Two Smiths

[cellar701]

Santa was good to me this year, with two Smiths in the Christmas stocking:

First is a K22 4 inch barrel. I've been looking for a good shooter for awhile, but didn't want to pay the prices demanded for these. It's more a "back to my youth" type of thing with this revolver - a K22 my Dad owned was the first revolver I shot as a youngster. My brother ended up with Dad's revolver, so I've been looking for another for me.

The second one is a nice M&P 38 Special made and shipped in 1946, so an early post-war variety with the knob on the ejector rod. It is in excellent condition - doesn't even have a turn ring on the cylinder, so shot very little.

 

[101VooDoo]

Nice, the M&P looks pristine.

Jim

 

[rugerguy]

very nice pair, and yes, that M&P is 'pristine' and quiter earlly "post war" the knob, the latch and the hammer...............
and the K22 is unusual with the 'target stuff' on a 4 inch barrel.........
two excellent pieces, thank s for sharing............

 

[Snake45]

very nice pair, and yes, that M&P is 'pristine' and quiter earlly "post war" the knob, the latch and the hammer...............
and the K22 is unusual with the 'target stuff' on a 4 inch barrel.........
two excellent pieces, thank s for sharing............

I don't think that's a K22 (Model 17). From what I can tell it looks like a Model 18, which was called the Combat Masterpiece. The only difference, of course, is the barrel (which is tapered and has a thin rib, just like the Model 15 Combat Masterpiece in .38 ). This one has the target stocks but not the target hammer. I can't tell for certain from the photos but it doesn't seem to have the target trigger, either.

Smith discontinued the Model 18 in the late '80s or early '90s. But for a year or two after that, they did offer the Model 17 K22 with 4" barrel. These are fairly rare but you can spot them because they have a heavy, untapered barrel and full-width rib, exactly like a Model 19 .357 or a Model 10/13 Heavy Barrel. (They do not have the ejector rod shroud of a 19, though.) They were stamped Model 17-5 or 17-6, I forget which.

They are all VERY cool guns and hella fun to own and shoot. :wink:

 

[cellar701]

Snake, good eye, and you are correct - my description wasn't entirely accurate, and it is a model 18 "K22 Combat Masterpiece." It has some blue wear and a couple of dings, but it should make a great shooter.

 

[Snake45]

Snake, good eye, and you are correct - my description wasn't entirely accurate, and it is a model 18 "K22 Combat Masterpiece." It has some blue wear and a couple of dings, but it should make a great shooter.

They're great shooters. FWIW, my 4" Model 17 (yes, I have one of the odd ones) is actually slightly more accurate than my 6" one.

Only thing you have to remember with these (or any .22 DA revolvers) is that you need to brush out the chambers and sweep out under the extractor star from time to time, lest unburnt .22 powder tie things up. This interval can be anywhere from 50 rounds up to 200 or maybe a few more, depending on the exact ammo you're using, but it WILL happen eventually and ruin your day if you're not prepared for it. :wink:

 

[Sugar River]

Beautiful!
Where'd you find 'em?

I'm thinking the wife didn't sneak 'em in your stocking.

Pete

 

[ar15ed]

santa brought me an old smitty, too! 1964 vintage model 40.

 

[cellar701]

Beautiful!
Where'd you find 'em?

I'm thinking the wife didn't sneak 'em in your stocking.

Pete

Well, they were under the tree, but you are right that I did some shopping for myself. I am lucky that the wife is supportive of this minor addiction of mine... I did find them both in the last couple of weeks at two different shops. Each was priced around $300, and my wife is even more supportive when I find a great deal!

 

[rugerguy]

Thought it could be a model 18 but he said it was the 'other' and I too had a few of the 4 inch"K-22's" over the years, so with out the actual serial number tough to know, took his word for it..................in fact when they discontinued the model 18 they put some short barrels on the later model 17's....so with out 'seeing" the inside of the crane for a model number or the serial number, all subjective...the 4 line address on the right side should have been the clue.....
bottom line still NICE guns and great shooters....................

 

[Snake45]

You can tell the M17 4" and the M18s apart just by barrel contour, if you know what you're looking for. Here's the 17 4" (wearing a pair of '60s diamond grips):

 

[Cholo]

Wow cellar701, nice stocking stuffers! There's a lot of us who buy older guns for nostaliga's sake.

Love your pre M10! I have one like it with 2 exceptions, mine has a 5" barrel and doesn't have the large knurled knob on the ejector rod. Heliman had one for sale similar to mine and I asked him if he could date mine. Always the gentleman, he told me but I don't remember if it was a '47 or '48. Close enough for ours to be cousins. Maybe we should put them in the safe together. Old Smith's have a habit of reproducing :wink:

Your post prompted me to finally buy a late Christmas present for myself off Amazon titled "Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson" by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas. Heliman suggested it to me.

Check out a 4" model of your gun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2l4bz1FT8U

 

[cellar701]

Here is the S/N of the pre-model 10:

According to my sources it was shipped in October 1946. The book you ordered will give you some more info on yours, but this may help you "bracket" the age of yours. I need to get that book - I've accumulated a number of Smiths, and it would be a help to me.

 

[Cholo]

Mine is S 913xxx. Pretty close. Here's the Amazon link to the book I just bought. Mine will be here by the 30th:


http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Catalog-Smith-Wesson/dp/089689293X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293405577&sr=1-1

 

[gunman42782]

Nice Smiths, one and all!!!!

 

[Cholo]

cellar701, here's the book that arrived today. It's massive! :shock: