The only one - A 4" K-22 target revolver Stainless steel Model 65

[mikepriwer]

In 1971, there was factory interest in a stainless steel version of the Model 18, a 4" K-22 target revolver. Initially, 17 revolvers were built, and model-stamped as Model 65. The first two two pictures are both sides of the gun.





The next picture shows the model number stamped in the yoke area of the frame.



The last two pictures are the factory letter.






The letter explains that this gun is an original model 65, as opposed to the later model 65 for the Oklahoma State police that is chambered in 357 and has fixed sights. No further guns like this one were ever built, and in 1978, the other 16 guns were destroyed. This is the only remaining example of an original model 65.

It's worth noting that this gun has had only 4 owners: Roy Jinks, Bill Orr, Wayne Betz, and myself.

(By it's date of manufacture, this thread probably belongs in the 1961 to 1980 section of this forum. 99% of my collection has always been prior to 1961, and so my loyalty is in the 1896 - 1961 section of the forum!)


Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Bullet Bob]

That's the neatest thing I'll see today. Thank you.

 

[steelslaver]

Thanks, I learned something interesting today.

 

[GF]

Looks like the Ashland Shooting Supply model 617s.
Nice revolver that they should of made as a production gun.

 

[mikepriwer]

GF

Looks like, but there is a key difference - this is a 4" barrel, and the 617 is 6". That is actually the difference between a Combat K-frame, and a Masterpiece K-frame.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Retired W4]

That's the neatest thing I'll see today. Thank you.

Yea, all month Bob.

 

[GaryinOKC]

That is very neat.
Wonder why they didnt produce them?

 

[Truckman]

Wonder why they didnt produce them?

We may wonder that point from now on......Ben

 

[chris66]

Awesome, never knew about them before.

 

[Papa Lee]

Now I understand.

 

[Engine49guy]

Very nice and super rare K22 !

I remember hearing that this rare specimen existed sometime about 16 years ago , also heard a very small amount of stainless
Model marked 15 (-2?) existed as well that were built for some small island PD IIRC.

The original Ashland Model 617 without underlug was produced in 4" as well as 6" lengths but the key difference is that the 617 like the
17-5 had wide rib heavy barrel profiles like the Heavy Masterpiece Model 14 line.

This Stainless copy of the 18-3 has the narrow rib tapered barrel and notched frame topstrap like the early post war 6" K-22 that was produced from 1946 to 1954 until supplanted by the weight matched version in 1955, the narrow rib profile continued on the Model 18 line up until the
18-4 ( not including the retro 18 classic that was offered for a short time with iL sometime later ).

 

[cgt4570]

There's scarce, rare, and one of one! I have a few of 1,000, a few of a few hundred. Probably even some that are one of less than a hundred. I one of one is the ultimate!

 

[Bald1]

I wonder what the value of 1 of 1 is ? Especially in a useful caliber. But then the question is. Do you shoot it ?

 

[Minshooter]

That is very neat.
Wonder why they didnt produce them?

An even bigger wonder is why they destroyed the other 16.
(Had some other words included, but deleted them in keeping with the dignity of this forum).

 

[glenwolde]

An even bigger wonder is why they destroyed the other 16.
(Had some other words included, but deleted them in keeping with the dignity of this forum).

Exactly. I mean usually we think they hate to waste parts. This has me wondering what else they've destroyed?

 

[sophie]

Thanks for sharing this gun and information on this original Model 65. Very good article and pictures.

 

[BarryinIN]

Thank you for sharing that. I am enlightened and awestruck.

From the letter:
“The market survey indicated that there was not a largest (sic) enough market to warrant production of this model.”

That was a poorly done market survey.

 

[Muley Gil]

Thank you for sharing that. I am enlightened and awestruck.

I also wish they had produced them, and would love to know why not.

It says right there in Dr. Roy's letter that S&W didn't think there was enough demand for a stainless K frame .22 rimfire revolver.

The bottom line is ALWAYS money.

 

[BarryinIN]

It says right there in Dr. Roy's letter that S&W didn't think there was enough demand for a stainless K frame .22 rimfire revolver.

The bottom line is ALWAYS money.

I found that in re-reading and edited my reply. I think that explanation is even more bewildering.

 

[Muley Gil]

I found that in re-reading and edited my reply. I think that explanation is even more bewildering.

That market survey was done over 50 years ago. These were only a few stainless steel handguns available back then and they were marketed towards law enforcement. Most folks preferred blue steel back then.