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Calfed
09-14-2015, 11:48
I've been looking at 5-screw S&W's for some time now, especially .22 caliber. I glommed one at an auction the other day and it arrived at my FFL last week..

Only have the auction pics now...

http://i.imgur.com/JLeXOtS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3MX2hQS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bWtu6mF.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZGl3DOt.jpg

It is in excellent condition, with just a little blueing wear at the muzzle and the front of the frame, near the crane.

dave
09-14-2015, 01:36
Not knocking the gun (I always wanted one) but the cylinder also has the pal wear on it. Either out of time or someone constantly dropped the hammer from half cock w/o going to full cock first, and turned cyl. by hand to a notch. With SA Colts that is a killer!

Johnny P
09-14-2015, 02:48
Not knocking the gun (I always wanted one) but the cylinder also has the pal wear on it. Either out of time or someone constantly dropped the hammer from half cock w/o going to full cock first, and turned cyl. by hand to a notch. With SA Colts that is a killer!

Does a S&W revolver have a half cock?

wiley
09-15-2015, 10:08
No half cock, but you will want to get a bottle of finger print remover!

Johnny P
09-15-2015, 11:55
None of my S&W revolvers have a half cock, but they all have the turn ring from being shot many times. Doesn't hurt a thing.

Allen
09-15-2015, 12:30
None of my S&W revolvers have a half cock, but they all have the turn ring from being shot many times. Doesn't hurt a thing.

10-4. The cylinder stop is spring loaded. With the cylinder open you can depress the stop with your finger and it will return---it always drags on the cylinder and starts making a ring from day one when they are new. I have a model 17 K-22 (3 screw) and a 10 shot 617, both with 6" barrels like yours. They are very accurate and fine weapons but for what they cost they should be.

dave
09-16-2015, 06:19
Did not know that (obviously). Seems like a rather bad cosmetic defect! Never owned any Smith's.

Calfed
09-16-2015, 10:18
No half cock, but you will want to get a bottle of finger print remover!

The FFL that shipped it on behalf of the auction house wiped it down before shipping it. No fingerprints when it arrived. Not sure why the auction house didn't do it before taking the pics for the auction.

Calfed
09-16-2015, 10:25
10-4. The cylinder stop is spring loaded. With the cylinder open you can depress the stop with your finger and it will return---it always drags on the cylinder and starts making a ring from day one when they are new. I have a model 17 K-22 (3 screw) and a 10 shot 617, both with 6" barrels like yours. They are very accurate and fine weapons but for what they cost they should be.

Thanks, Allen.

I've got a number of S&W revolvers and have been looking for a K frame .22 for a while now. I was happy to get this one, especially since it was a 5 screw model.

Calfed
09-16-2015, 10:35
Did not know that (obviously). Seems like a rather bad cosmetic defect! Never owned any Smith's.

I have several of S&W revolvers and the only ones that do not have "drag lines" from the cylinder stop are two model 27's that are unfired. I don't know of any revolver collectors who consider drag lines to be "defects"--cosmetic of otherwise.

Johnny P
09-17-2015, 06:08
Defect and cosmetic seems to be at opposite ends of the descriptive spectrum.

dave
09-18-2015, 07:09
How is the cly stop lowered in order to rotate cylinder to next chamber, when firing?

Allen
09-18-2015, 07:32
It is pulled down when pulling the trigger or hammer then releases quickly back into place. If you open the cylinder and pull the hammer back you will notice that it only pulls down long enough to clear the slot in the cylinder then snaps back. It then rides on the cylinder and falls into the next stop slot so it leaves a ring from one slot to the next. There's no portion of the cylinder that won't have a ring. The wear only gets so bad and that's it. I have 8 Smiths, my model 29 has been shot the most and the ring isn't very bad. It doesn't leave a noticeable groove in the cylinder or anything. For the quality, fit, feel and accuracy of these pistols I find this to be a minor dislike.

Calfed
09-21-2015, 10:17
I picked up the revolver and took a few pictures. The gun is all matching, including the grips. It doesn't look bad for a gun that is 60 years old--bluing excellent and only a few minor scratches. Based on the condition, I would say that this did not get fired much. There is a little blue wear at the muzzle, on the cylinder and at the front of the crane

http://i.imgur.com/XOzUyf4.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/5A3BYJ0.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/NYaYa2R.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/jIZfw7z.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/LB0J79f.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/M5bgJsS.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/LbAa5OP.jpg?1

Johnny P
09-22-2015, 05:42
Very nice S&W.

Calfed
09-22-2015, 11:38
Thanks, Johnny. I'm hoping to get to the range with this one soon.

Allen
09-22-2015, 12:57
Yes, very nice. I would estimate yours being from the mid to late 50's or so. Mine is from the late 60's to early 70's. It's not in as nice of shape as yours, it's a shooter and the picture shows the cylinder ring represented by a lot of love. I bought this used sometime around 1977 for $125.

Scott Wilson
09-25-2015, 04:42
For many years Smith & Wesson revolvers were the finest thing of their kind that could be had, at any price. Nice K-22.

