Mystery .22 with funny trigger pull. Advice?

[Col Defender]

Found this at a dealer's this morning. Advertised as a .22 Combat Masterpiece, SN 2166XX. 4" Barrel, blue finish, checkered walnut grips.
Blue finish is close to perfect with one small ding in the walnut grip. Very minor scratch line around the cylinder. If it has been refinished, it is not obvious to my untrained eyes.

Two questions - first what is it?? I did not see a model number on the cylinder yoke and now I'm not able to look at it again for a few days.

Then there is the trigger pull - in single action mode, it has the usual crisp feel as I sqeeze it and there is no perceptible movement as I squeeze it. But when it "fires", there seems to be a bit of movement or looseness in the trigger. I checked several of my other S&W revolvers when I got home and none of them have this particular feel. But none of them is a .22 and I've never handled a .22 S&W before so maybe this is entirely normal.

Dealer wants $600 but will let me have it for $540.

All advice is appreciated.

Thanks


Steve

 

[29aholic]

Questions

Steve

I am assuming there was a "K" at the beginning of the serial number. In that range, your gun probably shipped in ~1954 which is about 4-5 years before Model marking began. That gun would be a Pre-18. The seller's description is correct, before the model numbers this was called the Combat Masterpiece 22. The 38 version is the Model 15

Dont Know what to tell you on the trigger issue.

 

[Col Defender]

Thanks Curtis

No "K" on the SN. Wish I had looked more carefully for a Model "name".

Steve

 

[Col Defender]

OOP's My Mistake

Curtis and everyone else -- Yes there is a "K" in front of the SN. I just called the dealer and found that out. Don't know how, but both the dealer and I overlooked that this morning.

I guess I'm not worried about the trigger pull, so what's a fair price for this gun. I have the dealer down to $500 but that's the best he'll do for me.

The gun is beautiful.

Steve

 

[29aholic]

Thanks Curtis

No "K" on the SN. Wish I had looked more carefully for a Model "name".

Steve

Steve,
There wasnt actually a "Name" ever marked (except the highway patrolman), this was a name Smith used before introducing the Model numbers in 1958 (roughly).

You need to look on the bottom of the frame at the serial number, as non model marked guns didnt have the number in the crane like model marked guns do. The number you gave seems high for an assembly number, but that is what it would be if no letter present. In a lot of cases there will be a pretty big gap between the letter and the number. For instance instead of (K2166XX) it may look like (K 2166XX).

Now having said all the above and it really doesnt have a "K" (I bet it does), then it may be a pre-war 22 Outdoorsman which wouldnt have a rib on it (IIRC).

 

[29aholic]

Late post

Took me a while to complete the last reply, but I was pretty sure it had the "K".

$500 is a price I wouldnt balk at for a second in the shape you describe. Buy it...you'll regret it if you dont

 

[cgt4570]

As to the trigger feel, it's very possible that someone backed the strain screw out. That will make it feel mushy just before it gets out far enought that it won't hold cocked in SA.

 

[H Richard]

I wouldn't hesitate at that price. In that condition I see them going for past $600.

 

[Col Defender]

Strain Screw?

Help!

Someone please tell me - What is a strain screw? Where is it? How tight should it be??

Thanks

Steve

 

[bgrafsr]

Help!

Someone please tell me - What is a strain screw? Where is it? How tight should it be??

Thanks

Steve

On the front of the grip frame at the bottom there is a screw, which is the strain screw. Check and make sure it is screwed in as far as it can go, but don't over tighten it. If the gun has target stocks on it, you will have to remove the stocks to get to the screw.

 

[Onomea]

I've never had buyer's regret, but everyone I liked but I passed up... man, they haunt me years later...

 

[gunlovingirl]

Have to agree with the others. For $500, buy it! You'll like it!