5-Screw K-22 Masterpiece

[Dave Markowitz]

Yesterday, I lucked into this K-22 Masterpiece at a small, family owned gun shop in Lancaster County, PA. I have a Model 18, but a Model 17 or K-22 was on my "to buy" list for some time. That this one came with the original box and tools is icing on the cake.

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, the serial number gives it a birthday in 1951.

It is a 5-screw model. Three screws are visible on the right side, with the 4th being covered by the grip. The 5th screw is on the bottom of the gun.

The screwdriver, cleaning rod, and brush are original. I don't know about the bore mop but it might be.

Does anyone know if they came with a separate instruction flyer or was the "manual" solely the text on the inside of the box lid?

I'd put condition as excellent, with a minor turn line and just a bit of blueing wear near the muzzle. Lock up is tight. It was extremely clean with no fouling rings around the chambers. (I plan to fix that ASAP.)

I might add a grip adaptor but aside from that the only things I'll add are gun oil and ammo.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Great score!
My M17 is my most accurate revolver by a fair stretch, youre gunna love it.

 

[wilburmay]

Nice snag. Hope you enjoy. If it shoots as good as it looks you got a keeper.
Wilbur

 

[Jeff olson]

Your k22 is one of the best rimfire revolvers you could ever hope to own. Nice score!

 

[ericuda]

I got a 47 and 53 and thats the only inst I got. On we has the small grips like yours and the other has larger ones.

If you don't mind what did it sit you back.

 

[Speedo66]

That's a beauty! Nothing like a nice double action S&W, especially from that era.

Good luck with your new gun!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Isn't it fun looking stuff up in the SCSW? Take a look at the sections in the front about boxes and accessories. Believe it or not, there are guys who collect S&W tools, and that screwdriver is different the one that came with my Model 19-3 in 1975.






Anyway, my K-22 Masterpiece shipped in 1950. At least that's what Roy Jinks told me. Which I find interesting because mine has a later style hammer than yours. Yours has what was called the Speed Hammer, which predated the more modern style of hammer like on mine. Are you sure it shipped in 1951? Of course, with S&W you can never tell, they did not always ship in the order they made things.






My K-22 Masterpiece did not come with the box.



However, my K-32 Masterpiece did.






No tools, but it did come with registration card and a card showing how to adjust the rear sight.

 

[ericuda]

Hammers do look different. Here is my 47 and 53.

 

[Tallball]

Mine is from 51 or 52, IIRC. It's ugly, but it's also my most accurate revolver.

That is an awesome purchase. It looks pristine!

You are going to LOVE shooting that fine revolver.

Smith And Wesson K22

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

 

[Jonesy814]

That is one beautiful revolver.

 

[horsemen61]

Great buy!

 

[rabid wombat]

small, family owned gun shop in Lancaster County, PA.

First - great buy! Second, I used to live in Lancaster…if you do not mind, what store?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

@rabid wombat I bought it at Kerper's in Narvon.

 

[rabid wombat]

I bought it at Kerper's in Narvon

Did not know of them (I left over 10 years ago)! I did do a lot with Kinseys, a store around the corner from Kinseys (I have forgotten their name), Kings in the Philly area (great people)!, EGW in Quakertown (great people), and a few others. Again, great find!

 

[I6turbo]

^^ Those are some nice K-22s!

I have a 1951 model but no box or accessories. I have the original grips but like to shoot it with these aftermarket ones.

 

[P5 Guy]

Model 17 (no dash) made a couple of years after the change from K 22 Masterpiece to model number identification

 

[Pat Riot]

Very nice acquisition @Dave Markowitz

I really enjoy shooting my model 17. Wonderful revolvers.

 

[eastbank]

i own the twin to your K-22 and a K-38 in spl, both made in 1950. ex revolvers.

 

[bannockburn]

Dave Markowitz

Super nice find with your K-22 Masterpiece!!!

 

[.455_Hunter]

Picking-up a good shooting-condition K22 is pretty much the endpoint in the .22 revolver hunt- no need to look for an "upgrade" anymore...

 

[Walkalong]

Awesome pick up.

 

[Eugen]

Dave, congrats on your K-22 Masterpiece. I inherited one identical to yours but mine was shipped from the factory in November 22, 1955 (per the S&W Historical Foundation). These are sweet to shoot!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I inherited one identical to yours but mine was shipped from the factory in November 22, 1955 (per the S&W Historical Foundation).

Interesting. Another one with the earlier style 'speed hammer' that shipped later than mine with the more modern short throw hammer. Roy told me this one shipped in June of 1950.






Here is my 1950 K-22 Masterpiece from 1950 along with a K-22 Combat Masterpiece (Pre-Model 18) that shipped in 1953. Same style hammers. These hammers have extended spurs, for single action shootiing.






Unlike the hammer on my Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975.






This K-22 Outdoorsman shipped in 1935. This is the style of hammer that S&W was putting on all their revolvers until the 'Speed Hammer' showed up, sometime around 1948 or so if I recall correctly.






This K-38 Masterpiece with its Speed Hammer shipped in 1950. So clearly there was some overlap as to when S&W installed which type of hammer. The Speed Hammer was the first Short Throw hammer that S&W developed. The older style hammer required the hammer to be drawn back much further to be cocked single action than when it was released in double action. Since the hammer spring was compressed enough at the double action release point to reliably fire cartridges, S&W reasoned there was no need to pull the hammer back significantly farther to cock the hammer for single action shooting. So the Speed Hammer was developed. It went to full cock only slightly further back than the release point of the hammer in double action shooting. The more modern hammers, such as on my Model 17-3 and my K-22 Masterpiece and K-22 Combat Masterpiece, with deep knurling and a deep gullet between the hammer body and the hammer spur, are all Short Throw hammers.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My K-22 with serial K 60XXX (late 1948?) has the standard speed hammer.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Picking-up a good shooting-condition K22 is pretty much the endpoint in the .22 revolver hunt- no need to look for an "upgrade" anymore...

That is how it has worked for me.

I always wanted a Ruger MKII slab side and any pre-lock S&W 22. I looked around for over a decade to find either at a price I was willing to pay.

Found a MK II Target for a fair price. It wasn’t a slab side but after I shot it I realized that maybe a slab side was a bit over rated. It shot great.

Not a few weeks later I found a Model 17 at the same shop on consignment at the top end of my budget so I bought it.

I haven’t thought about acquiring another 22 handgun since.