Jcon72
Member
Yeah, overstamped model numbers were pretty common with S&W. IIRC they used model 57 frames and overstamped them to make model 29's back when Dirty Harry created crazy demand for the 29's.
Vintage S&W 22 LR
- Thread starter Barmcd
- Start date
lincen
Member
When I was searching for the model 35 I did encounter some variations with the front sight. Never could find out why most had the target front sight and a couple had the the ramp sight found on the 4” barrel kit guns. Even searched the big S&W book .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.
I'm finding a few out there on the interwebs, all are pushing $2G.
CajunBass
Member
If you're talking truly "vintage" Smith and Wessons, and that term means different things to different people, but in this case I'm thinking late 40's to mid 50's or so. The immediate "post war" years. Be aware that during those years Smith and Wesson wasn't turning out the beautiful blue finish we tend to think of Smith and Wesson. They were just trying to catch up on all those years of backorders, so they used the flatter, wartime finish to one degree or another. It didn't get the high polish of the years before the war, or what was to come later. Don't look at a gun like this 1951 M&P 38 and think it's a bad finish, or that it's been refinished.
That's a perfectly "normal" finish for that time period. Pretty close to "as new in the box" really. And this was across the line, with the exception of the 357 Magnum (pre-27) which was always the flagship model, and got the high labor polish and blue treatment. As time went on, and backorders got filled, they started to bring back the high polish blue, but not on all models at the same time.
Personally I like this finish. My 51-52 K-22 has the same. Not as good a picture though.
Now you might like the brighter, high polish finish, and that's fine, but don't think there is anything wrong with these years.
That's a perfectly "normal" finish for that time period. Pretty close to "as new in the box" really. And this was across the line, with the exception of the 357 Magnum (pre-27) which was always the flagship model, and got the high labor polish and blue treatment. As time went on, and backorders got filled, they started to bring back the high polish blue, but not on all models at the same time.
Personally I like this finish. My 51-52 K-22 has the same. Not as good a picture though.
Now you might like the brighter, high polish finish, and that's fine, but don't think there is anything wrong with these years.
lincen
Member
This is a picture snatched from GunBroker that shows a model 35-1 with an orange insert ramped front sight. Other pictures show that it also has the white outlined rear sight. Probably a special order. My model 34 has the white outlined rear sight with the orange insert front sight.
tominboise
Member
I do like the Outdoorsman. Here is mine. It shoots good but the sights are pretty tiny compared to modern revolver sights.
Lefty38-55
Member
We have an early Bekeart model 6" 22LR, made on the I-frame, pre-J-frame.
"In 1910 a San Francisco-based gun dealer named Phil Bekeart began calling for Smith & Wesson to chamber its .32-caliber I-frame in .22 caliber. Bekeart felt that a heavy framed .22 would be a big seller among target shooters of the time. He was so committed to the idea that he pre-ordered 1,000 revolvers. This 22/32 Heavy-Frame Target model had a 6" barrel, a sixshot cylinder, adjustable sights, checkered walnut stocks that extended beyond the square butt, a la the single-shot Smith & Wesson target revolvers. Bekeart’s faith in the popularity of the 22/32 Heavy-Frame Target model was a bit ambitious. Just 292 of the original order of 1,000 revolvers were shipped. Though this revolver remained in the Smith & Wesson catalog into the 1930s, it did not set the world on fire.
Target shooting, while still popular, had pretty much reached its peak, and then - much like today - other forms of recreation began to make inroads into it, vying for its time and tools.
During the depths of The Depression - 1936 - Smith & Wesson introduced a 22/32 revolver with a 4" barrel. Christened the Kit Gun, it was marketed to hikers and fishermen who wanted a handy, lightweight revolver to deal with pests and snakes. The term Kit Gun meant that its intent was to be carried within one’s kit as they traveled around the backcountry and streams. World War II curtailed virtually all civilian guns, including the 22/32 Kit Gun, but it returned to the S&W lineup in 1950. The post-war guns featured a change to the then-new hammer block, as well as a new micrometer-click rear sight."
