S&W K22 Fans - What Have I Got?

Jeff Higgins · 03-12-2008, 11:47 AM

O.k. guys, as most of you know, I'm a fairly avid shooter. Mostly into the older single shots and black powder in general, but not adverse to some more "modern" guns. In addition, I'm a very avid Single Action man, owning only one double action revolver in my entire life (a little Charter Arms Bulldog Pug in .44 Special). To be honest, I have never really paid all that much attention to double action sixguns.

Well, I picked another one up over the weekend. A relatively new neighbor and I were out in the driveway just shooting the bull, and he noticed my bullet casting stuff in the garage, so he asked what it was. He had never heard of such a thing. Turns out he had a couple of guns that he didn't shoot much. An "old .22 revolver that I can't hit anything with", an old pump shotgun, and a ".30-'06". Hmmm...

I asked him what his plans were for them. With kids in their future plans, the wife didn't really want any of them in the house, especially "that handgun". So I offered as I might be able to help him out, and give it a new home where it would be loved and cherished. He ran right in and grabbed it; I took a look at it, and jokingly offered him a hundred bucks for it. He looked stunned. "I can't do that to you; we're neighbors. I'll let you have it for $75".

So what do I have?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

You stole it. I sold that same gun about two years ago for over $200. I can't remember exactly how much but between $200-$300.

tabs · 03-12-2008, 12:40 PM

Try closer to $500.00..It is a 5 screw Postwar Smith made prior to @ 1955. I am knocking it to about 96%, it it is clsoer to NIB than over $500 closer to $600. It is one of the best.

Jeff Higgins · 03-12-2008, 01:03 PM

Wow; I thought I got a screaming deal, but nothing like that. Maybe I shouldn't have run right on down to my Kenmore range and put half a brick through it Monday after work (my own personal "daylight savings" ritual is to go shoot the first day after work it remains light long enough to do so). Oh well; they are built to be shot.

I'm planning on carrying it as my sidearm this coming hunting season, especially after shooting it. It has a great trigger and shoots far better than my old Single Six. Head shot accuracy on grouse darn near out to 40-50 yards. Pretty impressive. All but for the fact it shot way too low, even with the rear sight topped out on its adjustment. No wonder my neighbor couldn't hit anything with it.

All of my fixed sight Peacemakers shot low out of the box, too. Actually low and left. The idea is that you can screw the barrel in a bit more, and file down the front sight to get them zeroed. I figured the same must be true of the Smiths, except they have enough windage to not have to turn the barrel. You do have to file that front sight, though.

I took the photo on Sunday before I hit the range, so you can't see how much I had to take off. It turned out to be enough to where I actually had to file the ramp on both sides of the post to even retain a post. A little touch up with some blueing pencil, and it's really hard to tell it's been altered. And now it shoots where it looks. The grouse are in big trouble this fall...

Groesbeck Hurricane · 03-12-2008, 01:18 PM

It is hard to tell from the photo but the bluing on the end of the barrel looks worn. Do NOT touch it up. $300-500 tops, but I haven't been doing this in a couple of years...

Something someone who collects Smith might want for theirs.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

I don't know if I'd treat it like a $75 gun. Not many .22 revolvers superior to that one. I've got two left, a buddy talked me out of the worst one.
Jim

RPKESQ · 03-12-2008, 03:53 PM

Now you've turned it into a $75.00 gun.

Jeff Higgins · 03-12-2008, 04:23 PM

One of the other things that was bothering me on this gun was the grip shape. When I tried wearing it in a normal hip holster, the sharp edge of the butt was constantly lifting my shirt and digging into my side. So I pulled the grip panels to see what could be done, and low and behold, the grip frame is a lot smaller than the grips. Not at all like my Colts. There is a lot of wood behind the backstrap, and below the backstrap.

Anyway, I went to work with my little belt sander out in the garage. I managed to turn those oversized grips into a pretty fair representation of what is known as a "round butt" grip. I figure with the almost non-recoil of the .22 LR, I won't need such a large, cumbersome grip. Granted, it makes the checkering look a little out of place, but the trade off is worth it. It rides far better in a holster now, and does not lift my shirt and dig into my side. It's starting to take shape as a pretty fair working gun.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Jeff, slight chance that I have an extra set of grips for this. I think I sold my dad's with some other kind of grips on it. I'm all packed up ready to move to Phoenix next week. But remind me in a month or so to look for them when I get my old gun stuff unpacked.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Here's the one I sold. Might have those other grips somewhere.