Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG

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Due to my father-in-law’s recent passing, I am a new, uneducated gun owner. I have a Smith & Wesson 22 Long Rifle CTG revolver. I would appreciate any info I can get, especially its age. I tried to research it, but most of them I have seen online have a letter, usually K, preceding the serial number. Mine does not. The serial number is 276xxx. It is stamped in at least 3 places. Also, most 22 LR CTG’s seem to have a number on the butt of the handle. There is nothing on mine, as seen here. There is also a number on the frame that can be seen when the cylinder is swung out. It is:
A
51149
o

I was also wondering if this would be good for recreational target shooting.
Any info is greatly appreciated.
More pictures:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

SmithWesson2.jpg
 
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Hi, and welcome! You have a K-22 Target Masterpiece, built on the K or medium frame with a 6" barrel. The numbers and such on the frame under the barrel with the cylinder swung out are factory internal codes, not the serial number. If you remove the stocks by taking the screw off from the left side, you will find the true serial number. Many guns of this type came with smaller stocks and you could see the serial number with these on. We can help tell you when your gun was made with the SN, but from the hammer shape if original it looks to be from about the late 1940s. Hope this is helpful.
 
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You could not have a better family heirloom to continue the shooting tradition .
 
The shape of the hammer on your K22 Masterpiece suggests the gun was made before 1957 so it will likely not have a model number stamped on it.

The stocks are not correct period, being of post-1982 manufacture (but they are very pretty).

My condolences on your father in law's passing. You must have been a favorite son in law for him to want you to have what surely must have been one of his most prized handguns. The K22 is a classic in every sense of the word.

The serial will indeed have a K prefix.
 
Welcome to the forum and my condolences to your family.

It looks like he left you a wonderful old Smith for target shooting. I know you'll enjoy it.

The stocks, by the way, are beautiful. I had very simular ones on a Model 27-2 that I bought in 1978.
 
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I was also wondering if this would be good for recreational target shooting. (QUOTE)


Sorry to hear of the passing of your Father-in-law.

In my (and many others) opinion, you couldn't find a better firearm for recreational target shooting. After you get used to it you will be amazed at how accurate your K22 really is.

It's always a good idea to seek out some experienced help if you're not totally comfortable with the safety aspect of operating your "new" S&W.

Good Luck!
 
Like the others, I offer both condolences and a warm welcome to the forum.

Your gun probably dates from 1956. One of your photos shows that it uses an assembly process not involving an upper side plate screw; that screw was done away with in a 1955 engineering change. Also, I bet the 275xxx number IS the serial number, and the K will be found separated from it. If so, that is further evidence for 1956. A lot of K27xxxx guns shipped in that year. And as previously noted, the shape of the hammer indicates postwar manufacture before 1957.

Look at the back of the cylinder. You should see an isolated K between two charge holes, and then the 275xxx number just after the second hole. You should also see that number (with its preceding K) on the flat underside of the barrel when the cylinder is open, It will also be seen on the steel butt of the gun when the target stocks are removed.

The target stocks on your gun are not original, as someone pointed out. These are a later style with a speedloader cutout. But the gun previously had the earlier type of target stocks on it. You can deduce that from the curving grime lines above the right stock panel and on the left where the speedloader cutout is seen. You might look around the house to see if those older stocks are still there. They have some value in their own right.

The S&W K-frame .22s are regarded by many as the finest .22 revolvers ever made. You have inherited a classic that will be perfect for everything from target shooting to plinking to snake protection on field trips, if you live in a part of the world where field trips are possible. There are lots of K-22 fanciers on this forum (I am one) and some of us have more than one we like them so much.

An early word on ammunition. Not every brand of ammunition functions equally well in K-22 revolvers. Try several types, and just stop using the ones where the cases tend to stick in the cylinder and give you ejector problems.
 
Beautiful piece! And very much sought after. To answer your question, the K22 is, in my opinion, the absolute perfect "recreational target" gun.
 
That is a very nice K-22, you will be able to pass it on to your children...
 
I'm sorry for your loss and I want to tell you that you ended up with a very popular and fun classic S&W revolver.
 
Yes, there is indeed an isolated K. I missed that. I also removed the stocks. The K is there also. Thanks to everyone for the great replys and the kind words.
 
Welcome to the forum! I can think of no better way to introduce yourself than with pictures of a nice K-22. I'm sorry for your loss, but at the same time I want to congratulate you on the wonderful acquisition. The K-22 is THE best recreational revolver IMO. Fun and inexpensive to shoot, and with the right ammo more accurate than most other handguns. Enjoy it and make sure that when the time comes, it gets passed on to another family member, along with the verbal history, who will cherish it like you do.
 
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