mec
January 1, 2004, 10:36 AM
Didnt want to completely hijack the guys thread so here:. Year before last, a friend went gun show shopping and found two k 22s. Gave one to me. It was made in 1947 and has pre-war features -such as the barrel cutout/large nob on the ejector rod. It had a bit of honest holster wear but was good overall and turned in some one inch and under 25 yard bench groups. The only problem was a reluctance to set off CCI cartridges when shooting double action. I determined to leave this gun as is because the only way I knew to have it refinished-restored and retain its value would be to have Hamilton Bowen do the work. This did not seem likely as Bowen does't do routine restorations and smith action work.
I did mention the problem to him while we were working on another project and he had me send it in for examination. The light double action strikes came from a combination of slight end float and probably a short firing pin. Bowen fixed this and by that time had more or less talked himself into restoring the finish. This is not one of his regular commercial services and he generally will not do it. He even says that there are other smiths better at Smith action Work and restoration than he is. This is the only thing I've ever known him to be wrong about.
http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/k22bowen.jpg
The end result appears to be a factory-new K22 the same age as it's present owner. It has the old 1/10" sight set up -which I believe went away forever in 1949. The trigger and hammer were re-cased by Trunbull restorations.
http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/k22hatsml.jpg
I did mention the problem to him while we were working on another project and he had me send it in for examination. The light double action strikes came from a combination of slight end float and probably a short firing pin. Bowen fixed this and by that time had more or less talked himself into restoring the finish. This is not one of his regular commercial services and he generally will not do it. He even says that there are other smiths better at Smith action Work and restoration than he is. This is the only thing I've ever known him to be wrong about.
http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/k22bowen.jpg
The end result appears to be a factory-new K22 the same age as it's present owner. It has the old 1/10" sight set up -which I believe went away forever in 1949. The trigger and hammer were re-cased by Trunbull restorations.
http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/k22hatsml.jpg