S&W 422/622 - what's the story?

[PeterF.]

What's the story on the S&W 422/622?  A friend of mine just bought one.  He likes it fine ... says it functions fine and shoots fairly accurately.  He also has a bunch of fairly-high-end older 22 semi's (Colt Woodsman Match Taget, Browning Medalist, Hi-Standard Olympian, etc.), so he's a fairly discerning owner/shooter.  However, neither of us know much about the 422/622.  It seemed to show up for a while, then disappear from the market; meanwhile, the Model 41 was there before it, and is still there.  Looking at the details, it seems like a wierd design ... maybe European ... but meanwhile it seems to be a fairly decent shooter.  It feels like there's a "story" behind this; so I'm curious as to what  that might be.  Thanks in advance for any info.  Peter F.

[bfoster]

The current 107XX series is almost certainly cheaper to produce. Less machining and fitting is involved.

And BTW, for an entry level 22, the 422/622 series didn't generally shoot poorly.

Bob

[TravisM.]

My Dad has a 422 with a 6" barrel (which is strange, because most with 6" barrels Ive seen are marked "622", but his is marked "422"). It didn't have an adjustable rear sight, but he got one from CDNN, and it is much better now. with the fixed sight, It shot about 1" low, probably due to the sights being that much higher than the bore.

[Colby Bruce]

The #422 series was blued steel/anodized, the #622 was stainless steel/natural alloy, the #2206 was all stainless.  The #422 & #622 series were offered with 4.5" or 6" barrels and fixed or adjustable sights.  One year the #622 was offered with a vent rib type barrel on it.  The #2206 came with either regular S&W adjustable sights or a target version with larger sights.  S&W catalogs offered the #2206 in both barrel lenghts as well, but I have never seen or heard of the 4.5" #2206 other than the catalog.  The compact versions, #2214 (blue) #2213 (stainless) were just pocket models of the #422/622 series guns.  Mine is different, as it was a limited run made with a brushed nickle finish.

My guns in the photo are a 6" 2206 with standard adj. sights; two 622's with 4.5" and fixed sights, a 2213, and a 422 with adj. sights and wood stocks.

The design of this series was basically an upgrade of the #61 Escort pocket pistol.  I owned one of each series, 61-1. 61-2, 61-3 and never had a single problem with them functioning.  Robert Deniro used a Escort in that "Taxi" movie he made with Jodi Foster.  it was the nickle plated gun he kept up his sleeve.

[stevinator]

Colby Bruce has the facts about this pistol in the above post. All I can add is if you ever think about buying one buy it.I've had buckmarks and rugers and they are good but this light little pistol is easy to clean and will shoot anything you feed it.Mine is a 422 blued with adj sights and wood grips with 6'' barrel.

[RollTide]

I don't own a 422, but the one my Bro. in law used to own was the most accurate 22 pistol I have ever fired.  I could hit anything with it at 25 yards and I am not that great a pistol shot.  It has made me want one ever since.  I ended up buying a SW22S and have not been dissatified in the least, but I would still like to have a 422 if it would shoot like the one I shot before.

Roll Tide

[daddywpb]

I have (had) a blued, 6" 422 with adjustable sights, and it has always been a great shooter. My daughter has now claimed it as her own.