S&W K-22

centraltexas · 07-10-2008, 06:45 AM

Greetings -
I have a chance to buy a Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece that has a 5" barrel. Does anyone know whether this is likely to be original or is it probably a modification?
Thanks,
Ricks

Clem321 · 07-10-2008, 07:28 AM

I know the K-22 was made with the 6" and 8 3/8" barrels, with some 4", but I am unaware of any 5". I like 5" and had a 617 cut to 5", but I don't know that any factory 5" were made.

samuel · 07-10-2008, 07:46 AM

I see only 6"bbl,s in all three classes of K-22,Sportsman,Pre-war,and Post-war. sam.

Jersey Jailer · 07-10-2008, 10:11 AM

Sam, Ricks

Is it a 5 or 4 screw? And if its a 4 screw is the barrel pinned or "crushed"? If it's a 5 screw. I think the military may have ordered some during the 50's, specifically the Air Force, for training. I'll have to check for you. Under the grips are there any stamps other than the frame & crane no.s? The arrow outlined is the Armorer schools stamp and was the frame number/ production no. stamped on the barrel, under the ejector plunger. If the same number is on all three then its original, not to say it wasn't cut down at one point. Anytime I changed a barrel on a pinned barrel, no matter how careful I was you could always tell it was changed by looking at the pin and frame.

Mike Franklin · 07-10-2008, 10:11 AM

Remember that at one time you could order whatever barrel lenght you wanted. If you take it to a good pistolsmith, by the way the making are on the barrel he can give you a real good guess. If it is a factory 5" then it's worth a little more.
If you're buying it as a shooter and the barrel was cutdown well enough that you can't tell then it shouldn't matter. The K-22 is a great small game, plinker gun.

Jersey Jailer · 07-13-2008, 11:48 PM

Are you measuring from the front of the frame or the rear of the barrel in front of the cylinder?

centraltexas · 07-14-2008, 08:17 AM

Folks -

I thank all of you for your knowledgeable and helpful comments. Years ago, I bought an antique Colt revolver and realized later that the barrel had been shortened (I also learned the hard way that caveat emptor applies to gun shows), so I am being careful about this K-22. It is on order at a sporting goods store from another store, and I will follow the good advice of having a gunsmith examine it before making a final purchase.

CentralTexas

07-10-2008, 06:45 AM	#1
centraltexas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0)	S&W K-22 Greetings - I have a chance to buy a Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece that has a 5" barrel. Does anyone know whether this is likely to be original or is it probably a modification? Thanks, Ricks

07-10-2008, 10:11 AM	#4
Jersey Jailer Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0)	Sam, Ricks Is it a 5 or 4 screw? And if its a 4 screw is the barrel pinned or "crushed"? If it's a 5 screw. I think the military may have ordered some during the 50's, specifically the Air Force, for training. I'll have to check for you. Under the grips are there any stamps other than the frame & crane no.s? The arrow outlined is the Armorer schools stamp and was the frame number/ production no. stamped on the barrel, under the ejector plunger. If the same number is on all three then its original, not to say it wasn't cut down at one point. Anytime I changed a barrel on a pinned barrel, no matter how careful I was you could always tell it was changed by looking at the pin and frame. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Austrailian Shepherds are like potato chips... You can't have just one Last edited by Jersey Jailer; 07-10-2008 at 10:33 AM.

07-10-2008, 10:11 AM	#5
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,277 Trader Rating: (0)	Remember that at one time you could order whatever barrel lenght you wanted. If you take it to a good pistolsmith, by the way the making are on the barrel he can give you a real good guess. If it is a factory 5" then it's worth a little more. If you're buying it as a shooter and the barrel was cutdown well enough that you can't tell then it shouldn't matter. The K-22 is a great small game, plinker gun. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

07-13-2008, 11:48 PM	#6
Jersey Jailer Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0)	Are you measuring from the front of the frame or the rear of the barrel in front of the cylinder? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Austrailian Shepherds are like potato chips... You can't have just one

07-14-2008, 08:17 AM	#7
centraltexas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0)	S&W K-22 Folks - I thank all of you for your knowledgeable and helpful comments. Years ago, I bought an antique Colt revolver and realized later that the barrel had been shortened (I also learned the hard way that caveat emptor applies to gun shows), so I am being careful about this K-22. It is on order at a sporting goods store from another store, and I will follow the good advice of having a gunsmith examine it before making a final purchase. CentralTexas

07-10-2008, 07:28 AM	#2
Clem321 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 55 Trader Rating: (0)	I know the K-22 was made with the 6" and 8 3/8" barrels, with some 4", but I am unaware of any 5". I like 5" and had a 617 cut to 5", but I don't know that any factory 5" were made.

07-10-2008, 07:46 AM	#3
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,050 Trader Rating: (0)	I see only 6"bbl,s in all three classes of K-22,Sportsman,Pre-war,and Post-war. sam.