New Arrival: 1949 Birth Year K-22 Masterpiece

[kscharlie]

Delivered to my front door this afternoon. I have a 1949 K-38 Masterpiece, and have been looking diligently for an affordable nice K-22 Masterpiece to go with it for the past few years. Finally found one several days ago and ended up with the winning bid.

After unpacking it, I cleaned off all the oil and fingerprint smudges, removed the stocks and gave everything a nice coat of Ren Wax. It has a slight turn line on the cylinder and a very slight amount of blueing loss on the sides of the muzzle. Otherwise, it is in pristine condition. (Sorry, my pictures do not do it justice.)

I am very, very pleased with it and can't wait to see how it shoots. The trigger is beyond sweet, both SA and DA. The barrel and chambers are mirror bright. The color case hardening on the hammer is stunning. I would be surprised if more than a couple boxes of ammo has gone through it in the past 75 years.

 

[JP@AK]

Nice one. Serial number?

 

[kscharlie]

Nice one. Serial number?

Sorry Jack, forgot the number: Serial # K68788

Roy said it shipped February, 1949.

 

[Green Frog]

Oddly, although my birth year was also 1949, I found an early post War K22 a decade or so ago before birth years were something to pursue for me. It, along with my K38, dated from 1948. At this late date, one year more or less, is probably not all that significant.
Of course it goes without saying that both of my Masterpiece revolvers...
ARE!
Froggie

 

[Shotguncoach]

Very nice - that will be a sweet shooter. I have a 4" that is just slightly newer: K75214

 

[JP@AK]

I have a 4" that is just slightly newer: K75214

FYI, I show a .22 Combat Masterpiece at K75510, that shipped on May 26, 1950. It was in a shipment of 10 units that went to a distributor in Sacramento, California. Pretty close number; I wonder if yours was one of the 10. Good chance that it wasn't, but there is the possibility.

 

[OutWest50]

Congratulations on the very nice birth year K-38 Masterpiece! I have one in excellent condition that I purchased from a forum member that was shipped September 1950 ... my birth year & month.

 

[Frieda's Boss]

Congrats on the birth year Masterpiece! Gorgeous! To me, that long tapered barrel on a K frame is about as sexy as a revolver gets. Love the lines.

 

[RKmesa]

Congrats. What a beauty!

 

[sceva]

Very Nice. I love those High speed hammers

 

[Babysitr]

They are wonderful shooters! enjoy it

 

[4BODIDDLEY]

K22

My 6" is K51963 which I believe dates it to 1948. I like it!

 

[larryofcc]

Several guns here close to my K38 Masterpiece. Mine is # 75735, shipped 5-49. It is NIB and will stay that way. It came out of Calif., but my letter is not handy at this time. Big Larry

 

[Marshal Tom]

If it had been February of 50, it would have been the year and month gun for me. Very nice one! Mine is K 37067 which as I remember is a 46 gun. I just realized that I never lettered this gun. Could one of you guys confirm year and month for me?

 

[JP@AK]

Mine is K 37067 which as I remember is a 46 gun.
Could one of you guys confirm year and month for me?

More likely 1948.
K24654 shipped in May, 1948.

K42372 shipped in August, 1948.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Thanks Jack. I meant to say 48 and not 46. Would love to know the month.

 

[Truckman]

Thanks Jack. I meant to say 48 and not 46. Would love to know the month.

Roy Jinks will tell you if you ask him......Ben

 

[JP@AK]

Thanks Jack. I meant to say 48 and not 46.

Yes. Production of the K-22 Masterpiece didn't start until late December, 1946, and very few shipped that year. In 1947, roughly 10,000 units shipped. The lowest number on my list (K plus 3 digits) shipped in February, 1947.

Would love to know the month.

That would take a letter from the Historical Foundation, unless you join the SWCA. Then you could get a month and year from Dr. Jinks for free, once you wait in line.