"In 1910 a San Francisco-based gun dealer named Phil Bekeart began calling for Smith & Wesson to chamber its .32-caliber I-frame in .22 caliber. Bekeart felt that a heavy framed .22 would be a big seller among target shooters of the time. He was so committed to the idea that he pre-ordered 1,000 revolvers. This 22/32 Heavy-Frame Target model had a 6" barrel, a sixshot cylinder, adjustable sights, checkered walnut stocks that extended beyond the square butt, a la the single-shot Smith & Wesson target revolvers. Bekeart’s faith in the popularity of the 22/32 Heavy-Frame Target model was a bit ambitious. Just 292 of the original order of 1,000 revolvers were shipped. Though this revolver remained in the Smith & Wesson catalog into the 1930s, it did not set the world on fire.
Target shooting, while still popular, had pretty much reached its peak, and then - much like today - other forms of recreation began to make inroads into it, vying for its time and tools.
During the depths of The Depression - 1936 - Smith & Wesson introduced a 22/32 revolver with a 4" barrel. Christened the Kit Gun, it was marketed to hikers and fishermen who wanted a handy, lightweight revolver to deal with pests and snakes. The term Kit Gun meant that its intent was to be carried within one’s kit as they traveled around the backcountry and streams. World War II curtailed virtually all civilian guns, including the 22/32 Kit Gun, but it returned to the S&W lineup in 1950. The post-war guns featured a change to the then-new hammer block, as well as a new micrometer-click rear sight."
Driftwood Johnson
Member
The article linked to earlier states that deleting the fifth screw up near the hammer was the beginning of a never-ending pursuit of cost-saving measures.
Hogwash. Smith and Wesson has ALWAYS sought ways to cut down on the cost to manufacture their firearms.
Anyway.....
Here is my Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975. For $125.
Here are a couple of K-22 Outdoorsmen. Both from the 1930s. Note the teeny-tiny windage adjustment screws on the rear sights.
The one at the top is pristine, with the original service grips.
The one at the bottom is my favorite 22 because it is the most accurate. It does not hurt that I only paid $600 for it, mostly because of all the wear on the finish. This revolver shipped to the Providence RI Board of Public Safety in 1932. Probably used by the Providence pistol team.
A K-22 Masterpiece that shipped in 1950. Notice the target hammer, and small rib on the tapered barrel. Also, notice the improved micro click rear sight windage screw, that came with all Masterpiece Smiths. No more teeny-tiny screwdrivers needed to adjust the sight at the range.
A K-22 Combat Masterpiece that shipped in 1953. This is basically the Pre-Model 18 with the four inch barrel, and Baughman front sight. Designed to not snag when drawing from a holster.
Did someone say 22/32 Heavy Frame Target? At the top of this photo is a K-22, then two 22/32 Heavy Frame Target revolvers. The K-22 is clearly much bigger. The other two were called Heavy Frame because prior to Phil Bekaert suggesting the idea of making a target 22 revolver on the I frame, the only 22 revolvers S&W was making were the tiny Ladysmiths. So compared to the tiny Ladysmiths, the I frame 22/32 revolvers really did have 'heavy frames'.
Here is a photo of the one with the distinctive Bekaert style grips. And tiny windage adjustment screw.
Hogwash. Smith and Wesson has ALWAYS sought ways to cut down on the cost to manufacture their firearms.
Anyway.....
Here is my Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975. For $125.
Here are a couple of K-22 Outdoorsmen. Both from the 1930s. Note the teeny-tiny windage adjustment screws on the rear sights.
The one at the top is pristine, with the original service grips.
The one at the bottom is my favorite 22 because it is the most accurate. It does not hurt that I only paid $600 for it, mostly because of all the wear on the finish. This revolver shipped to the Providence RI Board of Public Safety in 1932. Probably used by the Providence pistol team.
A K-22 Masterpiece that shipped in 1950. Notice the target hammer, and small rib on the tapered barrel. Also, notice the improved micro click rear sight windage screw, that came with all Masterpiece Smiths. No more teeny-tiny screwdrivers needed to adjust the sight at the range.
A K-22 Combat Masterpiece that shipped in 1953. This is basically the Pre-Model 18 with the four inch barrel, and Baughman front sight. Designed to not snag when drawing from a holster.
Did someone say 22/32 Heavy Frame Target? At the top of this photo is a K-22, then two 22/32 Heavy Frame Target revolvers. The K-22 is clearly much bigger. The other two were called Heavy Frame because prior to Phil Bekaert suggesting the idea of making a target 22 revolver on the I frame, the only 22 revolvers S&W was making were the tiny Ladysmiths. So compared to the tiny Ladysmiths, the I frame 22/32 revolvers really did have 'heavy frames'.
