Value advice on a possibly unfired 3 digit K-22 Masterpiece

[glowe]

If it is truly unfired, in the original box with tools, numbered to the gun grips, I would give it a $2000 value.

Obviously, you can not state that the gun is unfired, so I would not give any value to NIB. It is in great condition, but I see what looks like some wear or touch-up at the muzzle and a slight groove under some blue touch-up around the cylinder. Also has wear on the extractor rod, so I would say that the gun has almost certainly been shot some, maybe quite a bit. Remember, this is a target gun, so a large percentage of these revolvers are in great shape for their age. They mostly go from the gun case to the range and home for a thorough cleaning and back in the safe. The value here is the fact that you have a scarce large extractor rod knob with a single line MADE IN USA. There are also those who will pay extra for low serial numbers. I think you have a K-22 that is worth $1000+/-. The serial number, however, could push that price if you get multiple bidders in an auction bidding against each other.

 

[glowe]

Here is the SAT details for the tools that were around your era revolver. No black oxide or aluminum when your gun was made. If your handle is magnetic, it would be steel with nickel finish and appropriate for a 1946 gun box.

1940-1948: Nickel plated steel knurled handle with (9) bands of knurling, blued shaft and long tapered blade.

1947-1958: Blued steel knurled handle with (8) or (9) bands or knurling, black oxide shaft and long tapered blade. ***

1956-1960: Aluminum knurled handle with (8) or (9) bands of knurling, black oxide shaft and long tapered blade.

 

[JP@AK]

That's great, Gary.
Now if someone could provide similar information for the cleaning rod, we'd be set!
I've asked this before and no one replies. Maybe that information is lost forever . . .

 

[sethconnor]

Yes. And yours has definitely been fired.

Look at the ejector rod. It is a lighter color than the rest of the revolver, as a consequence of it being pushed many times. I doubt somebody sat around pushing the ejector rod. Almost certainly, the bluing loss is from ejecting the spent cartridge cases. The ejector life started life the same color as the rest of the blued gun.

Next, take a look at the checkering on the stocks. The point are no longer sharp. The points on the front bottom of the left and right panels are less sharp than higher-up points, as the most pressure (and wear) is applied to the front bottom approximately 20% of each panel.

Opening up the cylinder and looking at the blast plate, and the wear thereon helps determine the amount the revolver has been fired.

While the revolver is in extremely high condition, it has absolutely, positively been fired plenty, then well cleaned.

"Unfired post-factory" is a much abused term.

I very much appreciate you assessment. I will post a few better photos of the forcing cone, cylinder and grips. Grips may have some fuzz on them from my wiping the gun down with micro fiber. Didn't mean to overrate it, just haven't seen any 3 digit k22s that seemed as good as this one but I am sure they are out there. If I ever sell it I would list it as no better than excellent condition and leave it at that because it is obvious it has been used/fired.

POSTED ADD'L PHOTOS: FORCING CONES AND GRIP. Grip checking seems very sharp to me and actually makes it difficult to wipe gun down without getting fuzz caught in high points.


Thanks, Patrick

 

[sethconnor]

Here is the SAT details for the tools that were around your era revolver. No black oxide or aluminum when your gun was made. If your handle is magnetic, it would be steel with nickel finish and appropriate for a 1946 gun box.

1940-1948: Nickel plated steel knurled handle with (9) bands of knurling, blued shaft and long tapered blade.

1947-1958: Blued steel knurled handle with (8) or (9) bands or knurling, black oxide shaft and long tapered blade. ***

1956-1960: Aluminum knurled handle with (8) or (9) bands of knurling, black oxide shaft and long tapered blade.

Thanks Gary! Gun may be used/fired but the nickel handled SAT is very much perfect with no wear.

Take care, Patrick

 

[rburg]

Just stop listening to those who wish to run your gun down. Yes, we can all see the ejector rod wear. Its still a very desirable gun. No reason to play up the serial number. Being 3 digits is enough. The ones where 3 adds even more value are Drews K117. Yours is good enough. It speaks for itself. I juist go home from the gunshow. K22 Outdoorsman were priced in the $3000 and up range. Consider a fair value on yours to be $2000 up to $3000. If someone wishes to steal it for less, thank them and smile. Its just a very nice gun. And its all yours.

 

[glowe]

Patrick, don't get me wrong, this is a very nice K22 Masterpiece. It is the details that can get you in trouble when trying to sell a gun and the more accurate and conservative the seller is in their appraisal, the happier the buyer will be when they receive their winnings. I would recommend that you have someone well qualified determine percent of finish, as it can make a big difference in value. I see what I would call 98% original, which would rate excellent in Supica's book. If perfect, it would rate NIB or ANIB and the value could be 25% or more higher. The soft issue here is that you have a box and its contents, which would sell for more in pieces than as an accessory to the gun. Hints is selling for almost $100 if perfect condition. Box is going for $200 or more in that condition. SAT is probably above $200 now and the cleaning rod might bring $50. If you would sell these accessories separately, you could see over $500. I bet selling with the gun will reduce that by as much as half. Bottom line is everything is dependent on the appetite of the bidders on the day this gun sells. I have bought guns for a great bargain one day and paid too much at the next at auction.

BTW, does the box have a serial number on the bottom?

 

[glowe]

Just stop listening to those who wish to run your gun down . . .

