My First S&W K22

[Wingate]

Howdy guys, I just joined this forum since I just got my first S&W. I have been collecting Colts, Winchesters and Marlins for about 25 years. I can't explain it, but Smiths never really interested me until last week when I bought what I think is a k-22 from a friend of mine. I now see what I've been missing and I suspect I'm going to be hooked on them. I have a few questions about this pistol and I'm sure the experts will know the answers. I'm not sure if this pistol is matching or if it has the correct grips. My buddy told me that this is unusual since it has a 5" barrel on it, I gave him $500 for it. Compared to other pistols in the $500 range, I'm happy with my purchase I have included several photos of the numbers that I could find on it, Thanks for any advice you can share. (I'm asking Santa for the Catalog of S&W's) Greg

 

[murphydog]

Welcome to the Forum, you will find lots of information here.

You appear to have hit a home run with your first S & W. 5" K-22s are reported as "rare", and yours appears to be one judging from the factory-appearing barrel crown and other details. This one looks to be worth a factory historical letter:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

This is how the addiction starts . Enjoy!

 

[Sebago Son]

You're in trouble now...

K-22's are like crack... very addictive... and there is no cure.... get out now while you still can!

Welcome to the forum where you can hang out with other addicts and enablers....

Drew

 

[Art Doc]

If any 5" K22s were made they were on special order. I have never seen or heard of one existing.

I believe this gun has been modified. The front sight sets back from the end of the rib and it should be flush. The ramp appears to have been remounted. I will bet a dollar it letters as a standard 6" K22.

A neat gun and a fun shooter but not rare, original, or overly valuable.

Compare the front sight on yours to this one:

 

[Wingate]

I guess I need a letter on it, It's no big deal to me since I was only looking for a shooter. It would be cool if this turns out to be something special though

 

[BoDog]

Great gun to start a S&W addiction. The front sight looks to have been moved,pin is close to end. You might want to have it lettered.

 

[wheelgun610]

The S/N would indicate 1953 as a likely ship date. Target stocks of that period didn't have the relief cut on the left grip panel, so those would be late 50's, possibly even 1960's production.

As for the barrel, I'd also tend to think it's been cut based on the appearance of the front sight. Any 'good' gunsmith can re-crown a muzzle....

None of those things would make it a bad gun in my opinion....

Mark

 

[CT Smith Fan]

+1 Get a letter from Roy Jinks or call S&W customer service,they may be able to give you some info,That will set the record straight.For now take it out and shoot it!

 

[Speedo2]

Wingate, great photos! Great gun, too; but...wow; really nice job posting those photos. -S2

 

[What the]

Hello Wingate,

Nice little K you have there,I posted one a week or so ago with a 5 inch barrel as well. They balance very well and feel good in hand. Shoot Shoot Shoot it and have fun. Nice unusual first gun to start your collection.

Dale

 

[Wingate]

This is the best gun forum I have been on, lots of responses and friendly folks here. I started looking at some other k22's on gunbroker and I'm now thinking that I may have paid too much for this one since the barrel looks to have been cut. That kind of thing drives me crazy because when it comes time to sell everyone will beat you up over the fact that its not 100% correct. Are any of the K22's known to be more accurate than others?

 

[Sebago Son]

The solution to that problem is to simply keep your K-22 forever....

 

[Speedo2]

.... Are any of the K22's known to be more accurate than others?

Excellent question. I've got a bunch of them and they all shoot better than I can. However, there are a couple that stand out for me; those being a pre-17 from around 1954 and also a 6" 617 with a full lug. I'm pretty sure that the pre-17 is just a mind-thing (...much like golf) and the fact that I probably shoot it the most, but the 617 has more to do with it being a bit more stable when shooting single action. I've also got a scoped 8-3/8" 617 that shoots like a rifle when off a bench, but it's just too darned heavy to hold free-hand, so it's way off my top-10 list.

Now, all that being said, the 17's, pre-17's and 617's are generally all great shooters, but for real accuracy with a 22 hand gun I think that you have to step up to a M41. Regardless, each gun (especially 22's) seem to like their own brand of ammo, so it's usually a lengthy search to find the combo of gun, ammo and person that shoots best.

I wouldn't worry too much about maybe paying a bit much for your K22. It looks like a very nice gun; whoever chopped the barrel looks like they knew what they were doing. K22's will always be a much sought-after gun and they tend to maintain their value. Also, they tend to be addictive and multiply. -S2

 

[Cooter Brown]

Speedo2 said,

Now, all that being said, the 17's, pre-17's and 617's are generally all great shooters, but for real accuracy with a 22 hand gun I think that you have to step up to a M41. Regardless, each gun (especially 22's) seem to like their own brand of ammo, so it's usually a lengthy search to find the combo of gun, ammo and person that shoots best.

