Finally settled on a 22lr, another classic S&W

I found a nicely used 17-2 a few years ago and I love shooting it. You’re soon going to be in the same boat with that very nice K-22!

Stay safe.

Very nice.

Yes, very Nice.

Looks like a winner to me!

NICE!!! I like the looks of that gun -- I'd just as soon have one in that condition than a museum quality one.

I too am more of a fan of the "less modern" Smiths. Your K-22 favors my 1951 model.



Like yours, my 686 no dash has an action that is two leagues above any of the others. Strangely, much better than the no dash 586 (but I'm going to address that soon).

Howdy

It may be a tad older than you think.

Your K-22 Masterpiece (Pre-Model 17) is a 5 screw. Three screws visible on the side plate, one hidden under the top corner of the grip, and one more in front of the trigger guard.

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, the upper side plate screw was deleted in 1955.

Here is its older brother, according to Roy Jinks this one shipped in June of 1950.






Of course with Smith and Wessons, Roy can only tell you when it shipped, not when it was made. It is possible yours sat in inventory for a while and did indeed ship in 1956, which was the last year these were known as K-22s. In 1957 the name was changed to Model 17.

I don't know how you decided on the 1956 date, but there is a pretty complete listing of K prefix Serial Numbers by years in the SCSW and I would be glad to look up your SN for you. I can't pin it down to the month, but I can at least tell you the year.

Anyway, you're gonna love it.

The Serial Number range for 1955 was K231256 through K266164.

P.S. The Serial Number should appear in four places. At the bottom of the butt is the SN of record. It should also appear on the flat on the underside of the barrel, on the rear of the cylinder, and on the underside of the extractor star. A bit difficult to see there. If the other three SNs match the one on the butt, you know it left the factory with those parts.

I just bought a 17-2 Saturday after an almost 10 year long search for one at a proper price. I was probably going to buy one of those new fangled 10 shot GP100s in the coming week as well since one has been languishing on an LGSs used rack for a bit now.

Glad I found the 17.

Now that is a nice K-22.

I've owned a couple of K-22's, and Model 17's over the years. Great shooters, but I just can't make myself warm up to a 6" (or longer) barrel to save my life. They've gone down the road to be replaced a K-22 Combat Masterpiece from 1953. Missed being a "birth year gun" by that much.





The nickel is probably aftermarket. The S&W logo looks worn and there is nothing on the butt to indicate a factory finish (No "N" anywhere), but whoever did it, did a good job since the other rollmarks are sharp, the ejector star is blue, and the pins in the barrel and front sight are all "proud." I probably should letter it, but probably never will. I only paid $350 for a few months ago, and haven't had a chance to shoot it.

And I almost forget this one. It's not a K-22, but it is a Smith and Wesson 22. A Model 317 Air Lite, Lady Smith. My wife spotted this one and announced she wanted it. All aluminum construction, both frame, cylinder, and a sleeved aluminum barrel, it only weighs about 11 ounces. It feels so light it feels like it should just float away. It came in it's own little "leather" presentation case. It is an 8 shooter. I don't think it's ever been fired.

I like that 317 too. Nice model.

Very nice get some CCI standard velocity ammo and put it through its paces at the range.
For the money CCI SV is one of the better ammo choices for Smith Target pistols and revolvers.

You can't beat that! While my first revolver was a Virginian .22 convertible, what I remember most from years past is rabbit hunting, plinking and point-shooting with my K-22. I guess I've finally gotten old enough to look at the prices of new guns and shudder when I think about what I've paid for some of mine. Or just reminisce and smile.

You chose wisely good sir.

Honestly, I can't imagine a finer .22 revolver than a K-Frame S&W,,,
Personally I prefer the 4" barrel of the Model 18,,,
But I'm still hunting for a bargain 6-incher.

S&W found the perfect balance of function and form in the rimfire K-frames.

Aarond

.

gotboostvr said:

Even if I do come across a nice shooter grade 4" not sure I'd part with this one. I'd have been all over CajunBass's K22 Combat Masterpiece at that price. With a nice set of target stocks too? Hard to pass up.

Click to expand...

No the target stocks didn’t come on it. It had a funky set of aftermarket stocks so I swapped the out. I’ve since replaced them with a set of more period diamond targets. Gotta remember to take new pictures.

Bragging Time

A really nice K-22 Combat Masterpiece from 1953 I picked up a couple of years ago. I like the original Magna stocks. This one misses being a 'birth year' gun by 3 years. No, I ain't saying which side of 1953.

earlthegoat2 said:

I just bought a 17-2 Saturday after an almost 10 year long search for one at a proper price. I was probably going to buy one of those new fangled 10 shot GP100s in the coming week as well since one has been languishing on an LGSs used rack for a bit now.

Glad I found the 17.

Click to expand...

I actually had a .22 GP on layaway when I found this 17 at another shop-

The GP is nice, but I just wasnt feelin' it after grabbing the Smith, so I flipped my layaway $$ into an even tastier M65 3" they had in the case. Win-win!

Mine was made in the early 50's, IIRC. It had the ugly rubber grips on it when I bought it. The sad truth is that they fit my hands so much better than the proper wooden ones that I left them on there and the wooden ones I bought are sitting in a drawer. Mine probably has the best trigger of any of my revolvers. The OP made a wise choice, IMHO.

@NIGHTLORD40K

And the one I picked up recently at my favorite LGS.

I really enjoy reading threads like this, especially with all of the great pictures. I'm glad I'm far from alone in my appreciation of K frame 22s.

Mine are a 4" 18-4, circa 1982 and a 6" no-dash 17 4-screw, circa 1960/61. The 18-4 has the target hammer and trigger and came with Magnas, while the 17 has a standard hammer and trigger, and also came with numbered Magnas. The magnas for the 18 are long gone, but I've saved the ones from the 17, tucked away with a note.