I didn't go to the Gunshow Sunday intending to buy a gun. Honestly. I didn't.
However I know now what they mean when they say that a gun can call to you. Cause this one sure did call to me.
It was a typical late winter New England gunshow, perhaps a little bit better than some in recent memory. I saw a nice roughly 1949 K-22 Masterpiece with box. Not bad shape but not as nice as my 1955 versions. I was thinking about it when I saw a nice S&W Model 15 (or so I thought) way over on the other side. Looked at it and it has a serial number of K 67xxx. Hmmm, has to be a pre-Model 15, but not sure how early. Quickly wander over to a book seller and look for a copy of Supica and Nahas to check the date. Hmmm, 1948. Went by the dealer again. By this time my eight-year old is really complaining that he wants to go home. Tell him we will go soon. Look at the gun again, verify price ($300, no haggling, it's a consignment). Ask the dealer to remove the stocks so I can see if they are original and numbered. Cringe as he takes out his Leatherman clone, selects the smallest screw-driver, and works the grip screw. Yep, they are numbered. Fill out the 4473, make out the check, and she's mine.
Get it home and notice the little star after the serial number. First time I have ever seen the sign that the gun has been back to the factory for some sort of work. Take the grips off and see a very small "5 50" on the butt. Wow, refinished only a year or two after manufacture???
Anyways, do some quick research. Serial number listing in Supica and Nahas says this is a 1948 gun but the model was introduced in 1949. No big mystery here since S&W often used parts and made guns slightly out of serial number sequence. But this certainly was an early version of this model. Time for a history request to Roy Jinks.
Oh, and i have a card from the shop that had the 1949 K-22. They are just 50 miles down the road. Looks like I pull something else out of the safe to sell or trade in a few days or so.
However I know now what they mean when they say that a gun can call to you. Cause this one sure did call to me.
It was a typical late winter New England gunshow, perhaps a little bit better than some in recent memory. I saw a nice roughly 1949 K-22 Masterpiece with box. Not bad shape but not as nice as my 1955 versions. I was thinking about it when I saw a nice S&W Model 15 (or so I thought) way over on the other side. Looked at it and it has a serial number of K 67xxx. Hmmm, has to be a pre-Model 15, but not sure how early. Quickly wander over to a book seller and look for a copy of Supica and Nahas to check the date. Hmmm, 1948. Went by the dealer again. By this time my eight-year old is really complaining that he wants to go home. Tell him we will go soon. Look at the gun again, verify price ($300, no haggling, it's a consignment). Ask the dealer to remove the stocks so I can see if they are original and numbered. Cringe as he takes out his Leatherman clone, selects the smallest screw-driver, and works the grip screw. Yep, they are numbered. Fill out the 4473, make out the check, and she's mine.
Get it home and notice the little star after the serial number. First time I have ever seen the sign that the gun has been back to the factory for some sort of work. Take the grips off and see a very small "5 50" on the butt. Wow, refinished only a year or two after manufacture???
Anyways, do some quick research. Serial number listing in Supica and Nahas says this is a 1948 gun but the model was introduced in 1949. No big mystery here since S&W often used parts and made guns slightly out of serial number sequence. But this certainly was an early version of this model. Time for a history request to Roy Jinks.
Oh, and i have a card from the shop that had the 1949 K-22. They are just 50 miles down the road. Looks like I pull something else out of the safe to sell or trade in a few days or so.
