What Makes a "Good" K22 Collection?

[Engine49guy]

I read a post in a recent thread that made me think it might be useful to get some opinions regarding “what would “THE” definitive, K22 collection look like?”
….and so on (my interest in them ends with the end of 4-screw guns). These are the guns I would consider essential to a well represented collection of standard variants, without getting into the options like humpback hammers, non-standard grips, optional finishes, etc. Not to say that those options don’t appeal to me (they do) but my thinking is they are not “essential” to a representative collection. (For example, you could take the last 5 on that list and say, for example, “with target grips, target hammer, standard trigger” and you’re off to the races, maybe muddying up the water. I’ve been there.)

I’d like to hear what you think. What do you think is missing from this list?

All good advice here but being the only thing constant with S&W K-22's is change it really depends on how fine you set the microscope

By definition a K-22 would be any K frame in .22lr although some might argue it includes .22 WMR,
IMO its a different caliber and not about to open that can of worms....
If your focus is strictly 6" blue target site guns in .22lr I would amended as follows :

PRE WAR (1st Model)
K22 Outdoorsman, early 1 screw rear sight Gold FS bead
K22 Outdoorsman, 2 screw rear sight bright SS FS bead (S&W grip adapter sub option)
K22 Outdoorsman, Right side TM (Magna grips Humpback hammer sub options)

K22-40 Masterpiece (2nd Model) New rear site, short action.

POST WAR
K22 Masterpiece, Narrow rib, Large ejector rod knob, One line address
K22 3rd Model with standard ejector knob and one line address
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, plastic grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, steel grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, bright blue narrow rib barrel
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, bright blue, New wider barrel rib w/ square shoulder frame
K22 3rd Model pre-model marked, 4-screw
K22 Model 17 (“no dash”)
K22 Model 17-1
K22 Model 17-2 (diamond and non diamond grips)
K22 Model 17-3
K22 Model 17-4
K22 Model 17-5 HB,
K22 Model 17-6 Full underlug
K22 Model 17-7
K22 Model 17-8 PC Heritage Gun, No barrel rib , RB grip frame.

Stainless variants and 4" barrels would be included on my "Definitive" K22 list as well as a few 8 3/8" barrel lengths for good mesaure.

 

[crsides]

or one of these




Charlie

 

[crsides]

No Sir. I just did a quick search and could not find it. I can't remember who was selling it. If memory serves, it was not wooden. Well, it might have been but it was covered with something. It was a darker blue, had the S&W logo and a hook type clasp. I can't recall the interior either. A google search didn't do me any good either. For ever gone I suppose.

Nice Masterpiece by the way.
Bob[/QUOTE]

Oh yes, I think it was a salesman sample case put up by BDGreen back last summer. The pics are gone and no information left in the ad. It was a neat item and shoulda sold but looks like it did not.

Charlie

 

[hardscrabble]

All good advice here but being the only thing constant with S&W K-22's is change it really depends on how fine you set the microscope

Thanks, it was your post in the "value of a 4-digit K22" thread that got me started. I'm glad you brought up that narrow-rib/wide-rib bright blue" business, since I've never been able to find much information, and these "last of the 5-screws/first of the bright blue guns are very interesting to me. But still a mystery.

The only 1955 mfg. (per SCSW) (SN K241348) K22 I currently own is a 5-screw/bright blue/narrow rib gun. I was real excited to lay my hands on it, since it's in high condition on top of the fact that it's the only narrow rib example of a bright blue 5-screw I have seen, pictured or in person. In fact, I had formed an opinion that there wasn't any such thing until this one came along, due to the lack of any solid information I could lay my hands on. And I was (and had been) looking...hard.

This is the third gun I've owned in this 1955 SN range (bright blue 5-screws). The other two were wide-rib guns (long gone trying to upgrade). The SN of the closest (in number) to my current was K253530.

So I know these facts (with the standard "who knows for sure what they did" caveat):

The range of K-frame guns manufactured in 1955 is K231256 - K266164, approximately 35,000 revolvers which included, presumably, a fair number of K38's and (I wouldn't begin to speculate, but maybe) K32's.

My K241348 is a narrow-rib gun. This SN lies about a third of the way into the range.

My former K253530 is a wide-rib gun. That SN is about 2/3 through the range.

The answers to these questions might help me understand these changes a little better:

I think it unlikely that the factory ended the '54 range with a satin blue K frame and started the '55 range with a bright blue. Are there bright blue guns known within the '54 SN range (or satin guns in the '55 range)?

Anyone have a feel for the SN range of the bright blue guns with narrow ribs? Are guns known with the frame milled for a narrow rib, but with a wide rib barrel (or the other way around)?

Any feel for the relative numbers wide rib to narrow rib?

I'd appreciate any additional information at all on these guns. (Searches on the site don't turn up much at all.)

 

[RKmesa]

"...It was a darker blue, had the S&W logo and a hook type clasp." - Bob

...I think it was a salesman sample case... - Charlie

Here are a few quick cell photos of one that I own. Bob - is this what you are talking about?









