Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy Again
Let's move into the 20th Century.
Let's talk 22s.
First, we'll talk about the tiny seven shot, 22 Long, M Frame 22 Hand Ejectors best known as the Ladysmiths.
This 1st Model Ladysmith left the factory in June of 1903.
This 2nd Model Ladysmith left the factory in July of 1907.
This photo of a 3rd Model Ladysmith shows how tiny they were. This one left the factory in May of 1910.
The little Ladysmiths were the only 22 Hand Ejectors S&W made up until 1911, when a San Francisco dealer named Philip Bekeart persuaded the company to make a short run of 22 Rimfire target revolvers on the 32 caliber sized I frame. The one at the top is much later than the original Bekearts, but it has the typical Bekeart style grips. It left the factory in June of 1940. The one on the bottom left the factory in December of 1923. Because these revolvers were much bigger than the tiny Ladysmiths, they were usually cataloged as the 22/32 Heavy Frame Target models. These were the forerunners of the popular 22/32 Kit Guns.
In 1931, Smith and Wesson built their first 22 Rimfire revolver on the 38 sized K frame.
The first ones were called the K-22 Outdoorsman. They had an adjustable rear sight and a tapered barrel without a rib. In 1940 a new micrometer click sight was incorporated and the name was changed to K-22 Masterpiece. Only about 1000 of these were made before WII intervened. After the war, K-22 Masterpiece production started up again with a serrated rib on top of the barrel. Finally, in 1957 the name was changed from K-22 to Model 17.
Left to right in this photo are a K-22 Combat Masterpiece that probably left the factory around 1953, a K-22 Outdoorsman that left the factory in March of 1935, another K-22 Outdoorsman that left the factory in July of 1932, a Post War (not the rare ones) K-22 Masterpiece from June of 1950, and a Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975.
This photo gives a good size comparison of, top to bottom, a K-22, a 22/32 Heavy Frame Target, and a Ladysmith.
Let's move into the 20th Century.
Let's talk 22s.
First, we'll talk about the tiny seven shot, 22 Long, M Frame 22 Hand Ejectors best known as the Ladysmiths.
This 1st Model Ladysmith left the factory in June of 1903.
This 2nd Model Ladysmith left the factory in July of 1907.
This photo of a 3rd Model Ladysmith shows how tiny they were. This one left the factory in May of 1910.
The little Ladysmiths were the only 22 Hand Ejectors S&W made up until 1911, when a San Francisco dealer named Philip Bekeart persuaded the company to make a short run of 22 Rimfire target revolvers on the 32 caliber sized I frame. The one at the top is much later than the original Bekearts, but it has the typical Bekeart style grips. It left the factory in June of 1940. The one on the bottom left the factory in December of 1923. Because these revolvers were much bigger than the tiny Ladysmiths, they were usually cataloged as the 22/32 Heavy Frame Target models. These were the forerunners of the popular 22/32 Kit Guns.
In 1931, Smith and Wesson built their first 22 Rimfire revolver on the 38 sized K frame.
The first ones were called the K-22 Outdoorsman. They had an adjustable rear sight and a tapered barrel without a rib. In 1940 a new micrometer click sight was incorporated and the name was changed to K-22 Masterpiece. Only about 1000 of these were made before WII intervened. After the war, K-22 Masterpiece production started up again with a serrated rib on top of the barrel. Finally, in 1957 the name was changed from K-22 to Model 17.
Left to right in this photo are a K-22 Combat Masterpiece that probably left the factory around 1953, a K-22 Outdoorsman that left the factory in March of 1935, another K-22 Outdoorsman that left the factory in July of 1932, a Post War (not the rare ones) K-22 Masterpiece from June of 1950, and a Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975.
This photo gives a good size comparison of, top to bottom, a K-22, a 22/32 Heavy Frame Target, and a Ladysmith.