tell me about the S&W Model 18

[ACP]

I just put a used Model 18-3 aside until Christmas, $499 + tax. Condition is near perfect except no box and replacment rubber Pachmayr grips. Looks like a K-frame, and a nice stablemate for my 686, 65, and 642.

Anyone have any experience with these? Any suggestions on where to find correct factory S&W Model 18 wooden grips (square butt)??

 

[Baba Louie]

Any K frame magna square frame grips should fit it. Here's mine. A perfect stablemate to a model 15 or 10.



Slow loading and 6 rds can go fast, so make each shot count for something... is about the only downside I can think of. Pretty dang accurate too. Almost hangs with the 17 in that regard...

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, any standard square butt K frame grip will work on the Model 18. Except for the chambering, the Model 18 frame is essentially identical to any other K frame Smith.

They shoot great. I got mine new in the early 1980's. It is a keeper!

 

[roaddog28]

Congrats and I feel you bought the best DA/SA revolver ever made. Very good single action trigger and the best double action trigger I have ever had any experience with.
Howard

 

[ACP]

Thank you, gentlemen. Guess I will get on those Magna grips ASAP.

 

[BlindJustice]

ACP - Excellent choice imho.

The S&W Model 18 is part of the K-22 'family'

S&W came out with the K-22s in the late '40s

Model 17 K-22 Target Masterpiece 6" or 8 3/8" Bbl. lenths
with target Hammer & Target Trigger. Patridge front sight
& W&E adj. rear sight.

Model 18 K-22 Combat Masterpiece with standard trigger/hammer
4" Bbl. with ramp front sight and W&E adj. rear sight.

A similar featured Model 15 K-38 is the .38 Spcl version of the 18,

the 17 has siblings in .32 S&W Long? and .38 Special


S&W assigned 2 digit numbers to their pistols in '57


I was 13 in '64, and had saved up my lawn mowing money
near xmas time I got my Dad to go with me to a sporting
goods store as Mom and Sisters shopped. I had enough
for a beat up P-38, the gun shop guy took my Dad aside
andwhen they came back The gun shop owner showed us
a Model 18 - Dad matched my amount and bought it for
me - early xmas present

Anyway, we had a -300 acre farm in Central Wash . State
and that 18 served me well in my teens. great plinker, and it
accounted for a lot of cotton tail rabbits, and rattlesnakes
Coyotes? well, it did make em run away faster heh.

I had cut my teeth on an uncle's Hi Standard .22 semi auto.
the S&W 18 sights and accuracy are much appreciated
looking back

Should kept it but sold it to a good friend.

Tpday, I've got a S&W 617, and the K-frame is the best
DA trigger pull out of the box I have. I have some other S&Ws
including a 625 with the S&W Master Revolver Acttion Job
but the K-frame 617 always seems to come along for
range work.

You might look at Guy Hogue grips for K-frame Grips.

Randall

 

[Mike1957]

Not a bad price for a model 18 these days.

Original type magna grips are easy to find on e-bay.
Got the diamond magnas shown on the 18-2 below a while back for $34.
You should be able to find a decent set of non diamond magnas (as would belong on an 18-3) for less than that..
I believe you can also order modern replacement grips from S&W by way of Midway and others, but they don`t look exactly like the older ones.

 

[oldfool]

post #6 pretty much covered it
all the old k rimfires pretty much qualify (all hype aside) as "legendary" in DA rimfire revolvers
not the only such, but on the really really short list that qualifies

grips - I myself prefer the fat-butt "target" grips on all k-frames (not 'magna')
S&W website has decent "original style" grips for 'em last time I looked, though not dirt cheap. CDNN on-line sometimes has non-official but real decent square butt wood grips for Ks, pretty reasonable.

u done good

PS
truth in advertising disclaimer
I don't own a k-18
(yet)
just a pair of 17s and a 48

 

[bhk]

Probably the best .22 revolver ever made! I wouldn't trade mine for anything. I have Ahrens grips on mine shown below at 7 o'clock (among my other .22s revolvers):

 

[ACP]

Gentlemen, again, thanks for your support and input.

Blind Justice, those are some wonderful memories and tales you told. Amazing the joy and life lessons that can surround a well-made piece of walnut and blued steel.

 

[CajunBass]

The 22 Combat Masterpiece may not be the best 22 revolver ever made, but it's one of the best I've ever shot. The only thing in it's class, in my experience, is the 22 Target Masterpiece/Model 17.



Got that one (made 1954) for $460.00 a few months ago.

Someone mentioned them being a good trainer for a 38/357. Here's its big brother.

1951, 38 Combat Masterpiece. An almost mirror image.

 

[woad_yurt]

Congratulations on the great snag! You're going to enjoy shooting it.

I got one so I could keep my K-frame skills honed without having to reload tons of .38 SPLs. Now, however, I've come to love shooting it for its own sake. It's a great gun.

 

[SaxonPig]

The Combat Masterpiece was introduced in 1949. In 1951 the companion CM in 22 LR came out. In 1957 this became the Model 18 (the 38 Special version is the Model 15).

All 18s (save a couple of special order pieces) are blue with 4" barrel. The 18 is identical to the K22 Masterpiece (M17) except the latter is usually seen with a 6" barrel (8" on occasion).

The CM is a classic revolver.

 

[robctwo]

I like the Ahrends retro combat grips.

My gun has very tight chambers. I take a brush and solvent to the range. Vert accurate.