Please help clarify the model

[TheRedRocket]

Howdy! I’m a long time lurker and brand new member!

I have had this nice k-22 for a while and was told and believed it was a K-22 Masterpiece (pre model 17) because that is what the I thought the box & paper said (which I can’t seem to find atm) I called S&W this week and all I was told is she was born ‘53

I’m starting to think it’s a K-22 Combat Masterpiece (pre model 18)

My Concerns
1. Based off research, Masterpieces in 4” are very rare. Evidently almost all were 6”
2. It has a matte finish that I hope is original but I’m having a hard time finding others like it. (Pictures came out bad but it is a very extreme difference from S&W typical blue)
3. Some research tells me the matte finish was possible for the earlier ones but I’m not sure if 1953 is considered “earlier”

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you kindly, rocket

 

[Truckman]

You have a K-22 Combat Masterpiece...Welcome to our addiction... ...Ben

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Peanut Capital of the World! IIRC, 4" K-22 Masterpieces have a Patridge front sight and Combat Masterpieces have a ramp front sight.

 

[Nightowl]

The matte finish was standard on Smiths, except the .357 Magnum, after WWll until the mid 50s, when the bright blue returned to the lineup!

 

[Gun Relics]

Welcome to the forums from the Peanut Capital of the World! IIRC, 4" K-22 Masterpieces have a Patridge front sight and Combat Masterpieces have a ramp front sight.

Finally got an explanation to easily spot the difference. I was a little confused about that.

Here's a page from the 1957 circular.

 

[Hondo44]

WELCOME to the forum!

If you ever find the box, check for the serial number in grease pencil on the bottom outside. Also was the box longer than the gun? It's common or S&Ws to be shipped in the wrong box when the correct box was out of stock.

Many consider the 4" with Patridge sight just the early version of the Combat Masterpiece. And no longer offered once the 4" CM with Baughman sight was introduced.

Some consider the 4" a Combat Masterpiece with a special order Patridge sight.

From the catalog above it appears the 4" with Patridge sight. was not cataloged, at least not in that 1957 year catalog. I don't recall ever seeing it cataloged as a Masterpiece. It's not discussed in the SCSW although the Masterpiece section does not include a barrel length.

The K22 was one of those interesting naming inconsistencies we often find with S&W:
The barrel length changes the Model name and later the Model number, Model 17 or 18, not the type of front sight.

A 38 M&P or Model 10 does not have a different name or number based on barrel length.

The Model .22/32 2" or 4" is a Kit Gun or Model 34.
The Model .22/32 6" is a Target or a Model 35.

You could do a search on this forum for 4" K22 w/Patridge front sight that's been lettered and learn what the Historian named it in the letter.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Roy had this to say in 2012:

K-22 Combat Masterpiece

In doing research for letters I some time come up with some interesting data. I thought I would pass this on to the members who have been interested in the various K-22s. The first K-22 4 inch record as being built was finished on April 15, 1949. There were 2 units finished on April 15th. Smith & Wesson produced a total of 31 K-22 4 inch barrel guns is April including the above two. The next 4 inch barrels assemble was in October 1949 and the company completed 139 units in that run. The full production of the K-22 Combat Masterpiece began on December 19, 1949 and from that date on it was listed as a standard production item. In reading the manufacturing records I also found that on March 22, 1948 that the company completed one K-22 with fixed sights and it was marked as a sample. I wonder where it went? I am sorry I do not have serial numbers on any of the above lots as the manufacturing records do not include serial numbers. Enjoy the info. Roy

Roy G. Jinks
Historian, Smith & Wesson

...the manufacturing records do not give the detail of the front sight, but my guess would be that they would have been a ramp front sight. Roy

 

[Hondo44]

Very informative.

 

[TheRedRocket]

Thank you everybody for all of the great info.

 

[JP@AK]

TheRedRocket

Your .22 Combat Masterpiece is very likely from 1953, as you were told. There clearly was a run of Combat Masterpiece units coming down the assembly line in that serial range. I list the following:

K186542 .22 Combat Masterpiece
K186667 .22 Combat Masterpiece
K193286 .22 Combat Masterpiece
K195134 .38 Combat Masterpiece
K197421 .22 Combat Masterpiece
K198907 .22 Combat Masterpiece
K199088 .38 Combat Masterpiece

All of the above shipped in 1953.