S&W 22 revolver

[crazy mark]

I picked up a 22 cal revolver today with a 6" bbl. Not sure what model it is. Ser # is K 379XX. No ther real identifying marks on it except S&W on one side of the bbl and 22 long rifle ctg on the other side of the barrel. Has an adjustable rear sight. I do know it is a K frome.
Thanks, Mark

[MT Gianni]

K frame 6" blued should be a M17 if it doesn't predate it. The 4" was the Mod 18 AIRC. Great guns.

[home in oz]

Was this called a K-22?

[crazy mark]

Was this called a K-22?

It's either a K 22 or a mod 17. I think a model 17 but no prefix number in front of the letter. I know the revised model 17's had a number in front of the K.

[BruceB]

The longer-barreled K-frame .22 was called the Target Masterpiece and /or K-22 until S&W began numbering the various models instead of naming them, in the late 1950s. The K-22 became the Model 17 at that time, with Patridge front sight and either 6" or 8.375" barrel. As mentioned, the 2" or 4" K-frame .22 "Combat Masterpiece" became the Model 18 at that time, with a ramp-style front sight. The equivalent .38 versions became Model 15 for 2" and 4", and Model 14 in 6" and 8.375".

Engineering changes in all models over the years were indicated by "dash numbers", giving us the M17-1, M17-2, M17-3 etc. For example, I have a .357 Model 27-6 and a .357 Model 19-3.

As production figures grew, numbers were added before the "K" in the serial number, such as 3K12345.

Whether named or numbered, the K-frames are surely among the finest handguns ever built, both in concept and execution. I love them dearly.

[home in oz]

Yes, they are works of art.

[FN in MT]

Serial shows it as a 1948 mfg year.

FN in MT

[AZ-Stew]

As a side note, the .22 WRM version was the Model-48. I have two of them, one I took to the S&W west coast service center about 30 years ago and had a .22 LR cylinder fit to it. It shoots better with the LR cylinder than it does with the Magnum. Either way, it's a fine handgun and plenty fun to shoot. I use it as the first revolver for my beginning handgun students. It's not intimidating in any way and helps them learn proper trigger squeeze without developing a flinch.

Congratulations! You got a good 'un.

Regards,

Stew

[crazy mark]

Thanks all for the info. It's my 3rd S&W revolver. Seems like they are coming out of the woodwork around here. My bank account is suffering. Now I'll have to buy the wife something. Maybe even go visit her this week-end. Mark

[9.3X62AL]

Thanks all for the info. It's my 3rd S&W revolver. Seems like they are coming out of the woodwork around here. My bank account is suffering. Now I'll have to buy the wife something. Maybe even go visit her this week-end. Mark

True that, same story to some extent on classic Colts revolvers. How AWFUL. :)

[Three44s]

I figure a handgunner is always "in training" ........

....... and my "trainer" is also a K22 ......

Mine is a '56 vintage .......... just like ME!!!

Three 44s

[44man]

One of the most accurate .22 revolvers ever made, a wonderful gun. Your only problem will be to find what it likes out of all the junk .22 ammo made today. You might need to buy expensive ammo for target.
I get so tired of different reports from each shell, some crack and some just go "bloop". CCI seems to make the best of the cheaper rounds. WW bulk is the worst.

[mtgrs737]

When it comes to mass produced 22LR. rounds CCI seems to be on the top of the heap. But also the most expensive, however they feed well in all my autoloaders and that accounts for something. The other cheap 22's are hit and miss in my experiance, but are OK for plinking at moderate ranges. The premium 22's I shoot very little of due to the high cost and the fact that most of what I do it plinking anyway.

[9.3X62AL]

As time goes on, I buy less and less of the bulk/cheep 22 LR ammo, and more of the CCI Mini-Mags. These work in EVERYTHING, and are accurate in EVERYTHING. Even when plinking, those uneven reports annoy me in no small way--and I figure a little of the money I save on centerfires by pouring my own can be diverted to better and more consistent rimfire fodder. Life is too short to put up with shoddy ammo performance.