They are a kind of "cool" accessory that most likely never housed guns that shipped from the factory. They are pretty heavy and are made out of some type of laminate or pressed board or particle board...

 

[THEMULE]

BOOM!
That's it! Memory did not serve me well."Hook type clasp". Yup, I should've bought it. Thank you Richard.
Bob

Here are a few quick cell photos of one that I own. Bob - is this what you are talking about?









They are a kind of "cool" accessory that most likely never housed guns that shipped from the factory. They are pretty heavy and are made out of some type of laminate or pressed board or particle board...

 

[rburg]

I love this thread. Almost so much that I consider breaking my ban on posting photos. One of the real advantages to being the collector is you get to decide what you want in your collection. And even then you get to change your criteria on a moments notice just because a new gun raises its head. I do disagree with a definition given above that it only includes 22 LR guns. Why no Jets? Those are just about as righteous as any of the newer ...junk.... And remember, Jets can be seen with their 22lr cylinder as often as not.

We also don't limit the numbers collected. About a decade ago I restricted the number to an even dozen. That allowed me to dump two dozen others on the market. Who knew I would have so much trouble finding decent examples? It seems to me K22s are getting harder to locate these days. There was a time when finances were the limiting factor. I don't know when the last great boxed example came into my view. Been a long time. Just yesterday I walked an entire gun show, such as it was, without seeing a single one.

At some point we stop adding on new variants and concentrate on replacing some of the guns we have with better ones. I have a very limited number of engraved K22s. Not because I want it that way, but because I just don't see the good ones these days. Its harder to put together a great collection than it was pre-recession. It won't just cost more money, but just finding them is really hard.

 

[boykinlp]

I love this thread. Almost so much that I consider breaking my ban on posting photos.

Now what if everyone had a ban on posting photos! How boring would this forum be? BREAK IT, POST 'EM UP!!!

 

[RKmesa]

Somehow, I drifted back to this thread 6+ years later. I've still been trying to discover how many and what guns it takes to make a "good K-22 collection". I'm not there yet, but I am getting closer...

Pre-war only ...






... and here with their post war compatriots:





... and some separate photos of one of my new favorites, that did not make it into the above photos:





Thanks for letting me share,

 

[S&W ucla]

Is that all you got? Stainless 617s? Locks? I think the pre-war King Super Target with Ropers gets my vote. Your latest engraved 18 a close second. WOW! Impressive collection!

 

[Speedo2]

For some reason, when I see photos of RKmesa's K22 collection, I get a flash-back of Wayne and Garth genuflecting in front of Alice Cooper, uttering "I'm not worthy" many, many times.

Outstanding collection. Hopefully Charlotte bound this spring?

Thanks for resurrecting this wonderful thread. -S2

 

[Gary Hogstrom]

WOW! Every time Richard posts picture's I am more and more blown away!

 

[Hair Trigger]

I read a post in a recent thread that made me think it might be useful to get some opinions regarding “what would “THE” definitive, K22 collection look like?”

I have had this in mind:

K22 1st Model, early with left side trademark
K22 1st Model, latter example with side plate trademark

K22 2nd Model

K22 3rd Model with large ejector rod knob
K22 3rd Model with standard ejector knob and one line address
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, plastic grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, satin, four line address, steel grip medallions
K22 3rd Model 5-screw, bright blue
K22 3rd Model pre-model marked, 4-screw
K22 Model 17 (“no dash”)
K22 Model 17-1

….and so on (my interest in them ends with the end of 4-screw guns). These are the guns I would consider essential to a well represented collection of standard variants, without getting into the options like humpback hammers, non-standard grips, optional finishes, etc. Not to say that those options don’t appeal to me (they do) but my thinking is they are not “essential” to a representative collection. (For example, you could take the last 5 on that list and say, for example, “with target grips, target hammer, standard trigger” and you’re off to the races, maybe muddying up the water. I’ve been there.)

I’d like to hear what you think. What do you think is missing from this list?

Repeat the above for the M18, and again for the M48, since they are K-22 Masterpieces, too.

 

[MrG5122]

Greatest thread ever!

 

[Flygas]

So Richard (RKMesa) writes “I would say that no one has compiled "The definitive K-22 collection". Then he posts photos to disprove that statement. I think it’s pretty clear the “Definitive K-22 collection” exists and it resides in Arizona. Thanks for sharing, Richard!

 

[Modified]

... and here with their post war compatriots:

is all I can think of when I see your amazing pictures.

Speaking of which, your staggering collection speaks for itself, but getting these pictures? That's a real trick!

 

[Truckman]

is all I can think of when I see your amazing pictures.

I'm just as speechless and overwhelmed every time......Ben

 

[turnerriver]

SWCA plug- if you’re a member and come to the annual Symposium you can meet RKmesa and talk to him. I can attest that you’d like that.

Regards,

 

[PALADIN85020]

I agree that a Model 48 should be added to the list.

John

 

[GSP Fan]

My extremely meager collection if you can even call it that comprises a pre M17 and two others, a pre M18, a NIB M18 and a 4 screw shooter along with a M48.
This thread proves one thing above all else. You can't have to many K 22's