Unexpected K-22

[mcb66]

I was not expecting to find one of these yesterday. This is a 1947 K-22 Masterpiece. It is in pretty decent shape. I just wish the previous owner had put a bit of oil on it sometime in the last 70 years. However, it cleaned up nicely and now has a nice healthy bit of oil on it. K 162xx serial number, with some mild but honest wear. There are some good ones still out there and yesterday was a pretty good day for S&W treasure hunting.
PS
I've noticed an uptick on classics in the local market. Oftentimes under priced. Keep your eyes open, they are out there!

 

[22hipower]

Nice, and with pre-war service stocks too.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[mcb66]

I just stacked 16 rounds into the same hole at 12ft single handed. I get it now, I now know why these things are sought after. Holy cow, what a piece of work. I am impressed.

 

[mcb66]

Nice, and with pre-war service stocks too.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

They are numbered to the gun. Pretty cool!

 

[22hipower]

They are numbered to the gun. Pretty cool!

Very, very cool. I wouldn't have expected that. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Engine49guy]

Nice one liner,
Has the then new knurled ejector rod end instead of the large barrel end style.
Hard to tell from your pictures but IIRC the supply of the old barrel ends ran out before the supply of barrels that were cut to clear them so wouldnt be surprised if your barrel has the cut.

If you are saying those pre war service grips originally came with that gun I would say no.

Of course rule #1 with S&W is that there are no rules with S&W so sometimes weird things happen like someone special ordered it with the pre war service stocks but again it's a pretty long shot to get there IMO.

 

[mcb66]

I stand corrected, I saw 5 digits on the grip and did not look close I guess. The tiny numbers are 80 a space and 3804 the 4 is very hard to see, even w magnification.

 

[JP@AK]

I stand corrected, I saw 5 digits on the grip and did not look close I guess. The tiny numbers are 80 a space and 3804 the 4 is very hard to see, even w magnification.

Those would originally have been on a postwar M&P, serial number SV803804. In that range, prewar style Magna stocks do show up on the M&Ps. I have found them as high as S818000, although they are scarce by that time.

 

[sodacan]

Here's another K-22 from 1947. This is earlier than the OP's gun with a 4 digit serial number and the large ejector rod knob.

 

[45NUTT]

Nice!! Here is mine. K35,XXX. I was told it was made 1948. It has suffered the indignity of a re-blue, but it shoots like a champ!

 

[Goony]

I'd conjecture that the stocks originally belonged to a .38 Military & Police bearing serial number 803804. My (limited) database shows 803782 as shipping in July of 1941.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

That is a nice k-22, and the grips surprise are even nicer.