This may be a simple question (or not), but when did S&W make the first K-22? Pretty sure that is not a model number, but rather a "class" of certain revolvers built on the K-Frame in the 22 caliber.
Question on K-22
- Thread starter Vettepartz
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Their first production K-22 was the Outdoorsman. I believe it came out in 1930-31.
S&W may have produced a few special order K frame .22’s earlier, but that’s beyond my knowledge.
S&W may have produced a few special order K frame .22’s earlier, but that’s beyond my knowledge.
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Messages
- 2,530
- Reaction score
- 14,732
"K-22 OD serial number 632230 was shipped in February 1931 one of the very early ones shipped. Hope that this helps. Roy"
A little sample.
enjoy,
bdGreen
A little sample.
enjoy,
bdGreen
BigBill
Absent Comrade
When was the k22 masterpiece target interduced.
Was there more k22 models besides the outdoorsman and the masterpiece target.?
Was there more k22 models besides the outdoorsman and the masterpiece target.?
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Messages
- 2,530
- Reaction score
- 14,732
The first K-22 Masterpiece was introduced in 1940. It is referred to as the K22-40, really.
They made 1067 of them before shutting production down for the war efforts. It was the one and only year of production for the K22-40 Masterpiece.The outdoorsman came first, then the K22-40 Masterpiece. After the war they brought out a newly engineered variation, but, it was still called the 'Masterpiece'.
bdGreen
BigBill
Absent Comrade
My k22 masterpiece target model is a 1948 post war.
The postwar K-22 Masterpiece was first made in 1946 (August 19). Very few (perhaps only 2) shipped that year. Full production started in December, 1946, and shipments began in earnest in 1947.
My earliest example left Springfield in December, 1947. Serial number is in the low K11000 range.
My earliest example left Springfield in December, 1947. Serial number is in the low K11000 range.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 1,395
- Reaction score
- 7,134
I have a K-22 Masterpiece #K10401 which shipped in December 1947.
Green Frog
Member
Apparently they were very popular almost from their introduction since many examples in the 60 and 70 thousand range are confirmed to have been sold during 1948. Of course this includes both K22s and K38s, but to crank out so many in the first couple of years of post War production shows they were in high demand.
Froggie
Froggie
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
There was a .22 magnum introduced in 1959, the M48. Even though it's after model numbers were assigned, it is still in the Catalog as the K-22 Masterpiece Magnum Rimfire. Discontinued in 1986, reintroduced in the Classic Series in 2010. A stainless version, the 648, had two production runs, 1989-1994 and 2003-2005.
S&W made the first of this "class" of certain revolvers in 1911, 1912 maybe---after their very likely efforts to sell 20 22/32 Heavy Frame Targets to a group of Army officers had been spurned. As reported by one Walter F. Roper, who had been given the one remaining example of the K frame .22 about 10 years later when he reported for work (along with the suggestion he might like to try it out to see why it didn't shoot well). (The other 19 guns had been destroyed following their return by the Army officers.) He was also told the guns didn't shoot well because of the very long jump that the bullet had to make before reaching the rifling----no doubt having also been told of the lesser jump the bullets had to make in the 22/32.
So Walter fiddled with it. He had a single shot made up with the same very long jump the bullet had to make before reaching the rifling. Sure enough, the accuracy was degraded---but not hardly to the point experienced with the K frame .22's made up for the Army---so Walter kept fiddling. One day, while cleaning his K frame .22, he noticed his cleaning rod was turning too fast. It turns out his K frame .22 was rifled with 1 turn in 10"----and Walter knew that wouldn't work worth a damn----seemed like pretty much everybody else knew it too----might just not have been paying much attention to it at the time.
Eleven years or so later, when the .22 Outdoorsman hit the streets, it was rifled with 1 turn in 15"-----that worked better----a lot better.
Ralph Tremaine
I am fortunate to own serial number K222 which was shipped in February 1947.
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Messages
- 2,530
- Reaction score
- 14,732
fleabus101
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I recently aquiered my exc all matching K22
masterpiece ser# K 14xx right before this past Christmas. I believe it may be in the early part of 1947 production. A Very nice example of post War K22 production. A kind fellow member helped me aquire a very nice condition
correct Gold Box for it early this year to keep it
in.. I really appreciate the cooperation we have
from our fellow members.
Best Randy..
masterpiece ser# K 14xx right before this past Christmas. I believe it may be in the early part of 1947 production. A Very nice example of post War K22 production. A kind fellow member helped me aquire a very nice condition
correct Gold Box for it early this year to keep it
in.. I really appreciate the cooperation we have
from our fellow members.
Best Randy..
Last edited:
