Need ID help with a .22

[Gun Relics]

Another One

This gun is not alone. I just found this pic of another K22 masterpiece with the same issue. Wow!

 

[Inkgardener]

Hope it functions properly. No disrespect intended, but I would walked away from that one.

I can still take it back as I am buying it from a family member. I am going to shoot it and see how it does. Wanted it as a shooter anyways.


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[Inkgardener]

I would have used the peening marks as a reason to dicker the price lower.

I didn’t notice them in the low lit garage, but when I was told the price of $250, I just wanted to get it home to look it up in the standard catalog.


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[Inkgardener]

That is some serious peening from the firing pin. It may interfere with inserting a cartridge all the way and would require reaming to remove the upset material. I see that the S/N on the cylinder face appears to have been filed off too; it is NOT worn down. If you have not picked it up yet you should remove the grips and make sure the S/N there is intact. If it is removed there I would try to get out of the purchase, These are great revolvers and it's worth fixing up.

The barrel and butt serial numbers match. I wondered the same about the filing on the cylinder but this cylinder might not be original?

I chambered 6 rounds and all fit flush and closes and locks up good. So far, other than visual, the gun appears sound. I will have to wait a few days to shoot it unfortunately, as I have been stalking the largest buck I’ve ever seen around my place.


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[Inkgardener]

That is one very badly abused revolver, and a prime example why .22 rim-fire revolvers absolutely should not be dry-fired! A lot of the dry-fire has been double-action which is why the firing pin strikes on the back of the cylinder show the gun has been subject to "throw-by". This happens when people do fast dry-firing in double-action. You just don't see it in center-fire guns usually because of the larger chambers and the firing pin usually falls within the chamber instead of on the cylinder.

If you hadn't bought this gun yet my advice would be to walk away from it! There are many, many K-22s that haven't been so badly abused!

Identifying S&W .22 revolvers is easy as long as the gun is .22 Long Rifle. There really are basically only two, The K-22 Masterpiece on the medium K-Frame, and the .22-32 on the I-J small frame, or later the J-frame.

Yeah the cylinder is beat up, but the rest of the gun is in great shape, and with the filed cylinder, makes me wonder if the cylinder is from another gun.

I’m going to shoot it first, and if it shoots good, well…$250 doesn’t sound too bad.


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[ralph7]

$250 for a set of diamond targets with a nice old .22 attached is a deal in my book...

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

I have a set of those non-relieved diamond targets on my Model 17 though not original to the 1965 gun. Those grips alone are probably worth the $250 investment from what I've been told about their value.

 

[weatherby]

You did well for the price.

The unrelieved Dt's are a huge chunk of what you paid.
If they were N frame you would have pretty much got the gun free.
Being K's still about 175 of what you paid.
JMHO

 

[handejector]

I have never figured out why, but I have seen dozens of early (5 Screw) K-22s with peened cylinders. It has kept me from buying at least 8 or 10 over the years that were otherwise nice guns.

 

[rct269]

Me thinks the bottom line of all this is RUN!!---do not walk away from this.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Inkgardener]

I managed to get into the barn with a full cylinder and I shot 3 DA, and 3 SA. All 6 appear to be struck in the correct spot, and probably just as important, the same spot.

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[Inkgardener]

Me thinks the bottom line of all this is RUN!!---do not walk away from this.

Ralph Tremaine

If it shoots good, why?


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[sodacan]

I would have used the peening marks as a reason to dicker the price lower.

That's a badly abused gun. I wouldn't own it even if it was free.

 

[weatherby]

That's a badly abused gun. I wouldn't own it even if it was free.

I find that truly amazing
You wouldn't own a gun wearing 175 dollar stocks if it were free.

Thankfully I like beer keep the champagne for yourself

 

[Inkgardener]

That's a badly abused gun. I wouldn't own it even if it was free.

Thanks for the great comment.


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[Gunsquirrel]

Is it posible the cylinder stop is worn? I had an issue with mine on a HFT a while back that was unusualy worn, a new "used" one corrected the issue of lock up. Can ytou post a picture of yours by chance?

 

[EPP]

A good history thread on your gun: The K-22 Masterpiece (Model 17): a brief history

I think I see a screw on the trigger guard so it so it dates from the fifties, if it were my gun I'd be watching gunbroker for "S&W parts kit" for the right version and replace what's damaged. I'd also be sure to do a proper FFL transfer on it to prove when it came to your possession.

 

[Keith Brown]

Here is my explanation as to how the dimpling happens in most cases. It is usually not a timing issue but instead is the result of loading the gun with one or more rounds not fully seated, the first sign of this is drag as cylinder is closed. Loaded like this it is possible to to cock the gun with force and push the hand right past the ratchet, pulling the trigger at this point will allow hammer to hit wherever the cylinder stopped. I had this problem with the very first 17 I bought new in 79-80. I never pulled the trigger but clearly remember realizing I had forced the action. The gun was very hard to load and unload. Depending on how well the hand fits the window it can be very easy to do.

 

[Keith Brown]

Here is a very nice one liner I bought this year, it’s been fired but is about a clean as they get. The timing is absolutely perfect. I have not shot it but the cylinder is difficult to load, the drag mentioned explains the dings, at least to me.

 

[Inkgardener]

Is it posible the cylinder stop is worn? I had an issue with mine on a HFT a while back that was unusualy worn, a new "used" one corrected the issue of lock up. Can ytou post a picture of yours by chance?

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