Was there a 4 inch barrel 5 Screw K22?

[Bullseye1911]

Did Smith ever make a 5 screw K22 with a 4 inch barrel?

 

[murphydog]

Yes, the K-22 Combat Masterpiece, from 1948-1955.

 

[tjsguns]

Here's an example I purchased at the recent Tulsa Gun Show:

 

[mikepriwer]

Here is another 4" K-22, along with a 4" K-32, both 5-screw frames.
I particularly like the front sight on this K-22 :

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Art Doc]

Never heard of one...

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Correct me, but I recall the 4" was called the "Combat Masterpiece"
and the 6" was the "K-22"?
Jimmy

 

[s&wchad]

Never heard of one...

Neither have I.

 

[BlackAgnes]

I've heard of three...!

Tim

 

[Art Doc]

jj- Technically any 22 caliber K frame is a K22 and many folks use it regularly when discussing the 22 Combat Masterpiece and later Model 18. However, the term is mostly used to refer to the Masterpiece and later Model 17. If I hear someone say K22 I picture the Model 17 in my mind but it would not be incorrect to be referencing the Model 18.

 

[bdGreen]

Technically any 22 caliber K frame is a K22

Does my Model 45 fall into that category?

bdGreen

 

[mikepriwer]

BD

Well - to the extent that a K-22 is any K-frame chambered in 22 caliber, then Yes !

This same argument is relevant to the very early ( 1910-ish) 32/20's
that were chambered in 32 long. Are they K-32's ?

Roy thinks they are, and so do I. Others disagree.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[bimmer*tr]

K22 or Pre 18?

5 Screw K22 with patridge sights...or is it a pre 18? One of these days I need to send for a letter to settle the issue...

Bimmer

 

[mikepriwer]

Bimmer

You should get a letter on this gun, to see how it was shipped .

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Bullseye1911]

Thanks Guys for the pictures.

So some of the pre-model numbered 4 inch guns came with patridge front sights and some came with the ramped combat sight.

I've heard of Model 17s with 4 inch barrels yet I thought the 17 always had a patridge sight and the 18 had the ramp sight.

I need a decoder ring for all the Smith and Wessons.

 

[Art Doc]

I'm not sure any 4" guns CAME with Patridge sights. Often a sign of a cut-down 6" barrel. Maybe a handful on special order...

 

[Engine49guy]

I have heard of 4" model 17's,
Is the only difference between a model 17 and a model 18 the front sight style?
Therefore a "Pre" number system 4" barrel K22 with a partridge front sight then would be a 4" Target Masterpiece (pre model 17)?

 

[tjsguns]

I thought at first that these 4" Patridge front sighted and gold call bead guns were cut down 6" barrels too.
However, there just seems to be too many really nice one's out there with proper barrel address locations, other markings and parts (i.e. the sight pins) to be just cut down barrels.
I'm now convinced that these are legitiamte 4" K-22's and the ramp sighted guns are K-22 Combat Masterpieces or "Pre-18's"
Agree? Disagree??

 

[FishKepr]

Bumping this thread…
I’m considering a 4” 5-screw K22 that has a matte blue finish. Did they ever come from the factory like that? I thought it must have been refinished at some point, but thought to confirm here.

EDIT: Finish looks just like the one that S&WChad posted above.

 

[Retired W4]

The early post war K22 CM's were that satin finish

 

[JP@AK]

Correct me, but I recall the 4" was called the "Combat Masterpiece"
and the 6" was the "K-22"?

Let me say to begin with that what I'm writing below applies only to the period from the end of WWII until model numbers started appearing in 1958 (earlier, if we are limiting the discussion to the 5 screw period).

It really comes down to whether you are talking about the production process on the K models or what they were officially called when sold. The catalogs, All Model Circular and box labels never designated the Combat Masterpiece as a K-22 or K-38. They were simply the Combat Masterpiece in either .22 or .38. "K-22" and "K-38" were used in those three contexts only for the longer barrel cousin (K-22 Masterpiece and K-38 Masterpiece).

Mike wrote:
"Well - to the extent that a K-22 is any K-frame chambered in 22 caliber, then Yes!"
The way Mike stated it, I agree with him.
But by this measure, the .38 Military & Police was a "K-38" also. And it seems that in some company internal communications they were considered just that. But at no point were they offered to the public using that nomenclature.