Here is a photo of the one with the distinctive Bekaert style grips. And tiny windage adjustment screw.
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Riomouse911
Member
I am another guy who cut his rimfire revolver teeth on s S&W Model 17-2. I then went on to add more and more of these little habit-forming revolvers after finding out how nice the Model 17’s are.
K frame Models 48-3, 17-2, 48-7 and 18-2.
J frame Model 34-1 .22/.32 Kit Gun:
Airlite Model 617:
Full underlug Model 617-5:
And the other Wesson, a Dan Wesson .22 6”V.
Like potato chips, its tough to stop after just one.
Stay safe.
K frame Models 48-3, 17-2, 48-7 and 18-2.
J frame Model 34-1 .22/.32 Kit Gun:
Airlite Model 617:
Full underlug Model 617-5:
And the other Wesson, a Dan Wesson .22 6”V.
Like potato chips, its tough to stop after just one.
Stay safe.
I bought this kit gun at a gun show. It was tagged as a pre model 34 and the price was right. Got it home and kept thinking something didn’t seem right. Measured the barrel and got 3.5”. This left me stumped so I broke out the Standard Catalog and found the model 43, Airweight Kit Gun had a 3.5” barrel.I had forgotten about this model. Next I broke out a magnet to confirm.
nettlle
Contributing Member
A K22 Masterpiece is a good looking and quality gun in itself. They just don't make revolvers like it anymore. And if you shoot one? You might just get hooked on a 69 year old revolver like I did.
Jcon72
Member
Funny, but while in a LGS recently they had a near-mint model 43 from 1974 that I hadn't realized was so important to own until seeing it that day. Original box, serial-matching grips, paperwork (including un-completed warranty card), VCI paper and still-sealed toolkit all included. Finally got to bring it home a few days ago. It is nearly flawless, with even the turn line being nearly non-existent.
Riomouse911
Member
ontarget
Member
Nice score!
halfmoonclip
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2011
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Post #2 covered the differences, so the rest of us can just post pics. 
In 1997, I bought my early `80's K-22 for the princely sum of $265. I originally got a hardwood Hogue monogrip and killed a lot of small game with it but it now wears Keith Brown walnut that cost more than double what the gun did.
Eight months later, I was in the same shop when a gent came in with two guns he wanted to trade towards a Python. A 6" 686 and this model 18. The shop offered him $125 apiece and he left in a gruff. I followed him outside and gladly paid $200 for it. To which I fitted a set of Herrett's Ropers that I'd bought for $30. I had good taste, even at 24.
Also have .38 versions of both guns. A year after the 18, I found the 6" brand new in the box for $285 at a shop that had a bunch of new/old stock guns from the late `70's.
The 4" is a nickel model 15. Rare gun show find 8yrs ago.
Also have a 2" 15. Old pic, it's rarely seen.
In 1997, I bought my early `80's K-22 for the princely sum of $265. I originally got a hardwood Hogue monogrip and killed a lot of small game with it but it now wears Keith Brown walnut that cost more than double what the gun did.
Eight months later, I was in the same shop when a gent came in with two guns he wanted to trade towards a Python. A 6" 686 and this model 18. The shop offered him $125 apiece and he left in a gruff. I followed him outside and gladly paid $200 for it. To which I fitted a set of Herrett's Ropers that I'd bought for $30. I had good taste, even at 24.
Also have .38 versions of both guns. A year after the 18, I found the 6" brand new in the box for $285 at a shop that had a bunch of new/old stock guns from the late `70's.
The 4" is a nickel model 15. Rare gun show find 8yrs ago.
Also have a 2" 15. Old pic, it's rarely seen.
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nettlle
Contributing Member
Very nice!
I've been thinking about this since the subject came up. The Model 35 originally was on an I frame and later models (35-1?) were on a J frame? Wouldn't a over-stamped 34-1 be a 35-1?
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Looks just like mine, except I bought mine in 1975. I see you are getting all the goodies with yours, just like mine.
You probably paid a lot less!Looks just like mine, except I bought mine in 1975. I see you are getting all the goodies with yours, just like mine.
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