There were many different front sight blades offered by S&W as factory options throught the '30s and 40s. King, Sheard, Paine, Call, McGivern, Lyman, just to name a few. It is very possible that your Sheard Gold Bead front sight came on the gun right out of the factory. At any rate, I am glad to see you went ahead with the purchase. You will enjoy shooting and admiring that revolver.
1934 K22 Outdoorsman experience
- Thread starter Master Blaster
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Master Blaster
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Interesting thanks for posting all your pictures. I see that at least one of the Outdoorsman pictured has a matt finish instead of the high polish blue finish. Only 1 of my K22 revolvers has a Matt blue finish which is slightly brown. It seems that the matt finished guns are less common than high polish blue.
TTv2
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The price of used guns I normally buy doesn't go over $400 usually and of all the used guns I've bought (all via gunbroker) only two have had issues. One was an H&R 732 that had timing issues and was returned, the other was a Uberti pocket percussion revolver that had a badly pitted bore and the seller refused to refund me. That wasn't a total loss, I chopped the barrel down to snub length so I don't care how accurate it is anymore and I can swap the barrel for a brand new one.
A S&W that's 80 years old and likely costs a lot more than $400 isn't worth rolling the dice on. I personally don't like buying any rimfire gun that's pre-owned as I have no idea how many times it's been dry fired.
A S&W that's 80 years old and likely costs a lot more than $400 isn't worth rolling the dice on. I personally don't like buying any rimfire gun that's pre-owned as I have no idea how many times it's been dry fired.
Tallball
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The OP may end up as spoiled as I got.
Mine K22 isn't as nice-looking, but after I got it, I ended up getting rid of all of my other 22 revolvers except one. I found that I just didn't care about shooting them anymore. The only one I kept was the Single Six.
Yeah, it totally spoiled me.
Mine K22 isn't as nice-looking, but after I got it, I ended up getting rid of all of my other 22 revolvers except one. I found that I just didn't care about shooting them anymore. The only one I kept was the Single Six.
Yeah, it totally spoiled me.
The S&W K-22 Outdoorsman was made from 1931 to 1940, and came with either a gloss blue or nickel finish. In 1940, the gun was changed to a "short action" and the Micrometer rear sight was added. This version was then called the K-22 Masterpiece. There were only about 1000 of these made before all production was changed for the war effort. They are, obviously, quite rare and worth a good deal of money. After WWII, when civilian production was resumed, a rib was added to the barrel and the "standard" (matte) blue was most commonly seen. At some point in the mid-50s, the finish was again changed to a polished blue, although this was not the earlier "high polish blue" as found on the Outdoorsman. Then in 1958, the K-22 Masterpiece became the Model 17, but was still referred to as the K-22 Masterpiece. To the best of my knowledge, there was never an Outdoorsman with a matte finish.
The picture below is not the best, but it helps to show the difference in finishes. Top - Outdoorsman (1939), Middle - Masterpiece (1953), Bottom - 17-4 (1980).
That is a reasonable rule of thumb. I exceeded that limit one particular time - I engaged in a minor bidding war in the course of my pursuit of my first K22. I wanted one of the early ones , and came across a first year 1931 gold bead example. Stars in my eyes , I exceeded $500 , but no regrets. First year is first year - gold sight and all - and the revolver is mechanically excellent. It is shown in the attached "then and now" image.
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Master Blaster
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Top to bottom. 1934 outdoorsman, high polish blue, 1955 k22 matt blue, 1956 k22 high polish blue, 1988? 17-6 full lug high polish blue.
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Here is a K22 outdoorsman listing for one that sold in 2014 for $1150 plus a $266 buyers premium, total $1416. It has the same front sight as my outdoorsman is it original from the factory?. Around here these guns are scarce but they had been sitting for a while with the dealer.
http://www.icollector.com/Smith-and...e-Serial-64431-Manufactured-in-1934_i20436930
http://www.icollector.com/Smith-and...e-Serial-64431-Manufactured-in-1934_i20436930
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Alfred Mitchell
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I have the 1940 model. It was my dads and well used but it still shoots lights out. If I can figure out how to post a picture I will next week.(out of town now)
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