K-22 manufacture date?

[Oregon Bill]

Have an older K-22 SN 6324XX. Any idea when manufactured? When did S&W introduce the K-22? Thanks!

[S.B.]

Get yourself a copy of S&W standard catalog, then you'll be able to look all your smiths up.

[Oregon Bill]

S.B. Just have the one Smith. It is not marked K-22 anywhere that I can find, so perhaps it precedes the introduction of the model. It has a 6-inch tapered barrel, no rib, and what seems to be a German silver dot inlet into the rear of the front blade sight. By the way, the revolver was purchased three  generations back at Abercrombie and Fitch in New York City.

[Hammerdown]

Hello
You have a first edition K-22 Outdoorsman. It came out in 1931 and the first 500 had the Gold call bead front sight. This sight was used to attract Light and actually Glow when held on target. After the first 500 They changed to the Silver stainless steel one, as a cost measure and it was determined the stainless would have the same effect at a much lesser cost. The stainless front sight bead is on mine, and is like yours as you explained. The new Outdoorsman K-22 Frame was a 32/22 frame what we now call a K frame, and had the newly designed recessed cylinder to safely fire the new high speed .22 Long Winchester ammo. This Winchester ammo was loaded in Copper cases and revolver's without the newly designed recessed cylinder were having problems with cases rupturing, and hurting shooters, and sportsman, as this new modern round had much higher pressures than the previous offered .22 Ammo. This innovative design of recessing the cylinder to make the K-22 safe, by Smith & Wesson would be the most copied design from that time forward on many revolver's as they did Not get a patent on it in the beginning of this new Outdoorsman series revolver. The new exciting K-22 Outdoorsman as S&W called them, was fondly named so to attract the Hunters, sportsman and serious Target shooters. It was the first true full sized Target revolver called the K-22 because of it's frame size which was increased from the earlier  "I" Frame revolver prompted by California dealer Phil Bekeart, which was an earlier target version at a smaller profile. This revolver was larger to give the target shooter the same weight and feel of larger caliber S&W revolvers made at that time. This allowed and easy transition from the non recoiling .22 caliber to the larger .38 Special Military & Police Models of that time, while maintaining a good or correct hold on the Ten ring of targets due to it's exact weight, of the larger caliber's, S&W determined this would also serve as a great training revolver for Police as it's size and dimensions were exact to the current M&P Revolver's made then. This style revolver was made from 1931 to 1939. It came in a Bright Carbona processed Bluing, with a Round tapered 6" barrel. It had adjustable sights and a call bead front sight as I mentioned earlier. They also marked the Trigger that was a gorgeous case hardened along with the hammer on the underside with "PATENT APPLIED FOR" if you look close under both you will see this and later S&W did get a patent on their target hammer's and trigger's. The action on the first model Outdoorsman were the long style action, which meant the hammer had to be pulled farther back than the more modern ones of today. The rear sight is adjustable, and has very small adjustment screws like all Pre-War models back then. One full turn of this screw will change the point of Impact 1" for Each Ten Yards of range. To adjust them, you simply loosen the screw in the direction you wish to compensate, and take up the other side until tight. These were not well liked and replaced in the following model by their patented Micro Click sight's which were much bigger to adjust and had a click system built into them. This first edition K-22 Outdoorsman was a hand made revolver. All action parts and even the wood grips were hand fitted by gun smiths. None of the parts were drop in parts we see today, and that is why they are so smooth. In 1940 It was replaced by the New short action Micro sighted K-22 Masterpiece. This model was released in 1940, and it is said that only 1000 were produced before all civilian revolver production was halted by Government orders to allow for the war effort. Here is my Outdoorsman that was shipped in 1935. It is wearing it's original Circassian Walnut grips, and they are stamped with the serial number of the revolver in the right grip. If I was You, I would have that Outdoorsman lettered by the factory and this will tell exactly when it was shipped and possiblty to who. I hope this information is of use to you, and congratulations on having one of the finest S&W Hand Made revolver's on Earth. long Live the K-22s .Hammerdown

