Vintage S&W 22 LR
- Thread starter Barmcd
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
If you want a 6", your only choice is a M17.
The M18 is built on the same mid-size K-frame, but has a ribbed and tapered 4" barrel with combat sights. The M17 was (almost always) made with a 6" or 8" ribbed straight barrel and target front sight. Aside from the barrel, they are the same, although individual guns will vary on the options installed, including Target hammers, triggers, grips, and overtravel stops. These were available in any combination on both 17s and 18s. Both the 17 and 18 pictured are "fully loaded" with these optional features.
The M34 is built on the smaller J-Frame, like the Chiefs Special, and never made with a barrel longer than 4", AFAIK.
All are excellent guns. The M17 can be thought of as the rimfire companion to the .38 M14 Target Masterpiece and the M18 as the .22 "trainer" version of the M15 Combat Masterpiece. The M34 was intended to be more of a plinker or "Kit Gun" that one would take camping or fishing.
The M18 is built on the same mid-size K-frame, but has a ribbed and tapered 4" barrel with combat sights. The M17 was (almost always) made with a 6" or 8" ribbed straight barrel and target front sight. Aside from the barrel, they are the same, although individual guns will vary on the options installed, including Target hammers, triggers, grips, and overtravel stops. These were available in any combination on both 17s and 18s. Both the 17 and 18 pictured are "fully loaded" with these optional features.
The M34 is built on the smaller J-Frame, like the Chiefs Special, and never made with a barrel longer than 4", AFAIK.
All are excellent guns. The M17 can be thought of as the rimfire companion to the .38 M14 Target Masterpiece and the M18 as the .22 "trainer" version of the M15 Combat Masterpiece. The M34 was intended to be more of a plinker or "Kit Gun" that one would take camping or fishing.
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Thanks, that clears things up.
lincen
Member
Smith did make a J frame 22LR with a 6”barrel, it’s a model 35. They are usually priced from $800-$1,200.
Here one is with my other J frame 22’s.
Here one is with my other J frame 22’s.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
That's a new one on me, neato!
Even run-of-the-mill .22 Kit Guns are pushing a grand in clean condition these days.....
Well, there's another option for the OP, though I suspect it would take some solid hunting on GB. I've never seen one in the flesh at a shop or show, anyway. Heck, I'm not usually a J-Frame fan, but I wouldn't mind tracking down one of those.
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J-Bar
Member
In my experience, Good Model 17s are a bit easier to find than good 18s, and usually a little less expensive. Both are going to be $800 + around here.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
There ARE a couple Model 35s on GB right now. Buy-it-now prices between $1800-1900. 
lincen
Member
That's a new one on me, neato!
Even run-of-the-mill .22 Kit Guns are pushing a grand in clean condition these days.....
Well, there's another option for the OP, though I suspect it would take some solid hunting on GB. I've never seen one in the flesh at a shop or show, anyway. Heck, I'm not usually a J-Frame fan, but I wouldn't mind tracking down one of those.
I thought I had a pretty good handle on various Smith and Wesson models in the J frame family. First heard of the model 35 about two years ago.
P5 Guy
Member
jar
Contributing Member
My Kit Gun does get to go WalkAbout quite often; more than it's fair share honestly.
bannockburn
Member
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Never heard about the Model 35 until now!
Here I thought the 4" barrel Model 34 was the longest of the .22LR J frames!
Here I thought the 4" barrel Model 34 was the longest of the .22LR J frames!
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garandsrus
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- Joined
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- 220
There is also a “pre 17” which was made before the model number was added. It is a K-22 Masterpiece.
guncollectorsclub.com
Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece 4-Screw Post-War Pre-17
The time period that these Third Model guns were being manufactured was a very unique atmosphere. World War II had just ended and there was cause for celebration.
guncollectorsclub.com
J-Bar
Member
The article above mentions the S&W K22 Outdoorsman. The top one, made in 1937, is the wife's preference. Rather than bother with switching grips, I found a 1939 for me and my gnarled hands and a set of walnut Fitz target grips. Smooth and accurate even though nearly 90 years old. They are shot often.
Jcon72
Member
Any of those models are fine pieces to own. I wanted a 17 or 617 for years, and finally ran across this 17-2 at a LGS a couple of years ago. It's hard to find a better .22 revolver.
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Jcon72
Member
And if you want to step up to the .22 Mag, the model 48 (or 648) is also a fine choice. This no-dash 48 was a basket case that required major rehab when I got it, which unfortunately required a hard-chrome finish to make it presentable. Due to a previous owner's neglect it will never be perfect, but it's at least presentable now. Ron Mahovsky at Mahovsky Metalife did the plating.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Looks great to me.
Jcon72
Member
Thank you; it has some cosmetic imperfections but mechanically it's about as nice as you can ask for. For the price--even as terrible of condition it was in at the time--there was no way I could pass it up.Looks great to me.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
I went with a postwar K-22 (top) and put some Pachmayr Presentations on it to give it a similar feel to my other S&Ws non-snubs:
chicharrones
needs more ammo
bangswitch
Member
M48's could be ordered with a second cylinder in .22LR, so you could shoot both. I think the cylinder from a M17 or M18 will interchange. I've only seen a couple of M48's that had both cylinders. I only have the magnum cylinder for my dash-4. They look just like the M17 and M18, you could get the M48 with a 4", 6" or 8-3/8" barrel. They have a very loud, high pitched bark.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Wouldn't surprise me if it left the factory that way. S&W never let any leftover parts go to waste, especially a perfectly good overrun of J-frames.There's a Model 35 on Guns International right now, but it looks suspect with this overstrike of the model number.
I'm finding a few out there on the interwebs, all are pushing $2G.
nettlle
Contributing Member
About 40 years ago my dear late Father-in-Law gave me this S & W K22 Masterpiece. When I went to his house sometimes I would ask him to let me see it. I knew what it was because I had shot a friend's. He gave it to me because he knew I would keep it at take care of it. He kept it stored in a holster many years which didn't help the blued finish much but mechanically it is like brand new and shoots that way also. Not a S & W expert but did research this gun and it is a Third Model K-22 Masterpiece made in 1954 and is a 5-screw model. Top photo shows (4) of the screws and center photo shows the 5th screw. If I were to buy another K-22 it would be exactly like this one.
bangswitch
Member
Without looking up the picture on Guns Int'l. myself, does that revolver have a 6" barrel? Model 34 and Model 35 are the same (both I frame), except the M34 is called the 22/32 Kit gun and has either a 2" or 4" barrel. The M35 is called the Model of 1953 22/32 Target and has a 6" barrel only. S&W never wasted anything, and probably took a M34 frame to make into a M35, so they overstamped it. Dash-1's started in 1960 on both models, the M34 was discontinued in 1991, the M35 was discontinued in 1973. For it to be an overstamped M34, that gun was made somewhere between 1960 and 1973.
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