Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
A week ago I stopped by a local shop in search of ammo. While I was there I checked out his display cases. Like most places these days, the cupboards were pretty bare. There were a couple of Rugers, a P-38, an overpriced M&P, and a couple of other things I was not interested in. And there was a diminutive little 22, about 3/4 the size of the M&P next to it. I could tell by the features on it that it was an older gun, I guessed 1920s or 1930s. Very nice condition, just a couple of blemishes, nice early service stocks. So after a little bit of negotiating I walked out with it.
Here are a couple of photos.
The first two photos don't illustrate how small it actually is, so to show how small it is, here it is in another photo with my K-22.
Now, in all honesty, I have to admit that I thought what I had bought was an early 22/32 Kit Gun with a 6" barrel. But when I got out my stainless J frame Model 63 and compared them, there were some glaring differences. The cylinder on the newer gun is longer, and the frame is longer to accommodate the longer cylinder. And the trigger guard of the stainless gun is more stretched out too.
So next I got out my copy of SCSW and discovered that the early 22/32 guns were built on the I frame, not the J frame, hence the different, and slightly smaller shape.
Then I posted a request on the S&W Forum Ship Date Request page, and Roy told me that my 22/32 Heavy Frame Target model was shipped in December of 1923. Heavy Frame Target? What in the world was he talking about? This thing is tiny.
After another post on the S&W Forum I learned that these little guns were called Heavy Frame Target models because compared to the only other 22s that Smith had made up to that point, the tiny #1 Tip Ups, and the Lady Smith, these really were bigger guns. The K-22 was not introduced until 1931, and up until that time these were the biggest and best 22 caliber target revolvers that Smith and Wesson made. And they were very popular.
I still had not shot it, so on Saturday armed with plenty of 22LR ammo I headed to the range. In addition to the Heavy Frame Target gun I brought along my Model 17-3, my K-22 and the Model 63, to see how they compared.
I have to tell you, the two older guns were the most fun. The double action pull of the K-22 is the best of them all, the hammer spring is pretty stiff on the little Heavy Frame. The K-22 double action trigger pull is better than the Model 17 and the Model 63. I backed the Heavy Frame strain screw out 1/2 turn, any more caused pinching of the spring. Of course the single action trigger pull of all four guns is up to Smith's usual impeccable standards.
I shot up a few targets, but punching paper is pretty boring to me, so luckily I had a few soup cans with me. I spent the next hour bouncing soup cans around at the 25 yard berm with both the old guns. The worst of the four was the Kit Gun. The modern sights were just too coarse for these old eyes to line up successfully on a soup can at 25 yards. The front sight completely hid the target. The much slimmer front sights of the two older guns made it much easier for me to see the targets. So I burned up a few hundred 22s, happily bouncing soup cans around at the 25 yard berm.
I'm really going to like shooting my new little gem. I think I have been bit by the bug. Next on my list will be a Bekeart.
A week ago I stopped by a local shop in search of ammo. While I was there I checked out his display cases. Like most places these days, the cupboards were pretty bare. There were a couple of Rugers, a P-38, an overpriced M&P, and a couple of other things I was not interested in. And there was a diminutive little 22, about 3/4 the size of the M&P next to it. I could tell by the features on it that it was an older gun, I guessed 1920s or 1930s. Very nice condition, just a couple of blemishes, nice early service stocks. So after a little bit of negotiating I walked out with it.
Here are a couple of photos.
The first two photos don't illustrate how small it actually is, so to show how small it is, here it is in another photo with my K-22.
Now, in all honesty, I have to admit that I thought what I had bought was an early 22/32 Kit Gun with a 6" barrel. But when I got out my stainless J frame Model 63 and compared them, there were some glaring differences. The cylinder on the newer gun is longer, and the frame is longer to accommodate the longer cylinder. And the trigger guard of the stainless gun is more stretched out too.
So next I got out my copy of SCSW and discovered that the early 22/32 guns were built on the I frame, not the J frame, hence the different, and slightly smaller shape.
Then I posted a request on the S&W Forum Ship Date Request page, and Roy told me that my 22/32 Heavy Frame Target model was shipped in December of 1923. Heavy Frame Target? What in the world was he talking about? This thing is tiny.
After another post on the S&W Forum I learned that these little guns were called Heavy Frame Target models because compared to the only other 22s that Smith had made up to that point, the tiny #1 Tip Ups, and the Lady Smith, these really were bigger guns. The K-22 was not introduced until 1931, and up until that time these were the biggest and best 22 caliber target revolvers that Smith and Wesson made. And they were very popular.
I still had not shot it, so on Saturday armed with plenty of 22LR ammo I headed to the range. In addition to the Heavy Frame Target gun I brought along my Model 17-3, my K-22 and the Model 63, to see how they compared.
I have to tell you, the two older guns were the most fun. The double action pull of the K-22 is the best of them all, the hammer spring is pretty stiff on the little Heavy Frame. The K-22 double action trigger pull is better than the Model 17 and the Model 63. I backed the Heavy Frame strain screw out 1/2 turn, any more caused pinching of the spring. Of course the single action trigger pull of all four guns is up to Smith's usual impeccable standards.
I shot up a few targets, but punching paper is pretty boring to me, so luckily I had a few soup cans with me. I spent the next hour bouncing soup cans around at the 25 yard berm with both the old guns. The worst of the four was the Kit Gun. The modern sights were just too coarse for these old eyes to line up successfully on a soup can at 25 yards. The front sight completely hid the target. The much slimmer front sights of the two older guns made it much easier for me to see the targets. So I burned up a few hundred 22s, happily bouncing soup cans around at the 25 yard berm.
I'm really going to like shooting my new little gem. I think I have been bit by the bug. Next on my list will be a Bekeart.
