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1948 Vintage Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece .22 Caliber Revolver w/ Original Gold Factory Box ** Beautiful All-Original 5-Screw **SOLD
Guns International #: 101653280 Seller's Inventory #: M21-1269
Category: Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Model K-22 - Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Rimfire
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Company: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Member Since: 4/27/15
State: Kentucky
Zip: 40503
Country: United States
Phone: (859) 276-1419
Fax: (859) 278-0838
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 191
Total Number of Listings: 14860
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Visa,Master Card, Discover,Check
Description:
Fresh "out of the woodwork" and never before offered on the collector's market, this is a 1948-production 5-screw Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece revolver in .22 rimfire complete with the original gold factory box. This S&W K-22 was bought new in 1948-49 and remained in the same family ever since until now, and has never been altered or "improved" in any way. The post-war Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece (3rd Model) revolver was introduced in 1946 and was an improved model variation from the original K-22 Outdoorsman (1931-1940) and the pre-war K-22 Masterpiece (1940-1941). This was Smith & Wesson's top-of-the-line regular-production .22 caliber DA/SA revolver. The K-frame based K-22 Masterpiece model featured a re-engineered shorter and faster hand-tuned action, a gloss blue or nickel-plated factory finish, a 6" inch round barrel with a serrated rib, a factory hand-fit and tuned anti-backlash trigger with a pull weight between 3 and 4 pounds, a 6-shot fluted cylinder, a color case-hardened finish on the trigger and hammer, an automatic hammer block for improved safety, a new micrometer-click adjustable rear sight, a 1/10" or 1/8" Patridge front sight, and hand-checkered Walnut "Diamond" grips with S&W medallions. This revolver was built the highest standards by S&W's best gunsmiths, one man making each gun from start to finish. The K-22 Masterpiece quickly proved to be superb .22 caliber revolver in every respect. These guns were easily capable of shooting groups measuring less than 1.5" inches at 50 yeards right out of the box! Ultimately the K-22 was a huge commercial success for Smith & Wesson and remained in production under the same model name all the way until 1957, when it was renamed the Model 17. Today these 5-screw K-22 Masterpiece revolvers are very sought-after by both shooters and collectors alike, with all-original examples in excellent condition bringing a premium. This particular example is serial number K38884, and it is in excellent condition overall. The factory gloss blue finish is bright and handsome rating 96%+, showing only some very minor wear and handling marks. The deductions come from a faint drag-line around the cylinder, a touch of finish wear on either side of the muzzle and on some of the high-edges, some finish wear to the shaft of the ejector rod from being depressed, and some pin-prick type speckling on either side of the frame from tiny spots of surface rust removed at some point long ago. As you can see from the pictures provided, none of these deductions detract much from the exceptionally clean overall look of the gun. All of the factory markings are crisp and clean on this revolver, and all of the numbered parts are factory-stamped matching. The case colors on the hammer and trigger are still bright and beautiful even on the most exposed areas, rating 98% overall. The lone deduction from the factory case colors comes from the left-side leading edge of the hammer where it has made metal to metal contact during cycling of the action. This is only visible when the hammer is cocked, and can been seen in the last picture of this listing along with the speckling on the left side of the frame described earlier. The bore in this Smith is mirror-bright and absolutely perfect. There is no pitting, erosion, or imperfections of any kind visible in the barrel. The rifling still looks brand-new with perfectly defined lands and grooves from the forcing cone to the crown of the muzzle. The six chambers of the cylinder are equally as clean and bright. The original grips on this S&W are in beautiful shape, a perfect match to each other in color and grain, and consistent with the rest of the gun in every way. The checkering is still crisp and clean on both sides, both grip panels are perfectly fit to the gun and tight to the frame with no wiggle, and the S&W medallions are in excellent condition on both sides. Both sides show only the most minor of handling/storage marks and no real mechanical wear. The worst of the marks is located on the bottom of the left grip panel where there is a very small check-mark shaped scratch and some small shallow pin prick marks. These can be seen in the close-up photo of that area, picture number 19. The right-side grip is stamped with the matching serial number on the reverse, as-is proper for this model and vintage. The action on this K-22 Masterpiece really has to be felt to truly be appreciated. It is extremely smooth and slick, and it is in perfect time no matter how the gun is operated or what speed it is worked. The hand-tuned trigger is excellent, particularly in single-action operation, and can even be "staged" with just a little practice when fired double-action. All of the controls on this K-22 are in perfect working order, including the elevation and windage adjustments on the rear sight. This K-22 Masterpiece should still function 100% as reliably and accurately today as the day it left the factory over 73 years ago. As mentioned previously, this K-22 comes complete with it's correct original gold factory 2-piece box in good overall condition. The box still has all of the metal-reinforced corners intact, and and all of the artwork and lettering is still intact and legible on both the inside and outside of the box. The exterior does show some light wear and tear from storage, mainly on all of the edges where the cardboard is folded to create the sides. On these edges there is some loss of the exterior textured gold finish, but the flats of the box still have the vast majority of the gold intact and in good shape. This box would have been numbered to the gun with a wax or grease pencil when it left the factory, but that has long since worn off, leaving no trace that we can see. All in all, this is one of the nicest early post-WW2 K-22 Masterpiece revolvers we have had in some time that is complete with the correct box. It would be a superb addition to any Smith & Wesson or vintage .22 caliber revolver collection. This K-22 Masterpiece still has MORE than enough original condition to be considered a great long-term investment piece, but it also displays just enough wear that as long as it is well cared-for, it could be shot by the new owner without harming it's investment value. To many of us here at A&M, this is the best type of vintage S&W to buy.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Handgun Caliber: .22 Short, .22 Long, .22 Long Rifle
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: K-22 Masterpiece (Post-War 3rd Model)
Serial Number: K38884
Barrel Length: 6" Inches
Condition: Excellent
Metal Condition: Very Good / Excellent
Wood Condition: Excellent
Bore Condition: Excellent
Action: Double-Action / Single-Action Revolver
Finish: Gloss Blue / Case Colored
Sights: Target-Style Adjustable Iron Sights
Manufacture Date: 1948
Extras: w/ Original S&W Gold Factory Box