K-22 S&W story

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Drm50

New member
When I was 12 my dad let me buy a Ruger Single-Six, all my buddies had H&R
Iver Johnsons or German copies of SA Colt. My Ruger was like a target pistol
compared to them. When I was 14 I got a K-22 new. I got it in a big trade deal.
I didn't like the looks of a double action, we were Cowboys back then. I didn't
want to shoot it and make it used for trading. One of my dads friends talked us
into shooting it. I never carried that Ruger again. I still own both guns but that
day showed me what a target pistol would do. I've had a couple autos that shot
as well but we're impractical as field guns.
 
Those K-22's surely must have had tiny little Cadillac emblems on them or the boxes somewhere. I've yearned for one for a long time, but I finally managed to get a Model 17-2 that fits the bill well enough. My ex-father-in-law has a K-22 that's just incredible.
 
K22

I agree that the K22 is a very good shooter. I have owned two Ruger Single Six convertibles, both good, fun shooters. The first one was an old model that I owned in the early '70s, the second I bought in the '90s and really enjoyed shooting (the magnum cylinder being a little more accurate) until I got my 1955 K22. After that the Ruger was nothing more than a plinker. Then I got a Colt Officers Model Target... Every bit as accurate as the S&W and just as much fun to shoot.

22Revolvers_zps09ea2b49.jpg


I apologize that I am a poor photographer with a crappy cell phone.
 
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In 1995 I found this 1955 K22 on a gunshow table in Monroe WA for $250 with a scope and a holster cut out for the scope.

It has always shot better than I can shoot, even from a rest.
 
Cool story!!

Being somewhat younger than many of my fellow wheelgun loving peers, I can't quite comprehend a situation where someone would be embarrassed to be seen by his friends with a K-22! :eek::)

I get the whole "cowboy gun" kick of yesteryear's crop of young men... But you were so enamored with them that a K-22 was inferior? Wow!

Trying to think of a contemporary comparison, maybe kind of like being embarrassed to be seen at the range with a Winnie M70 when all your friends are plinking away with tricked out AR's??
 
Howdy

I bought my Model 17-3 brand, spanky new in 1975. I still have the box and all the goodies that came with it. It cost $125, which was a pretty hefty sum for a kid in his twenties back then.

Model_17-3_zps30d7772c.jpg
 
It was more about tradition than functionality,,,

When I was kid I was lucky enough to be able to pack my Mom's gun,,,
It was a Colt Frontier Scout (miniature SAA) in .22 LR,,,
My friends were outfitted like the OP's friends,,,
I was King with my real live cowboy Colt.

Man, you just couldn't play cowboy with a "police style" revolver,,,
At that time form was more important than functionality,,,
Our heroes were Roy Rogers and his contemporaries,,,
None of us wanted to pretend we were Dick Tracy.

It wasn't until my senior year in high school that I warmed to SA/DA revolvers,,,
I still enjoy shooting cowboy SA revolvers for fun and giggles,,,
In fact I just dropped a largish bit of coin on one,,,
But if I want to actually shoot for accuracy,,,
Nothing beats my S&W Models 15/18.

I now await all the posts about how accurate your Ruger SA's are,,,
I'll simply counter in advance by saying this one thing,,,
If it has adjustable rear sights of any kind,,,
It's not a true cowboy shooting iron. ;)

Aarond
 
My 17 dates to sometime in the 70s (don't remember at the moment).

The one downside to them: if you miss, you know it isn't anybody's fault but yours. The gun will definitely do its part.
 
Many years ago I picked up a K22 Masterpiece at an auction. I was amazed at the laser accuracy of that gun. Later I bought a K38 Masterpiece based on my experiences with that K22. Both are amazing for mass produced guns.

Fortunately, I have hung on to them through a couple of divorces and numerous other financial disasters.

