Saw a Bright blue single line k22 for sale !!

[Wyo]

I have a 4 digit K22 from Oct., 1947, one liner with the narrow rib and bright blue finish. No "B" stamped on the barrel flat and nothing under the grips that indicates return to the factory. There is one very small, light stamp that might be a B, but I can't tell for sure. Barrel, frame, cylinder and grips are all numbers correct. I suppose it's possible that it has been refinished but it sure doesn't look like it to me. It has some regular wear but markings are all clean and crisp. I see no sign of buffing. So I guess I'm confused now as I didn't realize this was all that unusual. Maybe I should get a letter?

 

[Truckman]

Now I have to go dig out my late 40's K-22's and look for B's on the barrel flats...Is my work here never done?......Ben

 

[Retired W4]

Now I have to go dig out my late 40's K-22's and look for B's on the barrel flats...Is my work here never done?......Ben

Careful my friend, less you be implicated as belonging to the lunatics' fringe.

 

[Truckman]

Careful my friend, less you be implicated as belonging to the lunatics' fringe.

I'll bring it up at the next board meeting...I'm the chairman you know......Ben

 

[redwagon32]

This is the first page of a thread I started on 6-20-10 about my bright blue Pre-17 which generated quite a discussion...you can find the thread under page 2 of my threads started.......


S&W PRE-17 BRIGHT BLUE FINISH(NEW INFO-12-28-16)
I have a 1948 pre-17 with the S&W bright blue finish. It came to me without a box and the factory letter merely says blue finish (although I didn't think at the time to ask specifically whether there was any mention of special order bright blue.) The 1951 Gun Digest is the earliest mention I know of for special order bright blue for a K22 at about 10% added cost. I am wondering how unusual bright blue is for a K22 of this era. How much might it add to the value of a 98% revolver over the standard matte blue? The gun shows no evidence of refinishing.

New Info as of 12-28-16
Thanks to Roy Jinks-I have new info on this revolver showing that it was special ordered in bright blue and with original target grips. He reissued a letter to me upon my written request and found the new info somewhere. I have attached a photo of the new letter and of the gun showing the almost mirror brightness of the finish(one shows the reflection of my camera). Unfortunately, by the time I acquired it, the original target grips were replaced with much later ones and I won't be able to see if the original target grips were serial numbered to the gun(unlikely) or if it was shipped in a slightly larger gold box to fit the target grips.

 

[Engine49guy]

Had a 4 screw 6" K22 Masterpiece years ago that had the "B" stamp in the barrel flat,
Iirc Lee said this indicated bright blue ( could be wrong it was like 15 years ago) but this doesn't make sense since the bright blue finish was standard by then.

On a side note I have never seen a wide rib K22 in satin blue, IIRC while they were advertised as early as 1950 the wide rib didn't ship until 54-55 when bright blue was standard.

Of course rule #1 with SW is there are no rules with SW, well...maybe one
There are no 5 screw Combat Magnums.

If someone has a satin wide rib K22 would love to see it to confirm it exists.

 

[Wyo]

Here are a few pics of my 1947 mentioned above. No "B" on the barrel flat though there is a B, I think, on the lower right grip frame. No other unusual markings that I can see. Finish is worn but markings are clean and crip. I can't see any signs of a refinish. If anyone has any thoughts on this one I'd love to hear them.

 

[Retired W4]

This is the first page of a thread I started on 6-20-10 about my bright blue Pre-17 which generated quite a discussion...you can find the thread under page 2 of my threads started.......


S&W PRE-17 BRIGHT BLUE FINISH(NEW INFO-12-28-16)
I have a 1948 pre-17 with the S&W bright blue finish. It came to me without a box and the factory letter merely says blue finish (although I didn't think at the time to ask specifically whether there was any mention of special order bright blue.) The 1951 Gun Digest is the earliest mention I know of for special order bright blue for a K22 at about 10% added cost. I am wondering how unusual bright blue is for a K22 of this era. How much might it add to the value of a 98% revolver over the standard matte blue? The gun shows no evidence of refinishing.

New Info as of 12-28-16
Thanks to Roy Jinks-I have new info on this revolver showing that it was special ordered in bright blue and with original target grips. He reissued a letter to me upon my written request and found the new info somewhere. I have attached a photo of the new letter and of the gun showing the almost mirror brightness of the finish(one shows the reflection of my camera). Unfortunately, by the time I acquired it, the original target grips were replaced with much later ones and I won't be able to see if the original target grips were serial numbered to the gun(unlikely) or if it was shipped in a slightly larger gold box to fit the target grips.

Your post has me thinking about my long held belief that target stocks did not appear until sometime in 1952. A post by Doc44 back in 2023 states the FIRST (emphasis mine) target stocks lettered to a revolver was shipped in November of 1951 to Mr. Kuhihoff of Argosy magazine.

 

[redwagon32]

Yes, Engine49guy said the same back in 2016....it certainly could be a mistake in the Roy Jinks letter, but I didn't ask Roy to check again after I had already gotten an addition/correction of the first letter.............

FROM THE ORIGINAL THREAD:
"Thanks for the update, interesting "One Liner" special ordered in Bright blue and shipped with factory target stocks on (6/9/48) too !
Too bad those stocks were lost as the early ones with the built in plastic adapter almost never pop up for sale

I would double check with Roy that your gun shipped with "Target stocks" or if he meant Walnut Magna stocks to be 100% certain ,
IIRC it pre dates the earliest gun we have seen with the target stock option by around a year."

 

[Retired W4]

The post from last year on the subject of targets. I know this is outside the discussion of bright Vs satin in the late 1940's but important in my mind.