Smith and Wesson K-22 Masterpiece

[Bill99]

I am a fan of revolvers, love the workmanship of the old Smiths. My favorite is the K-22 masterpiece. I have a 1950's version in excellent condition. They are fun to shoot, have the same weight as the larger smiths, and shoot any 22L ammo. I have never had a misfire, and the ammo is cheap. Mine is the 6 inch model. Anyone else shooting the k-22 alot because of the price of ammo?

[pmclaine]

I shoot mine weekly. It was passed to me from my step father. I think it is 50's vintage with a 6" barrel. I have the instructions and gold cardboard box it came in. I use it to get extra practice without the expense of .40 and .45 cal rounds I usually shoot. The K-22 is the gun I am the most accurate with. Unlike you I have had misfires but I blame the ammo not the gun.

[Oyaji]

Never did have a K-22 Masterpiece but, did have it's big brother the K-38 with a 6" bbl and a Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. Just recently put my ten-shot Model 617 on the selling block. All sweet shooting revolvers!

[Nick Riviezzo]

I never had a K-22,I always wanted one and I have the promise of a gold boxed one[1950s?]as an inheritance some day. I have had a number of Mod. 18 .22 Combat Masterpieces and never"met one I didn't like". My most used S&W .22s are Mod .41s but this is the wrong place for that! I have a 317-2 1 7/8ths" AirLite in .22 that I drop in my pocket[with pocket holster of course] when I go to the mail box or close in around the house. I keep the first two chambers loaded with shot. We seem to be on the migratory route for snakes during the spring and fall.They leave the "small woods"across the street going to the "big woods"[Ft. Rucker, Al.] behind my house ,in the spring,and vise versa in the fall. For times I'm worried about dog packs or rabid animals I have a Mod. 60-15 .357 Mag. 3" with shot, wads,and Silvertips stagger loaded.If I go off the property I carry any of a number of .45 Autos for bigger varmits,again, off topic here. Regards, Nick

[Dave in NGA]

The K frame Smiths are some of the finest revolvers ever made. I started out with the 4" M-15 Combat Masterpiece and added the M-18 22 caliber twin. With age I find I shoot the 6" K-17 better than it's 4" brother. I once had the M-19 with 2 and 1/2 inch barrel and found it shot as well as it's longer barreled cousins. It surprises me how many of these fine old revolvers turn up on the used gun shelf. Since revolvers are no longer in vogue, the price on a good used piece can be very reasonable.

[El Paso Mark]

I have a 17-3. Love it . 6-inch barrel, target sights, target stocks, target hammer, target trigger. She's like a Swiss watch. Beauty!

Cheers,

Mark

[bruce]

Bought a S&W 17-1 a few weeks ago. I have fired about 1,000 rds. so far of mostly Fed. Hi-Power and CCI Blazer .22 LR ammunition. Excellent revolver! No problems at all. Did not even have to adjust the sights. It hit precisely at POA from the very first round. Along with my S&W 18-3, the .22 LR revolvers are my favorite handguns.

[Art]

My first ever duty revolver was a 2" barrel Model 15, it was a beautiful thing. I later followed it up with anonther 2" Model 15 which I had rebarreled to 4" by the Border Patrol gunsmith. When we were required to switch to .357 Magnum revolvers I gave it to a dear friend who was a Customs Special Agent who carried it for several more years. At the academy the first pistols we shot were Smith & Wesson Model 18 4" barrel .22 Combat Masterpieces, the sweetest .22 caliber hadguns I've ever used.

[da gimp]

Brother in law has a 99.95% Mod 48 .22 mag , (bare hint of a partial turn line on cyl)in a dern near perfect box with everything (flawless diamond cokes) that I drool over each time that I see it. They just tug at the heart..................the crew that built this pistol were proud of their products & their craftmanship shows.

[Johnny P]

One of my favorite carry pistols is this Smith & Wesson Model 43 Airweight Kit Gun. The frame and cylinder are aluminum, and it has a 3 1/2" barrel. I bought it used, and carried it for quite a few years when I was metal detecting Civil War battlefields and campsites. It weighs slightly over 14 ounces, is very accurate, and you never know you have it strapped to your waist.

http://i54.tinypic.com/1255hzl.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/90dd1d.jpg

[da gimp]

tis pretty John, I seem to tell you & Holbrook that quite often.

[John Sukey]

Have a K-22 that was shipped in 1936, only it was called an "outdoorsman " at the time. The previous owner took excellent care of it as there is just a bit of wear on the bluing at the muzzle.

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

I knew this guy who let me fire his K-17 -- on single-action it was the first time I ever understood the term "a glass rod breaking."

Yes, it shot a lot better than I did.

[Bayonetman]

This is mine. A 12th birthday present in 1953 (although it was a few years before I could keep it myself). I can't even guess how many rounds have been through this in the 57 years since I got it. Well worn and well loved. Almost as tight as new (probably tighter than some new ones now) and has always shot better than I can hold.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/bayonetman/Collection/Small.jpg

[PhillipM]

Honest wear is a beautiful thing. It means the gun has many stories.

[Dave in NGA]

Today the "blind pig found an acorn". I stopped by one of my favorite gun emporiums and saw a near-new Model 48. It sports a 4" barrel and shows minimal wear. I've been on the outlook for one of these for years. The few I've seen were either poor condition or the newer un-pinned barrel types. This is the first I've come across meeting my requirements. Unfortunately, the old fellow who traded it in lost the original box, Bummer. According to the "Standard Catalog of S%W" it was made in 1980. My other K-frame smiths are all older examples and there's a notable difference in fit and finish. This one shows some tool marks on the outside. I guess many of the 'old hands' had retired by this time or S&W was pushing for numbers over quality. All and all, I"m well pleased with this purchase.

[noslack 327]

I have a model 18, It was owned by the phoenix police department, It was one of about 50 and has had many rounds through it, The department sold them when they changed to semi autos. They sold them to the officers for 100 dollars each.

[pmclaine]

The K22

11318

The K22 with the 27-2

11319

K 165453

11320

N201640

11321

If anyone has any information regarding when these may have been built it would be greatly appreciated. I plan on shooting the K22 tomorrow. Great guns.

[randy langford]

Just got it this weekend trigger is very light in single action will take some getting used to. The gun is more accurate than I am capable of.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll222/rlangford67/smithwesson17001.jpg

[Whip Lash]

I have a Smith & Wesson Model 14 with 8 3/8" barrel. It is a .38 caliber and looks as new in the box. It is one very sweet revolver.

[RCS]

Back during the 1950's a few K-22's were converted to the 224 Harvey Kay Chuk or a 22 Hornet with a sharp shoulder. Christy Gun Works (Calif) had been making cylinders for the Colt SA in 22 Hornet but the 22 Harvey wildcat was alot better. The 22 rim fire cylinder on the K-22 was rechambered for the 224 Harvey Kay Chuk widcat plus the center fire conversion to the hammer. Rifles were also converted too.

The 224 Harvey Kay Chuk fires a 40 gr bullet at 1650 fps (not a 8 3/8 bbl ) and was quite accurate. I don't think many of these early conversions are still around but an interesting conversion. Photo shows the 22411584 Harvey Kay Chuk on the right

[NuJudge]

At about age 6, my father gave me my first pistol shooting lessons with a 4" heavy barreled model 17. A few years ago I was offered a 1946 K22 with a 6" skinny barrel. I did not like the grips until I put on a spacer behind the trigger guard. Now I really like it, probably better than the model 17.

[RCS]

Interesting fact is that S&W produced 30 revolvers (Model 17) in 224 Kay Chuk, some advanced collector might have one !