I wouldn't worry too much about maybe paying a bit much for your K22. It looks like a very nice gun; whoever chopped the barrel looks like they knew what they were doing. K22's will always be a much sought-after gun and they tend to maintain their value. Also, they tend to be addictive and multiply.

What he said! I've got three now--with all these K22 threads I need to take some pictures and play along. If you paid too much you didn't pay a whole lot too much. All K22s are in great demand.

K22s are great and are definitely addictive. But the best part about them is shooting them, and that looks like a great one to shoot.

By the way, my 1947 K22 outshoots my 1974 17-3--but maybe I haven't found the right ammo for the newer bun.

I haven't shot the 1951 K22 Combat Masterpiece (four incher) yet, but I plan to fix that soon.

 

[Wingate]

This barrel has been definately been cut, I removed the front sight and found 2 holes where the pin goes. The good news is that I reworked it by moving the sight forward, drilled a new hole and tapped in the pin. I think it looks better than it did before. Heres a photo of my Amateur job.

 

[red9]

That's a very nice gun, and I have no problem with the price you paid. I have seen a lot of work by full time (I may not call them professional) gunsmiths that is not as good as the job you did.

Bob

 

[DCWilson]

That's a nice adjustment to the position of the sight base -- good work. In most of the company's guns, the sight base is placed a little lower in the rib; the grooves are polished off to create a flat surface for the base to rest on. With the sight base flush to the end of the rib now, the small exposed grooved portion goes away and the gun looks a lot better.

As to variable accuracy, I have half a dozen K-22s dating from 1932 to 1953. (My youngest is just a little higher up the serial number list than yours -- K196446.) In my experience, the four inch .22 Combat Magnum beats the others all hollow. They are all at least semi-accurate guns for the way I shoot, but the CM just shreds the red center in grid targets with very few outliers or fliers. That gun has given me the tightest groups I have ever shot.

 

[lever4ever]

Hello Wingate,

Welcome to the forum. Nice K-22. I picked one up in December of last year. It is a most pleasing revolver. Again welcome. You will find a wealth of information here.

Lever4Ever

 

[RdrBill]

Wingate.
5-6 years ago a gent from ARIZONA posted a 4 inch K22 with a Patridge front sight vice the Baughman front sight. The serial number was several years early for it to be a known Pre Model 18. The peanut gallery raked him over about his fake gun. He lived 300 miles from here, I contacted him and asked if he would sale it. He all to eager to get rid of it, it was a fake in his mind.
I bought it and compared it to any of the many K22's I own, it was not a butcher job at all. Looked good.
I waited 2-3 years and posted the gun, just like you did. Comments I got went like this.
Cut barrel, wrong ampersand, sight base pin has been replaced, wrong crown, sight is not flush with end of rib, to early, fake, fake, fake.
The peanut gallery has very narrow vision. If they do not own one, yours may be a fake.
6 months ago I tried again, the peanut gallery roasted my poor old gun as a fraud. They did not care for it.
I also posted in the upper section of this forum that is limited to members of the S&WCA. The general comment was,"Nice K22, have you lettered it?" Those are some nice people up there. They don't throw peanuts at you, either.
I sent an e-mail to Roy and told him of the gun and that I wanted to letter it and how detailed of info would he accept. I told him I thought it was a pre production sample. He humored me and said send many pics and detailed e-mail.
I did, it lettered. It is real. One of 20 indentical. He called it "Early Production K-22 Combat Masterpiece:. Shipped 26 May 1950.

Here is a pic of the barrel:

Here is a pic of the K22: K 75510

If I was you, I would make the effort to get a factory letter. It is easy to do, they instructions are on this forum somewhere. It is cheap. It can validate the originality of your K22.

As far as 2 holes in the front sight base. Yes, it does not mean anything. I would not be rearranging the parts on that K22 either.
Your picture that shows the muzzle crown and the front sight base set back on the rib, is exactly how mine looks.
If ever you are disappointed in your old, cut barrel, "fake" K22 and want to sell it, I would be glad to buy it. I think a 5 inch barrel K22 would go nice with the 4 inch and 6 inch guns I have. I would put it in that collector's niche called, "Peanut Gallery Rejects"

Bill@Yuma

 

[DGNY]

First K22

I wonder if S&W would think a K-frame 5" .22 a good model to offer. Looks like a winning combination to me.

Regards,

Dyson