Mystery K-22

[whitefeather]

I would greatly appreciate any S&W officianados input on my most recent K-frame aquisition.

Picked up an 95+% K-22 at auction yesterday. The auctioneer said they didn't know what model it was. I knew it was some incarnation of a K-22, but after getting her home and doing some research, I am stumped as to what exactly I have.

Configuration is 4-Screw/ 4 Line Address/TTTH/6' bbl./10-groove front and rear straps.

S/N as stamped on bottom of Grip Frame is "K 21702". This same number appears on the Yoke, but minus the "K". Also included on the Yoke and inside the frame are the numer "1" in a circle, the number "7" and a partially stamped '6" or "9'. There is no "M17" to be found anywhere on the gun.

Also, there are no S/N's showing on the Cyl. Face, behind the Star Ejector or on the Barrel Flat as the Std. Catalog of S&W says would be "normal".

From what I can tell, the S/N would put it as a 1948 (post war) pre-number K-22. But, with it being a 4-screw/ 10-groove, I am confused.

Another intriguing aspect of this gun are the grips it's wearing. They are smooth,oversized S&W factory target-style with brass weighted bottoms. The entire bottom portions of the grip halves are made of brass and are unlike any other I have seen. They have the ejector relief cut and appear to be of the same vintage of the gun.

Can anyone tell me what I have interms of where this fits in the S&W K-22 realm? Pre-Number/ Post-War/ Year of Mfr., etc.?

 

[whitefeather]

Pics

Here are a few pics.

 

[MrBorland]

K 21702

Nice gun!

Are you sure about that serial #? The pic is fuzzy, but it looks like there are 6 digits, not 5, on the butt. Also, are you sure you didn't transpose the "1" and the "7"? K27102X would put it as a 1956 4-screw K-22, which would make sense, since the upper sideplate and trigger guard screws were deleted in 1955 and 1961, respectively.

Nice grips. Are they original? If so, the serial # should be stamped on one of them (the right, I think).

Also, the script on both sides of the barrel seems further forward than I've seen on K-22s. Normally, it seems centered over the ejector rod boss. Don't know if this is significant, though.

I understood early postwar K-22s had 6-grooved back and forestraps, then went to 10-grooved. Don't know when the switch happened - I always thought it happened in 1957 when the K-22 became the M17, but I guess it may have happened earlier.

This is a job for Old Fuff. The gun, the grips, the barrel script, the back/forestrap. I'm sure he'll be along shortly.

 

[whitefeather]

MrBorland,

You just made me remove the grips and re-inspect the S/N on the grip frame.
You are correct; there are 6 digits to the S/N. It's K 309236. I don't know why that escaped me earlier.

So, that puts it at about 1957, correct? By what I can tell, this would be a very late pre-number K-22.

I still don't understand why what APPEARS to be the serial number on the Yoke doesn't match the S/N on the grip frame. I also don't understand the absence of S/N's on the other loactions (cyl. face, behind star extactor and on the bbl. flat).

The grips don't have any numbers stamped on their inner surfaces, so I would assume they were added later. Curiously, I seem to recall that most S&W factory grips, original or otherwise, usually have something stamped on them.

I did not mention it earlier, but this gun also has a Trigger Shoe installed that is held in place by two set screws.

Undoubtedly, this was someone's serious target piece.

See add'l. grip pics.

 

[popeye]

I have similar 4 screw K22. They are somewhat rare, but not to the point of adding to the value. My gun and probably yours was made in '57 just before the model numbering system started. Target stocks on any S&W model were never numbered to the gun. Are you gonna leave that gold stuff in the roll marks? Putting the serial # in the yoke came much later. Your looking at an assembly #. I saw a K22 in similar condition sell for $695.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know the minutae of model variations in K22s, but I can say that metal plates on the bottom of revolver grips was fairly common around here back when cops carried revolvers and had not transitioned to automatics. I think it was done on service revolvers to protect the gun butt from all the stuff a holstered gun gets knocked up against in daily use. Might have been put on a .22 to make it balance like a .38 set up that way. Or maybe just because the owner liked the looks.

 

[whitefeather]

The brass bottoms of the grips are for weight so that the gun ballances properly. This gun is set up for serious target work... probably bullseye.

Besides giving it really nice balance, they do look awfully nice. At the auction, the gun was in a display case full of nice revolvers. I was drawn to it immediately when I saw the grips.

Surprisingly, there was only one other guy who bid past $275. I ended up with it at $300.

I also took home an L.C. Smith/ Hunter 12ga. for $350.

