K-22 new to me

[bigtubby]

Got this in about a week ago pics are a little dark. It is a 1948 5 screw K-22 in excellent condition has a matte finish which was standard for the early postwar guns. All the parts # including the grips so I don't think it has been refinished as the grips are in excellent condition. There are no markings on the frame to indicate that or maybe the guy doing the polishing was just a little heavy handed that day. what do you experts think? I bought it off GB as it was listed as a model 14 in fair condition with a cylinder that was difficult to swing out. crane was just gummed up and it now works just fine!! either way it was a great buy at $405+ shipping & transfer.

 

[ROAshooter]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nice find

 

[slick6]

I think that your assessment of your K-22 is correct-and that you got a great revolver for great price! Enjoy that "Beauty"!

 

[czhen]

+1, great buy enjoy

 

[Husker_Fan]

That is a fantastic price for that gun.

 

[blkbrd666]

Yep! I would love to have that one. Good deal!

 

[Bellevance]

That's really a very nice K22. I have a 1948 5-screw, too, with the one-line address. You don't mention a number. Mine is K 1700x--close to 1947.

The side-plate screws testify to someone's having carelessly tried to get into the works, which may partly account for the excellent price. Hard to find a K22 of that vintage and in that condition for much less than $600 these days.

 

[Iggy]

You stole that rascal..

Enjoy it.

 

[md2lgyk]

That's one of my Holy Grail guns. A friend of mine has one he bought new about 40 years ago for $175. I've offered him three times that much but he won't sell.

 

[sgtstryker]

Real nice old Smith. Mine is a 1970 model, just got it last year. The only thing better than the way they look is the way the shoot. You got a good deal, no doubt.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

It is a 1948 5 screw K-22 in excellent condition has a matte finish which was standard for the early postwar guns.

Howdy

Never heard that the 1948 era guns were matte finished. Where did you hear that? I have several from that time period, and none of them are matte finished, they all have the standard bright blue finish.

I would suggest that your K-22 has been refinished. Not a bad job, one of the telltale marks of a bad refinish job is the edges of the side plate being rounded over by over polishing. Yours does not exhibit that. However the last half of the word Wesson on the barrel has been polished away, and the trademark on the side plate appears to be partially polished away. The words US Pat Off are partially polished away. Rub your thumb over the trademark. When these are stamped, metal is raised up at the edges of the letters and other characters. This raised surface usually disappears when they are polished for refinishing. Do you feel metal raised up around the edges or does it feel smooth? No raised edges to markings is a pretty good indicator of a refinish job. The years would not erase those raised edges unless it had been pretty badly abused.

Don't mean to rain on your parade, it is a nice K-22, but I think it has been refinished. Either way, $405 for a nice five screw K-22 is a good price.

 

[BYJO4]

You got great revolver for the money. They are fun to shoot and very accurate.

 

[bannockburn]

bigtubby

Nice K-22 and at such a great price! Refinished or not I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[highpower]

Never heard that the 1948 era guns were matte finished. Where did you hear that? I have several from that time period, and none of them are matte finished, they all have the standard bright blue finish.

The matte finish was indeed, the standard finish on these guns. I have two, a 1948 K22 Masterpiece one liner and a 1950 K38, both have the matte finish.

K22:


K38:

 

[bigtubby]

The metal is smooth on the logo cant feel the raised edges like on the 18, OH well it is just a shooter and it will fit right in with my refinished and it's counterpart 14-1

From what I have read the matte finish was standard on the early postwar guns and a bright finish was a option with most parts stamped with a large "B" to indicate factory bright finish.

 

[Ky Larry]

Irregardless of the finish, your great grand children will still be shooting and enjoying that gun when you and I are dust. Enjoy it for the rest of your life. I know I'm enjoying my 17-2.

 

[Florida Guy]

Nice find.
You took a chance and it worked out. That's always a good thing.
Enjoy that nice gun.

 

[IdahoSkies]

Great gun. My dad has a stainless k22. Its a favorite or his. (and mine ). Have fun with it.