smith and wesson .22 cal. revolver
- Thread starter ford406go
- Start date
Double post
Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania.
That is quite an entrance you made with a three-digit K-22!
Here is a picture of mine, a five-digit from 1947:
That is quite an entrance you made with a three-digit K-22!
Here is a picture of mine, a five-digit from 1947:
Stranglehold
Member
Another example of a three digit K-22...
Roe
Roe
Apologies to Mr. Tremaine...............
As much as I wish rct269's statement were true and not to be argumentative, I know that all the K-3 digit numbers were not shipped in 1946, at one time I owned K-138 and remember it was shipped in 1947. There were quite a few others of the K-3 digit revolvers shipped in 1947. ford406go you have one of the more desirable K-22 revolvers as stated before and the shipping date for yours has not yet been confirmed as far as I know, sure hope it was one of the 1946 first year revolvers.
As much as I wish rct269's statement were true and not to be argumentative, I know that all the K-3 digit numbers were not shipped in 1946, at one time I owned K-138 and remember it was shipped in 1947. There were quite a few others of the K-3 digit revolvers shipped in 1947. ford406go you have one of the more desirable K-22 revolvers as stated before and the shipping date for yours has not yet been confirmed as far as I know, sure hope it was one of the 1946 first year revolvers.
I think that we pretty much know for sure that there were less than five K-22s out of the first 200 or so numbered guns that shipped in 1946 and they shipped in December 1946... the rest (including SN K-101) shipped in 1947. I would be very surprised if K36X shipped in 1946. Most likely early 1947. 
Get it lettered and let us K-22 fans know.
Get it lettered and let us K-22 fans know.
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Ralph Tremaine
Well, it took me a while; but it finally dawned on me you're talking about a serial number of K+3 digits---rather than my first impression. That being the case, yours is a 1946 gun. And if my recollection is correct, the earliest is also circa 1946---and is K101(??). (And that is correct, K101 through K614 in 1946.)
Ralph
Please check with Roy. K101 did not ship in 1946.
Well, it took me a while; but it finally dawned on me you're talking about a serial number of K+3 digits---rather than my first impression. That being the case, yours is a 1946 gun. And if my recollection is correct, the earliest is also circa 1946---and is K101(??). (And that is correct, K101 through K614 in 1946.)
Ralph
Please check with Roy. K101 did not ship in 1946.
Wow! really surprised at all the interest on this firearm. And i really do appreciate all the input...seriously ! Thank you! to all of you who have been informative with helping me to identify this firearm.
I think it must be clarified that a lot guns were manufactured in 1946 but shipped in 1947.
A lot of us go by the shipping date for our guns birthday as its the date that will be on the factory letter and it can be verified.
I prefer to go by the ship date as there seem to be many instances of guns made out of order.
One of the great things about joining the SWCA, is that you can go deeper into how the Company and factory operated and the nuances that arise.
Please consider joining,it can be very informative and there is a great bunch of guys willing to share what they picked up.
A lot of us go by the shipping date for our guns birthday as its the date that will be on the factory letter and it can be verified.
I prefer to go by the ship date as there seem to be many instances of guns made out of order.
One of the great things about joining the SWCA, is that you can go deeper into how the Company and factory operated and the nuances that arise.
Please consider joining,it can be very informative and there is a great bunch of guys willing to share what they picked up.
While I'm at it here...please check the wanted section as well. I'm looking for a pre model 27 83/8 in. that i owned in the early 80,s that was an inheritance. It was my grandfathers and I had to sell it to feed my kids..I would love to locate it and attempt to get it back. Please review that add and BOLO..thanks
Memphis
Member
I've got K498 in shooter grade condition. But that's actually what I like most about it. I can (and do) shoot it on a somewhat regular basis. It has number matching grips also. It's all original and not refinished or altered. Not much finish at all actually. Another thing I like about it is one of my friends sold it to me for $400. What part of Tn are you in?
Roger
Roger
Green Frog
Member
I'm a piker in this conversation... my K75xxx didn't ship until 1948! 
BUUUTT I'd be willing to bet there aren't many older or newer ones out there that get loved any more than mine! I've got a K-38 of the same vintage year and I really must fire up my Star Progressive and reload a few hundred wadcutters to give it the workout it so richly deserves. Now that 22 ammo is abundant once again, the idea of wasting range time at the reloading bench is getting less attractive!
Froggie
PS Congrats to the OP on that early K-22 and I hope you will get to enjoy it as much as I do mine.
BUUUTT I'd be willing to bet there aren't many older or newer ones out there that get loved any more than mine! I've got a K-38 of the same vintage year and I really must fire up my Star Progressive and reload a few hundred wadcutters to give it the workout it so richly deserves. Now that 22 ammo is abundant once again, the idea of wasting range time at the reloading bench is getting less attractive!
Froggie
PS Congrats to the OP on that early K-22 and I hope you will get to enjoy it as much as I do mine.
Here's one more three digit L.E.R.K. for this great thread
I am sorry to inform you that having put those non factory stocks
on that gun has totally destroyed the value. don't believe all these guys trying to pump up the value of their guns. yours is worth $250. but since i'm such a good guy, i'll give you $300.
Seriously, that is a beaut, and you can shoot it, your grandkids can shoot it and it will still grow in value. Congrats on a great acquisition.
on that gun has totally destroyed the value. don't believe all these guys trying to pump up the value of their guns. yours is worth $250. but since i'm such a good guy, i'll give you $300.
Seriously, that is a beaut, and you can shoot it, your grandkids can shoot it and it will still grow in value. Congrats on a great acquisition.
DWalt
Member
I believe the last known K-series revolver with the barrel-shaped extractor rod knob had a SN close to K5700 - although there are some lower SNs (down in the K46xx range) which have extractor rods with the newer knurled tip. So it's reasonable to assume that the transition from the barrel-shaped knob to the knurled rod tip occurred during the K46xx to K5700 SN range. The use of LERK as an acronym doesn't anger me, but it is too imprecise as it could apply to both the earliest mushroom-shaped knob and the 1927-47 barrel-shaped knob. And of course, the post-1946 rods have no knobs.
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