[Oregon Bill]

Hammerdown:
I can't thank you enough for your extensive and and thoughtful reply. This revolver has suffered some exterior pitting on the cylinder from being stored in a sheepskin-lined holster for decades. But it sounds like it might be worth have S&W rebuild it as the bore is excellent.
Again, really appreciate your reply.
Bill

[Hammerdown]

But it sounds like it might be worth have S&W rebuild it as the bore is excellent

Hello Oregon Bill
I looked briefly into the files I have and the serial number of your revolver points to First year issue making it a 1931, but After the first 500 made as they changed the front sight insert to Stainless as I mentioned in my previous response. I would have it lettered at the factory for the $30.00, as this may also show who purchased it, and can add to the revolver's worth. A refinish would take all collector value out of that revolver as well. If you are wanting to have a nice looking revolver, and not concerned about resale value then it can be done, but Not by S&W. They no longer do the old Carbona bluing process, and I also believe they will not work on any revolver's made before 1957. This said you have a couple of other options. I use Ford's in Florida for my refinishing needs, and there is also Doug Turnbull in Up State New York. I do know that Turnbull is one of the Best in the United States at restoring old Winchester's, Colt's and such, But be prepared to have Plenty of cash to spend in his shop. If resale is not an issue, and you want a deep black high bright bluing job, Then Ford's would fit the bill. I believe the prices are set on their web page, and I have dealt with them on 4 different occasions. They are a small family owned refinishing shop, and take deep pride in what they do. I will supply a link at the end of this response to them as well. if you follow the links in their Web site, they have many customer's guns displayed mine included. Best to call and ask first to see if they could do the original look, but I would say from what I have seen in the past they should be able to put that S&W back to looking new..I have had Nickel plating done by Ford's and am waiting on a cylinder I sent for a reblue at this time. The information I supplied, was from an article I have in an American Rifleman magazine I recently purchased off E-Bay. It is the March issue of 1931 if you ever see this issue, they did an excellent review of the Outdoorsman revolver back then. You are lucky to have such a prized revolver, and they are out there, but most that have them are reluctant to part with them, and after handling it awhile and firing it, you will see exactly what I mean. These are a totally Hand Made revolver. This cannot be bought today, and most that did this kind of excellent hand fitting and precise machine work are long gone from this Planet. The article also went on to say that all Outdoorsman's left the factory with a trigger pull at between 2-4 Pounds with No creep. I am sure you have discovered this as well. They said that the inside of the cylinder's was Burnished. This meant S&W polished them to a mirror like finish to allow easy extraction of the then copper cased .22 Ammo Winchester came out with.  This is why a .22 round will feel a tad loose in the cylinder, and it makes extraction a dream as the newer K-22 Models have a habit of sticky extraction because the inside of the cylinders is not as smooth, and thus spent cases stick more. The article went on to say that S&W made claim that this revolver was built to such durable standards that it was capable of firing over 100,000 rounds without issues. An advertisement back then for the new k-22 Outdoorsman stated this in the top of the add.."The K-22 Outdoorsman.. Sturdy as a Tractor... Accurate as a Watch.. Here is that Link to Ford's refinishing, and if you call ask for Larna, she is the Owner, and it is best to call at 9:00 A.M. Eastern time. Here is a Newer style S&W factory presentation case, I refinished and set new Velvet in for my Outdoorsman's resting place, as I did not get the original box, nor can I see paying well over $100.00 for cardboard when they offer this one for $50.00, and it protects the revolver much better.The grip's shown on it, are original Walter Roper grip's dated in the rear by the maker 1936. These grip's were made by Matheis Gagne who was Roper's grip artisan and many shooter's on the Camp Perrys Shooting teams back then replaced the small S&W factory grip's with these custom made target grips. Oddly I came upon them by Purchasing another K-22 way before finding the Outdoorsman they now reside on. Let's SEE that Outdoorsman you have as well in this Thread. I hope this is of Help, Hammerdown

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