Dick, I take exception to your statement. I do not believe anyone here is "running down" the OPs gun. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I respect any and all members who have expressed their thoughts. I think your price is an obtainable number, but have not seen that high a sale in the last few months watching auctions. I make a hobby of watching C&R S&W revolvers at auction and try hard to keep up with the current numbers. I just checked and currently have 11 - K22s on various auction watch lists and have watched a couple dozen sell in the last couple of months for much less. The average selling price today for K-22s that I have watched is around $650. Highest price in was $890 with a box, no tools, and 98% condition. Now I can guarentee that I never find them all.

The unanswerable question here is the value adder for a 3 digit gun. If the right bidder mix is in the audience at a good auction house, price will go up, maybe way up, as I said in my post, but is that representative of the average value?

As for this gun, 2 pictures are nowhere enough for anyone to give a perfect assessment. Everyone will focus on what they can see, but only an in-hand appraisal will yield what we are looking at. My opinion is that the gun has been touched up and I can not tell how much. Nice gun, great if the box matches the gun, but we do not know that. I stand by my 98% and it may be lower, but I do not think any higher. I want the OP to understand that stating "unfired" can get any seller in trouble quickly, so look hard.

 

[sethconnor]

Thank you...additional pictures have been posted of grips and forcing cone. Also, box appears original with matching K86X serial number written in what looks like a crayon or grease pencil on bottom corner.

 

[sethconnor]

Thanks so much for your comments

 

[sethconnor]

Additional photos

Some additional photos of the k22 3digit in better light...both grips have checkering that is sharp and crisp but my photography is usually not

 

[410bore]

I have a lnib 99% 4 digit K22 and I wouldnt sell mine for $2,000.00. Your gun, with the 3 digit serial number and all docs and tools should be worth around $3,000

 

[sethconnor]

Thanks for the reply and advice

410...I very much appreciate your insight. I know its not a new gun but its as close as I think I will ever find on a 3 digit. Full serial is K 868 as shown in photo...I think I am going to get this one lettered by S&W just to see when and where it shipped.


Thanks and have a great evening!

Patrick

 

[1Aspenhill]

Dick is correct. I have seen recently a LERK that was for sale above $3000, so do your homework and research. Nice gun!
Bill

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[sethconnor]

Thanks for the reply and advice Bill

I appreciate your insight on the matter!

 

[Engine49guy]

Seth the extra pics of your high condition early post war 3 digit K22 do help alot but I would suggest taking better pics using either a light box or direct (or indirect) sunlight not only to remove any condition doubts but also to bring the best return on your sale when you do list it especially incuding some pics of the recoil shield and cylinder face , Not only as those are important for any K22 sale but to satisfy my curiosity ha ha....JK

On a side note a factory letter costs $50 but you will get that back in your sale IMO,

Lastly while some K22 collectors do covet low 3 digit serial numbers bear in mind that ship dates take precedence on age and quite a few "low" 3 digit K22's shipped much later than some that serial hundreds of digits higher making the factory letter that much more important for your gun.

Not taking anything away from your 3 digit K22 just want to make sure you are aware that S&W's were not made one by one then serialed and shipped in numerical order , Rather the actual revolvers were made in large batches (not in order) then stored in a vault then shipped by what was convenient to grab out of the vault to fill orders at that time.

Great gun and great thread ; )

 

[JSR III]

Trying to establish watermark prices for individual guns is very difficult. As others have stated it really depends on how many folks are looking when you decide to sell. The gun pictured in my avatar is an Outdoorsman that I acquired with box but no tools or paperwork. I paid around $2,500 in an auction which was about $500 over my cut off price. Obviously, I got caught up in the whole auction frenzy and just wasn't going to be outbid. I had also recently lost a very nice .22/32 in an auction and was probably pumped by that loss.

Is a first year Outdoorsman worth more than a three digit K-22 Masterpiece? I would think so but then how do you explain the auctions that were posted about with guns going for $3,000 or $5,000.

It all boils down to whether the right buyer is out there at the time that you are selling and whether he or she has deep enough pockets. Certainly the more potential buyers, the higher the price. Having the complete package also appeals to a lot of buyers.

Personally, I would set a top price of around $2,000 for a complete package K-22 Masterpiece with either a 1, 2 or 3 digit serial number. But thats just me...

 

[1blindref]

Another good way to try to see how much a gun might sell for is searching Gun Broker completed auctions of guns similar to the one you are selling. It's important to look at guns that actually sold, not at what sellers are have as an opening bid. Penny / no reserve auctions are the best ones to look at. It's not the end all for placing value since much depends on how many motivated buyers thee are, but it should give you an idea.

 

[sethconnor]

3 digit on "Gun Auction"

Just noticed a k-22 3 digit on Gun Auction bid up to $920 with 3 plus hours left. Gun is a 60%-65% condition example with a decent non-matching # box. Will be interesting to see where auction ends. Not really comparable to mine from a condition standpoint but should provide a baseline for 3 digit premium vs comparable condition k-22 of the era.

Thanks again everyone for your great advice and comments!

Patrick

 

[ben_g1]

auction is over

Yes, but we're not allowed to post links to live auction. Just search for LERK.

Smith Wesson Pre-Mod 17 Rare LERK K-22 NO RESERVE : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

This will answer a lot of questions about worth, or raise some more .