[riverranger]

I read on someone's post here that you could actually pin the date it left the factory down to the month. My Smith book only gives the year. Where can I find that info, or do I need to post the serial number here and have you guys find out? I have seven K-series revolvers, starting in 1939 and going up to 1970.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

For revolvers made from the mid-1970's or so upward, the label on the box gives the Julian date of manufacture. Outside of that, you will need an historian's letter to nail down the date.

 

[jonesy814]

Quite a few people here have lettered a revolver or 2. If your serial number happens to be near one of those, then we can give you a pretty good idea within a few months. Otherwise it would take an historians letter to nail it for sure

 

[riverranger]

OK, thanks. The month was not so important to me, but it sounded so easy, the way guys were throwing those dates around!
Here's what I have:

K-22 Outdoorsman, 1st Model 1939

Pre-war, K-22 Masterpiece, 2nd model 1940

Post-war, K-22 Masterpiece, 3rd model 1952

K-22 Target Masterpiece, Mod. 17-2 1964

K -32 Target Masterpiece, Pre-Mod. 16 1955

K -38 Target Masterpiece, Pre-Mod. 14 1948

K -38 Target Masterpiece, Mod. 14-3 1970

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Ooooohhh! I do hope you'll share some salacious pictures with us. We LOVE gun porn.

It's easy to throw dates around. We generally get them from the Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition by Supica and Nahas. The tables in the SCSW are ballpark for some and mere guestimation for others. Some of us also track certain models and keep databases of known shipping dates per serial number mostly gleaned from folks publishing their historian's letter. Also, members of the S&W Collectors Association have access to a SN database and direct access to the historian for an informal "look-up." (He has the shipping records.) I see you don't have a 1917 Military Hand Ejector (.45 DA) in your collection. Manufacture dates by month and year are available online from the Army's records during their occupation of S&W in WWI. So, we can usually answer queries on most S&W handguns.

I see you have a .32 Masterpiece. Just to get the juices flowing, here's my custom 5" .32 Combat Masterpiece.

 

[riverranger]

Beeeeeeutiful gun, Guy.

I'll try to get some pics posted tomorrow.

 

[K22]

That's a nice collection. My range is nowhere near yours but I am working on having Kxxxx through K9xxxxx (not inclusive of course, )

K8xxx, K-22, 1947
K1xx,xxx, K-38, 1951
K2xx,xxx, K-38 CM, 1955
K3xx,xxx, K-38 CM, 1957
K5xx,xxx, Model 15-2 CM, 1963
K7xx,xxx, Model 19-2, 1968
K8xx,xxx, Model 14-3, 1969
K9xx,xxx, Model 15-3, 1970
6K2x,xxx, Model 18-3, 1974

still need a K4xx,xxx and a K6xx,xxx.

 

[riverranger]

Wow! Nice collection.
Here's the first picture of three of mine. I'll get some more pics today.

 

[K22]

Beautiful trio. The K-32 remains on my bucket list where it will more than likely stay but I can still dream. I did finish my Model 10 collection goal last year. A Model 10 no dash through the Model 10-10. Only one duplicate; a Model 10-5 blue and nickle.

 

[riverranger]

Incredible! Wow, some of you guys have the collector disease worse than me!

Here are my two favorite K-22's in my collection:

This one is a K-22 Outdoorsman from 1939. Thanks to the letter that it came with, I know It was shipped with the "Humpback Hammer".

.


This one is a K-22 Masterpiece made in 1940 (one of approx. 1,000) This was my father-in-law's gun. Wish I had the box!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

RR, would you post some closeups of the hammers on those K-22s and the micro-click rear sight on the K22/40? I imagine there are some members who have never seen these components close up and they are both first, and last, of a kind,

 

[riverranger]

You bet. I'll take some pics in the morning.

 

[riverranger]

Guy,
As you requested, here are the pics of the first of the micrometer click sights that S&W made, and the Humpback Hammer:


Here is the Humpback Hammer that was available starting in the '30's as a special order. This one is on the K-22 Outdoorsman of 1939

Here is the new Micrometer Click rear sight, begun with the "Masterpiece" series. This one is on my 1940 K-22

 

[Forester]

Wonderful!

My example from ‘38

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Breathtaking guns, gentlemen! RR, one more request, take a picture of both guns with the hammers cocked, please.

 

[riverranger]

OK, here you go

 

[Wiregrassguy]

That's a terrific shot showing the long and short throw hammers cocked and ready! Thanks!!