S&W K22 in .22 Used

[DustyRusty]

I'm ogling this S&W K22 in .22 at the local shop.
It's worn and the cylinder rotation is stiff even when flipped out.

I already have a nice Model 18 in .22 that my grandson shoots.
Is there anything special about this?

 

[J-Bar]

I would pass. You can find K22s in much better shape for $1200. The draggy cylinder rotation would likely be cured with removal of the cylinder and giving it a good cleaning. But I would let someone else take that chance.

 

[tubeshooter]

I concur with the above.

[EDIT: I took a chance on a beater that turned out to be more of a fixer-upper. It worked out in the end. But it was for about half what the asking price is here.]

 

[UncleEd]

What J-Bar said.

 

[KCAce]

Me too. I sold a NICE K22 a few years ago. Wish I hadn’t. Good luck finding a good one.
KCAce

 

[Lefty38-55]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over priced! I'm near Boston and I've seen much nicer ones with NO issues go for $300 less!

 

[.38 Special]

If it was in excellent condition then $1200 would be reasonable, at least to a collector. The gun as shown is worth perhaps half of that, I'd guess. I love these things, but would give that one a hard pass.

(It's worth noting that I can't read the serial number, and it is possible that it is a rarer gun that could be of interest to collectors. From looking at the gun, though, I don't think that's the case - and as a shooter, it simply isn't worth the price tag.)

 

[J-Bar]

This one is a 5-screw; that upper side plate screw was eliminated in 1955. So the youngest it could be is 1954-55. K-Frame .22 LRs were introduced in 1931, so that is its maximum age. The 1st model K22s were made from 1931 to 1940, and the seller has marked this as a "3rd Model", so my guess is this gun was made between 1940 and 1955. More knowledgable folks than me can probably narrow it down closer without the serial number.

Now, if you want a really wild guess...

S&Ws of that time period used right-hand threads on the ejector rod, and it is easy for the ejector rod to back out a tad and lock the gun up. The scars on the cylinder look like the gun was clamped in a vise at some time, maybe to secure those right-hand threads tightly and avoid lockups. The extractor rod threads were changed from right-hand to left-hand in 1961 or thereabouts, so more recent guns don't have that problem.

I would buy the gun if it were between $400-500, but that offer would probably insult the gun store owner.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

At my store based solely on the condition of the cylinder in the picture. It'd 599.99 with wiggleroom. Wouldn't offer to buy. That price is just wrong.

 

[P5 Guy]

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Yup, run away from that one.
I see better examples for sale locally for $700-900 pretty regularly.

 

[ontarget]

You will be able to find a much better K22 than that for way less money if you look around. Just based on the condition of the cylinder alone I wouldn't consider buying that gun. If some yo-yo did that to the cylinder, imagine what the other moving parts look like.
You already said the cylinder is bound up even when it's open. NOPE. Hard pass for me.

 

[Jonesy814]

Definitely over priced for the condition.

 

[Tallball]

Too expensive. For $500, yeah. Buy it and get it working right and enjoy shooting it. For $1200? No way!

 

[PapaG]

My first really nice gun was a K22 I bought with lawn mowing money around 1960. Sold it for tuition money a few years later. Recently traded for a 1952 model and feel whole again. Same crisp trigger, same bank vault lockup, same fine accuracy. 63 years and it is like having the same gun.
Bumped my 63, Mk II, Single Six right to the back of the safe.

 

[James K2020]

Bought this K-22 last year for $700. Near excellent condition, the light areas are primarily camera flash reflection from the auction photos. Has target hammer and trigger but stocks are from a slightly later model. You shouldn't have to pay $1000 for a nice one- $600-800 is reasonable if you're patient.

 

[James K2020]

An excellent condition 1948 K-22 with 3 Ts just sold today for $630 at auction.

 

[JERRY]

Post #2.