1948 K22 'one liner'
IMG_0973-XL.jpg

IMG_0292-XL.jpg


1950 K38
IMG_3573-XL.jpg

IMG_0445-XL.jpg
 
Someday I hafta get me a Model 17 or a pre-17,,,

I have extreme gun envy for those who have a .22 Masterpiece,,,
I don't care if it is a model 17 or a pre-model 17,,,
I just want a 6" K-frame rimfire revolver.

I do collect rimfire/centerfire pairs,,,
Owning a model 14/17 pair would delight me,,,
It would also close out the handgun pairs I hoped to collect.

I got all my other good pairs before S&W prices skyrocketed,,,
I have less than a Grand invested in my other S&W pairs,,,
But I think I waited too long to try and find a 14/17 set.

I'll keep looking for a decent 6" K-frame,,,
Every now and then there are deals that pop up,,,
I just hope I have the money laid back for when it happens.

I have a rule that I've not broken as yet,,,
I never buy a gun on my credit card,,,
Unless I can immediately pay it off.

I'll happily break that rule for a clean Model 17.

Aarond

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Aarond, I've been down that road, and it is a dangerous one. After you get the K22 and the K38, you start looking for the K32, and there starts the fun.
 
I'll keep looking for a decent 6" K-frame,,,
Every now and then there are deals that pop up,,,
Click to expand...

I got lucky with mine. I was hanging out at my buddy's gun shop a few years ago when a guy left after concluding some business. He had just sold that 17 to the store. My friend knows I'm into S&W wheelguns, so he shows it to me and quotes a reasonable price. I bought it on the spot.
 
I was hanging out at my buddy's gun shop a few years ago...
Click to expand...

The Evil Pawn Shop Guy knows my desires,,,
He always calls me when he gets a nice .22 revolver in,,,
I've told him I want a nice 6" K-frame so if he gets one in I'll be notified.

It's good to be friends with your friendly neighborhood gun pushe,,, eerrr,,, dealer.

Aarond

.
 
Hello micromontenegro and technosavant,,,

...he shows it to me and quotes a reasonable price. I bought it on the spot.
Click to expand...

That's what you must be able to do,,,
Take advantage of a deal right when it occurs.

...I've been down that road, and it is a dangerous one.
Click to expand...

Yep,,,
That how I came to own 11 S&W revolvers.

The addiction is fierce. :o

Right now I'm fighting the urge to bid on my holy grail gun,,,
There are two nice S&W Model 45's on gunbroker,,,
Both have a "buy it now" price that scares me.

I won't bid because I can't afford the direct cash outlay,,,
I would have to use a credit card for a year,,,
There lies madness my friends.

Oh well,,,
Like the man said,,,

"You can't always get what you want.
But if you try sometimes,,,
Well you just might find,,,
You get what you need."

I want a model 45,,,
I need a Model 17. ;)

Aarond

.
 
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I was cruising a gun show about 5 years back and this old gentleman had a K22 on his table that didn't look quite right. Something had tainted the finish on one side of the frame but the gun was tight. Then it hit me. The barrel was too short for a K22 and too long for a Combat Masterpiece. On closer inspection I noticed that the Smith & Wesson on the barrel was exactly centered. This was a 5" K22 that I understand could be special ordered. Price was more than reasonable so it came home with me That revolver shoots like a rifle.
Paul B.
 
Aarond,

I still remember when you first started showing interest in centerfire/rimfire pairs here on this forum, I share that interest.

The K-22 is worth to seriously consider. I had paid $250 for mine, which was pretty outrageous at that time. I prefer it clearly over my 1961 Colt OMM, though the accuracy of both guns is excellent.
 
K-22 deal

I notice people posting their good deals on K22s. I think you will grin at this one.
1964, I'm 14. Working at IGA store, Christmas season. Boss gives me bourbon
for dad. Trade bourbon for radio, trade radio for new Rem ss 22, trade 22 for a
Ferlatz combo gun. Trade it for K-22, holster, 22 shells. K-22 at time $100, I found out later that I made terrible trade. Never happened again!
 
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