There seems to be a lot of 1948 K22's

[Combat]

It appears that several members here have 1948 dated K22's.Looks like they really made a bunch that year,or they were really popular sellers.This is a pic of mine,lets see yours.SN.K551xx.

 

[klondike]

Mine is k44273 which places it also in 1948. It isn't pretty but it gets used every time that I go to the range. Beautiful shooter.

 

[DCWilson]

K14784, shipped January 1948. I've shown this before, but in honor of what promises to be a group thread of a bunch of great guns, I'll put this up again.

 

[hsguy]

The top two guns in this photo are K-22's frome 1948. One is a single line and the other a 4 line model. The single line gun came with the original numbered box that is marked on the bottom "Brite" which I assume is the polished blue. It also had a Nickel plated screwdriver. The bottom gun is a K-38. Sorry fotr the lousy picture. John

 

[gunlovingirl]

#184XX, shipped March 1948.

 

[linde]

I hope it won't offend anyone if I include s/n 104XX shipped in December 1947. After all, it could have been very late in December when it shipped . . . and didn't arrive until January 1948!

Thanks, Russ

 

[phenson]

This has been on other threads, but this is looking like a promising thread indeed. My 1948 shooter.

 

[au2183]

Mind if I play? Here's my 1948:

 

[153]

I hope it won't offend anyone if I include s/n 104XX shipped in December 1947. After all, it could have been very late in December when it shipped . . . and didn't arrive until January 1948!

Thanks, Russ

Don't feel too bad Russ, Mine is a 104XX too!

 

[mikepriwer]

There is a good reason for the number of 1948 K-22's . They were the
first guns made after the post-WW2 redesign. I think also that there
was no shortage of .38 caliber revolvers, given all the S-series
gun that sold immediately after the war. The 22's, however, hadn't
been made since last 1940 or so, and there must have been a big
pent-up demand for them

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[j38]

And, one more. This one shipped in June of 1948. Ser. No. K305xx.

Jerry

 

[jmark1651]

I think you are absolutely correct Mike. I have one lettered as shipped in November of 1948,sorry no pictures, and have seen numerous others that year. I believe people were anxious for them and a large number were produced. It is truly a great revolver and fun to shoot. Mark McCarverSWCA1563

 

[wraco]

Here's two, K-22's that I have.

First one is a one-line gun with the large end on the extractor rod with the flat notch in the barrel underside. ~ Serial number 4032 ~

Second one is ~ serial number 216223 ~

Regards:
Rod

 

[minuteman]

K-22

Here's mine. I got it with the black screwdriver, rod, numbered box. I added the Helpful Hints. All numbers match including grips . I believe that serial number puts it in 1948.

 

[Jolly Bill]

K22

Here's another one: K13228 that I bought from the original owner who bought it new on January 20, 1948. Picture of gun and receipt below.

Jolly

 

[Cyrano]

Does anyone know when S&W went from the one-line to the four-line inscription?

 

[DCWilson]

Does anyone know when S&W went from the one-line to the four-line inscription?

Just on the evidence of this thread, it had to be between roughly K19000 and K30000. I have a ghost memory of hearing that the switchover occurs around K22000, but I don't know if that is accurate. In any event, some guns shipping by mid-1948 had four lines. But remember that the company did not necessarily ship in S/N order, so some guns shipped later might be one-liners.

 

[Cobroller]

BOD--First half of the last century.

I firmly believe that all things made in 1948 are of the highest quality and should be treated with respect.

 

[gametime]

Here's K49315... a great shooter!

Regards,
Manuel

 

[jimgoldth]

It appears that several members here have 1948 dated K22's.Looks like they really made a bunch that year,or they were really popular sellers. QUOTE]

The book "Images of America SMITH & WESSON" by Roy Jinks and Sandra Krein cover shows a lot of K 22s from this era any way. Inside the book the same picture is misidentified as 1944 Victory models but of course they are K Masterpieces at least. There over 50 in the picture and who knows how many outside the picture.