S&W Mk 22 Mod 0 - Rebirth

[kwill1911]

Interesting project but it appears to me you've got a mix of good and bad information about the originals. Do you have the article Dockery did for The Small Arms Review in June 2002? What about Dwayne Charron's new book (discussed elsewhere on this forum)? Are you going to replicate the accessory kit with muzzle and breach plugs? I think I can help with some of this if you want to email me at kevin at kwill dot com.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

 

[dvelleux]

Kevin,

ANY and all help is appreciated. I emailed you...

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

My attention has now turned to the rear sight itself. While some online gun parts site may have these sights, I am not too throilled at our possibilities...

Any ideas? TIA...

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

I started talking with kwill, who is a WEALTH of knowledge. He brought up the point of the various plugs used with the Mk 22. I then thought about an A Zoom aluminum or a black plastic snap cap, which would then have to have a small, shallow slot milled into it to let a rubber O-ring sit properly in...

The question now becomes where can one find an item that can be used as a muzzle plug for the Mk 22 barrel and/or the chamber plug for the faux Mk 3 suppressor which will be made...

Inquiring minds want to know. TIA,,,

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

Again, based on input by kwill, I contacted S&W via email and they said one can order parts by calling 800-331-0852 ext.4125 directly. kwill stated the Third Generation rear sight for the 5906 is precisely the same sight and visual verification confirms that...

Additionally, please look at the attached image of an exact copy of an Mk 22 Mod 0 made for a retiring S&W employee, which now resides in the S&W Museum. If one looks VERY carefully at where the slide lock cut is, one can see the lock cut is just a simple triangular cut completely through the side of the slide, both left and right. And the slide lock is nothing but mostly straight cuts, so duplicating it should be simple, though I am going to REALLY think about whether the extended level on the left side should in fact be a second piece of steel to reduce manufacturing costs...

 

[grif684]

What exactly is the deal with the barrel bushing, it definately looks like it's either not present, or a type similar to the later fixed bushing is used....

 

[dvelleux]

grif,

In the image above, I am in aggreement the bushing is NOT there, hence there had to be something to both support the barrel at the muzzle and to restrain the recoil spring guide...

And I think I found out what it is by looking at an image of an airsoft copy. Look at the attached image. It appears the web of steel between the barrel opening and the recoil spring guide opening had a "figure eight"-like piece of steel silver soldered in place to both support the front of the barrel and to hold the recoil spring guide under tension...

And NOW I need to design yet another component...

 

[grif684]

The slide itself will capture the recoil spring (later model 39-2s anyway) but to me it does appear to be a smaller round pressed in bushing, like the third gens....

 

[dvelleux]

grif,

You are indeed correct for the recoil spring guide and spring that the slide itself will restrain/contain it all, so here's an idea to have the needed bushing without pressing one in place: Merely take a spare bushing, mill off the external portion of the bushing, insert said newly-milled bushing and turn it into its final position, then silver solder the thing in place. BINGO!!! That works perfectly!!!

 

[grif684]

There is just one issue with that, you won't be able to install or remove the barrel with the bushing permanently fixed. Later fixed bushing pistols have the barrel end relieved to accomadate this feature....

 

[dvelleux]

grif,

There is just one issue with that, you won't be able to install or remove the barrel with the bushing permanently fixed. Later fixed bushing pistols have the barrel end relieved to accomodate this feature....

*Tries this with a slide, barrel and bushing*

Point validated. I think the internal length of the bushing is what the issue is...

If the bushing was shortened from BOTH ends to just be a "nub" in the muzzle end of the slide to support the barrel, that should allow the extended barrel to be moved forward, then tilted up and out of the slide...

 

[grif684]

Took the shortened bushing out of my chopped 39, put it in a dash 2 slide, and was able to install three different dash 2 barrels, two of which are new and never used, with the bushing in place, looks like your theory is correct, it does work.....

 

[dvelleux]

grif,

That is GREAT news!!! Thank you for trying my theory out...

Next question for you: is the Mki 22 Mod 0's finish blued or a black parkerizing?

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

Based on a suggestion by kwill, I found the patent drawing from Dwayne Charron for the civilian version of the Hush Puppy's rear sight. It is interesting to note how S&W was able to take a few pieces of the Mk 22 Mod 0 program and bring them into product lines for themselves...

 

[Hankleton]

No-dash 39s were also used for early Mk22s.

The -2 engineering change happened in roughly 1971, but the Mk22 had been issued several years earlier.

Edit: In rereading your opening post, it appears that you're calling the models between the phase out of the steel frames and the 39-2 a 39-1. Most of the 39 no dash production was alloy framed. Steel frames weren't common. Don't equate the issues you're seeing in the steel frames with the alloy frames of the no-dash.

I suspect there was a bit of refitting applied to early pistols later, but the fact that teams were receiving 45 pistols in FY1968 suggests that for most of Vietnam, it was no-dash slides in the most part.

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

Thanks to the resourcefulness of kwill, I am presenting for your indulgence the patent drawings and documentation for the Mk 3 Mod 0 suppressor, the "can" used on the Mk 22 Mod 0...

I have already designed a faux can. I just have to reconfigure the front end to allow a lens cap to snap in place to simulate the watertight cover that suppressor had...

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

Quick update: I am about to start working on the most difficult part of the Hush Puppy system, the slide lock. It is a complex piece that has parts that operate on both side of the slide, PLUS it has to be able to hold the slide back...

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

NOTE: What I am about to write may be heresy to some and unsafe to others, but in the interests of full and complete accuracy and authenticity, I shall post this info. KIDS!!! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME UNLESS YOU ARE SUPERVISED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN!!! (Okay, legal disclaimer over...)

With the original Mk 22 Mod 0, the Navy had them modified to not have a magazine safety, nor would the slide mounted safety drop the hammer, while still protecting the firing pin. After speaking with a knowledgable expert, he told me the following to duplicate what the Navy had done:

1 - To disable the magazine disconnect, one must first remove the rear sight from the 39-2 slide, then remove the ejector depressor plunger and ejector depressor plunger spring, then reinstall the rear sight. The ejector has a spring under it to keep it in position for ejection...

2 - To allow for putting the pistol on safe while NOT dropping the hammer, please first look at the attached image. This is the sear release lever. The area highlighted in white must be removed. In operation, the top portion of the lever is pushed down by the safety and in turn pushes down the disconnector, disabling the trigger. The highlighted area pushes the sear away from the hammer, causing it to drop. So after removing this part from the frame, amputating the bottom "leg," then reinstalling it in the frame, the safety will work only on the firing pin to protect it and not drop the hammer...

For my Hush Puppy, I will be performing these two tasks, but I shall NOT state everyone should. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

More updates will follow shortly...

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

GREAT NEWS!!! Another member of this forum did the mod for the sear release lever on his 59. Guess what?

IT WORKED!!! Please review the attached image...

So while I will do this mod on my 39-2, I will again state doing this mod is up to an individual owner's discretion...but it DOES make things more authentic!!!

 

[dvelleux]

Folks,

I am PLEASED to report another success on the path to a Rebirth of the Mk 22 Mod 0!!!

Attached below is a dual side-by-side image of how a 39-2 slide looks once the front sight has been milled away and two small holes drilled for installing pins, which will mate with the new Hush Puppy extended height front sight, which is shown being in position prior to silver soldering...

Merry Christmas, y'all!!!