of manufacture

 

[gfors]

I have a Smith & Wesson model-18 22 cal revolver trying to find the year of manufacture

Post the serial number (XX the last two digits if you feel the need). Someone here will look it up. Keep in mind there are often exceptions in the world of SW.

 

[gfors]

What a nice addition to the "family!" My K-22 is also a "conception year" gun rather than a birth year gun... it was born in 1948 and beat me here by a year since I didn't arrive until June of 1949! I like to think it was here waiting for me.

Your High Standard Tournament Model also caught my eye... I collected High Standard for many years and my first "real" modern Bullseye gun was an old slant grip version of the same model with those old burgundy plastic grips HS used back then. I'd be curious to see how these step siblings would stack up in a head-to-head competition... I've never tried it with mine, but seeing yours together in the pix has inspired me. I've got at least one more range project on my to-do list now.

Congrats on a good find and a well placed addition to the family!

Froggie

Thanks, Froggie!
The High Standard is a sweet heart of a shooter, and likely the most accurate handgun I'll ever own. I shoot it better than anything else I've ever shot. Great trigger and longer sight radius. I thought the K22 Combat Masterpiece held its own, given I was shooting it DA. And it was a lot easier to shoot left handed than the HS.

 

[Eddietruett]

I picked up this 18-2 on Friday. Little honest wear and nice set of Altamonts. Just realized last night that this was my first 4" .22! I've had 2" and 6" but never a 4". Took to my range today and Wow! I was surprised at how well it shot. I know .22's can be real picky with ammo so I guess the Remington I had on hand was a lucky match. Had no problem shooting small groups at 15 yards so I started playing at 50 and then at 80. Wound up doing pretty good with a 8" steel gong. I had forgotten how much fun the .22's can be.

 

[gfors]

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

 

[SuperMan]

Beautiful gun... The mid-1950s to late 60s have the best blue....

I have had about 10 18s over the years and the one I kept was a 1964 vintage. To look at all of them from a distance you don't see the difference. Place them side by side and the bluing difference from the more matte finish of the early guns to the blue after the late 60s really stands out...

Found a nice Model 48 .22 Magnum cylinder and had it fitted...this will be my last 18...

Bob

 

[gfors]

Beautiful gun... The mid-1950s to late 60s have the best blue....

I have had about 10 18s over the years and the one I kept was a 1964 vintage. To look at all of them from a distance you don't see the difference. Place them side by side and the bluing difference from the more matte finish of the early guns to the blue after the late 60s really stands out...

Found a nice Model 48 .22 Magnum cylinder and had it fitted...this will be my last 18...

Bob

Thanks!
The bluing on this 18 is amazing, even when compared to a very high condition 19-5 and an even better (98%) 19-4 that I have. It looks like a higher level of polishing, in addition to any differences in bluing process/chemistry.
This is the first .22 revolver I have ever owned or shot. It is my oldest and prettiest Smith. It won't be my last K22.