 

[MrBorland]

K 309236

You know, even though the pic was fuzzy, the serial # sure looked like it started with a 3. I hadn't had my full dose of coffee at that point, so I wasn't 100% sure. Anyhow, yup, that probably puts it as a 1957 and one of the last K-22s made, just before the M17.

As far as the 21702 on the yoke, that's an assembly number used during manufactering to keep fitted parts together. It's probably stamped into the frame at the base of the yoke as well. Why there's no serial # under the barrel and the cylinder face is a mystery to me as well, but I'm no expert, so no big surprise, there.

It looks in great shape, and even without the original grips, $300 was a great price IMO, especially if you wanted a good looking shooter. How does it shoot, btw? Is it as accurate as it looks?

 

[Ala Dan]

Brass Butt Plates

Not to hi-jack this thread, but I once owned a Smith & Wesson 4" model
66-2 that had a brass butt plate, S&W logo, and someones first name
inscribed in it; but I didn't notice any additional weight of the firearm.

 

[tipoc]

Why there's no serial # under the barrel and the cylinder face is a mystery to me as well, but I'm no expert, so no big surprise, there.

As S&W began to transition to the modeled numbers they were transitioning out the stamping of the serial numbers on anywhere but the butt. As folks know, once the model numbers were well in effect they were stamping the model numbers and assembly numbers on the crane and yoke and the SN on the butt. This didn't happen all at once though and all sorts of combinations left S&W for a number of years.

What you have is one of the last of the K22 Masterpieces, nice gun. The brass buttplates and the gold inlay are a nice touch.

A small criticism. Why post a fuzzy pic? If you can't see detail in the pic neither can we. In some cases it's worse than no pic.
Even with no pic some of us would have known that serial number was off.

tipoc

 

[gsw-survivor]

those are not the correct stocks for that gun, they are replacements and target grips are not numbered.. However 300.00 is a good deal. Looks like the mystery is solved. Brad

 

[tipoc]

GSW look at the serial number again. It is K 309236 (six digits not 5 as the op originally thought) which indicates a 1957 dob or thereabouts and matches with the other features of the piece. A letter from Roy Jinks could tell you more.

The trigger shoes were popular with some for several decades "back in the day". I think only Tyler T grips still makes them. Before S&W was making a lot of wide target triggers these were an inexpensive alternative.

The grips, aren't original but go well with the gun none the less. Neither is the gold inlay which is also an old school touch.

For the price a good shooter.

tipoc

 

[whitefeather]

Sorry about the pics. I will try to do better next time. The "gold Inlay" is actually either china marker or white or off white enamel that has yellowed.

Does anyone know where a guy can find a decent set of corect grips (other than ebay)?

I do go to shows now and then, but whenever I see decent vintatge S&W grips they seem to be farily pricey. I know, I know, that's how it is with collecting/ restoring. I have been doing it with other stuff for quite awhile (garands, 03's, M1 Carbines, etc.) but I am still a relative neophyte when it comes to S&W.

This K-22 now brings me up to (5) Smiths:

.38 DA 3rd Model
K-22
10-6
19-4
27-2 (6")

The 27-2 (98%) was gotten for a nice price too. I gave $75.00 for it about 12 yrs. ago.

I had two others, a 2" M15 and a 2" M60, that I liquidated to aquire other stuff. I must admit, P&R'd Smiths have moved toward the front of my "want" list.

 

[19-3Ben]

I regret to inform you that you have bought a seriously defective gun.


You must immediately send to me to ensure that it is properly dealt with.

That thing is darn beautiful.

 

[whitefeather]

I'm glad you like the way she looks, Ben. If she shoots as good as she looks, and I have no reason to believe she won't, I will be even more pleased than I already am.

Over the years, I had heard many good things about the K-22's, but never actively set out to aquire one. I really wasn't looking for this one, but when I saw it at the auction preview, I immediately knew I had to give it a shot.

I just got lucky because there weren't any real S&W buffs in the crowd. I did witness one that went for more than it was worth, though. There was a used 8" 629 that went for $850.00! I stopped at $600.

 

[Cron]

Join the S&W forum and post an ad in the classifieds for correct grips. There are some real experts there.

 

[whitefeather]

Cron,

I submitted my "application" to the S&W Forum yesterday and it is still not "approved" as of yet. I guess their admin. is either backed-up, doesn't work on weekends or maybe they found something while running a background check on me

Anyhow, I have been lurking around there for awhile now, so I know the knowledge base is deep on that site. In fact, it's rather humbling.

I appreciate the tip, though.

 

[popeye]

Here's a pic of the correct grips for your gun. Note the ridiculous price. Just buy some K frame magnas for now. Some body on this forum probably has a pair.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Smith-Wesson-K-...ryZ73944QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem