Pre-18 information

[browningcollector]

I just picked up a very clean 4 inch Pre-18 from my favorite LGS. Serial number shows it was produced in 1952. It is excellent condition for a 70 year old gun. Was wondering what type of box would it have been shipped in?

Thanks in advance and pictures of her not cleaned up yet

Kelly

 

[larryofcc]

I too have a 1952 22 Combat Masterpiece.
Gold box, if like mine, originally for a 6" K22, relabeled for a 4" Combat Masterpiece and numbered to my gun with grease pencil. Big Larry

 

[Model46]

My lovely Combat Masterpiece revolver from 1951. I've had this gun 40 years and it is the best handling, most well balanced gun I own.

 

[larryofcc]

My 22 Combat Masterpiece used to be my go to gun on my 4 wheeler. I found my 4 3/4" "Star" Ruger 22 to be more accurate, so I started to carry that. A little later, I bought a standard M&P 22 Semi Auto with a few extra mags, and that has been my 4 wheeler gun of choice for a couple years now. Carries a lot more ammo, and is deadly accurate. Don't have to worry about banging it into anything while riding. Big Larry

 

[bdGreen]

Was wondering what type of box would it have been shipped in?

I have never seen a dedicated box for the 5 screw Combat Masterpieces.

They used the K22 box of that period.

But, I haven't seen them all...

bdGreen

Tap on image to enlarge.

 

[RKmesa]

As usual - BdG nailed it - great photos, Bruce.

 

[Nightowl]

Mine is from 1954 and has the target hammer too. Maybe we can get some clarification from those who know about how common the target hammer is?

 

[Eltioloco]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=584639&stc=1&d=1658334584

My Combat Masterpiece is from 1957. A favorite pistol, quit using it because I hated see the holster wear increasing. Still shoot it from time to time but don't carry it anymore. My father bought it new in about 1960. They had it discounted to $50.00.
Ken

 

[Crew Leader]

Very Nice! Currently the safe is holding Dad's 1959, 18 no dash, another 18 no dash from an auction here and the 18-3 I bought while in the service. I have not yet found a pre 18 that could be bought right, but I will. They are some of the most balanced and well shooting 22's ever made. When cocking them, they sound like a swiss watch as opposed to the new ones that sound like rattling a dime in a beer can. Your pre 18 looks very nice. I am jealous! Shoot it and enjoy one of the finest 22's ever made! Sorry for ranting....If not mistaken, should have been the gold Combat Masterpiece box like the ones pictured in previous posts

 

[LPD256]

K162776 shipped in December 1952 one week before I was born. One of my favorites. Enjoy.

 

[glowe]

There are so many nuances for the late 1940s and 1950s Masterpiece boxes, I will show more images of labels, along with an altered 6" Masterpiece box. Some had interior liners to keep the gun in place in the box. Never documented if it was done at the factory or not. By the late 1940s, gold boxes were standard for all of the Masterpiece line. Both the K22 and K38 Combat Masterpiece revolvers were introduced in 1949. Model 15 and Model 18 were introduced in 1957 along with the blue box. It is reported that the first target hammer Masterpiece was shipped in February 1949.

If Masterpiece revolvers were ordered with Target stocks, they would not fit in the gold box, so some were placed in an Service Department plain N frame blue box. The Blue 2-piece box was available starting in 1957, while the Gold boxes ran through 1965 for some models.

I also added a 1952 catalog page for the Combat Masterpiece. Just download it and enlarge for an easier read.