Calfed
09-25-2015, 04:57
Yes, very nice. I would estimate yours being from the mid to late 50's or so. Mine is from the late 60's to early 70's. It's not in as nice of shape as yours, it's a shooter and the picture shows the cylinder ring represented by a lot of love. I bought this used sometime around 1977 for $125.

Thanks, Allen...that is a pretty nice looking one you have there yourself.


For many years Smith & Wesson revolvers were the finest thing of their kind that could be had, at any price. Nice K-22.

Thanks, Scott

It is amazing how inexpensive these top quality S & W revolvers once were. I was looking at the box that my Model 49 came in...still has the sticker from when I bought it brand new back in 1978--$150.

http://i.imgur.com/2pCTaF7.jpg?2

And the ad that was passed around the office a few years later for my 3" model 66-- $283, including Massachusetts sales tax

http://i.imgur.com/5U1L0lR.jpg?1

I still have both of them and they are still amazing firearms.

http://i.imgur.com/gQEXgxo.jpg?1

Bill99
09-26-2015, 10:36
Nice looking k-22. I saw one at a dealer in CA about 6 years ago, and it was in 99 % condition. In CA it had to be at least 50 years old to be sold, so I knew it was hard to find. I paid 700 for it, and lots of people thought that was way too much, but from what I see they are more now. It's my favorite plinker, fun to shoot and super accurate.

pmclaine
09-27-2015, 05:09
Mine with box....
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af178/pmclaine/SW002.jpg (http://s1005.photobucket.com/user/pmclaine/media/SW002.jpg.html)

and some relatives...

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af178/pmclaine/52-2001.jpg (http://s1005.photobucket.com/user/pmclaine/media/52-2001.jpg.html)

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af178/pmclaine/SW007.jpg (http://s1005.photobucket.com/user/pmclaine/media/SW007.jpg.html)

Allen
09-27-2015, 06:33
Nice. They look mint. Those old gold boxes sell for a premium by themselves. I have even seen repro boxes for the model 16 K-32.

Calfed
09-27-2015, 03:01
Nice. They look mint. Those old gold boxes sell for a premium by themselves. I have even seen repro boxes for the model 16 K-32.

+1 excellent revolvers! There is something about those 3 1/2" model 27's. Always been a favorite of mine.

Is that a 52-2?

I've got two 5" model 27's, unfired in the box.

http://i.imgur.com/nCOlu9Y.jpg?1

pmclaine
09-28-2015, 06:37
The semi is a dash 2.

I lucked into that when had a hankering for a Model 39. I thought it was a 9mm model and was surprised when the counter man told me "No its a wad gun". I couldnt imagine a semi relibly feeding blunts so besides it being in a caliber I wanted to reload for because I owned the 27, a 36 and a Colt Police Positive I became hooked. The 52 is imbued with magical accuracy by trols of the underworld.

The 27 doesnt go out much but last weekend I was out a Farm and able to open carry so it was in its element. Shooting my 2 plus grains of W231 52-2 wadcutter loads it is a pussy cat to shoot and more accurate than me.

Calfed
09-28-2015, 08:48
I've always wondered how well those M52's fed wadcutters. Does the ramp look special?

S&W used to advertise the M52 as shooting "mid-range" wadcutters. What velocity do you load for? Back in the day, wadcutters were ridiculously cheap. Now they are ridiculously expensive--when you can find them.

I'm in the hunt for a 3 1/2" M27. Unfortunately, living in California, there are complications involved.

pmclaine
09-28-2015, 11:54
Nothing special on the ramp. Trying to remember what it looks like as I type, IIRC its similar to that in my S&W M&P in that its not cut into the chamber but actually a real ramped chamber.

I havent loaded for it in a while so i dont have the recipe on hand but Im pretty sure its between 2-3 grains of W231 and above the 2.5 grain area. I buy precision delta 148 HBWCs and they have worked great in the semi and the revolvers. I seat them flush to just the edge of my fingernail high than let my crimp die barely round the top edge of the round. At todays prices and scarcity its probably cheaper than .22 to shoot.

Calfed
09-28-2015, 10:30
Sounds like quite a gun.

dave
03-16-2016, 02:25
I have several of S&W revolvers and the only ones that do not have "drag lines" from the cylinder stop are two model 27's that are unfired. I don't know of any revolver collectors who consider drag lines to be "defects"--cosmetic of otherwise.

Colt SA Army guys certainly do!

Johnny P
03-17-2016, 05:52
The classic load for the .38 wadcutter is 2.7 grains of Bullseye and the 147 grain wadcutter bullet.

Johnny P
03-19-2016, 06:08
Colt SA Army guys certainly do!

Those are generally the ones that think that every gun should be shot, but when it starts to show wear it needs to be sent back for refinishing.

pmclaine
03-19-2016, 06:31
The classic load for the .38 wadcutter is 2.7 grains of Bullseye and the 147 grain wadcutter bullet.

I use Precision Delta 148 grain hollow base wadcutters. I know my load is in the 2's. Its been awhile since I loaded them I made so many last time.

They are a powder puffing joy to shoot and prove accurate in all my .38s.