SOLD FOR: $1,615
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: Model 18-3, the K-22 Masterpiece
Serial Number: 15K7080
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Caliber: .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The yoke cut is marked “15K7080 / MOD. 18-3”. The yoke is marked “22009 / B9”. The right side of the barrel is marked “.22 LONG RIFLE CTG.” The right side of the frame is marked with the four line Marcas Registradas address. The right side plate is marked with the S&W logo. The butt is marked “15K7080”. The underside of the right grip is marked “7080”. The left grip frame is marked “9 / 22009 B9 B14 B23”. The right grip frame is marked with a “G” in a circle and an “L” in a triangle.
Barrel Length: 4” Pinned Barrel
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp. The rear sight is an S&W micrometer click square notch adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with brass S&W medallions. There are light handling and compression marks on the grips. The grips rate in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is distinct. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is a faint dragline on the cylinder. There are a couple of handling marks on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions Correctly and features a wide serrated target trigger with a wide target hammer. We did not fire this handgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in its original blue two piece cardboard box with blue metal corner reinforcements and matching end label. Inside the box is the original cleaning kit with loop cleaning rod, bore mop, bore brush, and screwdriver. The original owner’s manual and various informational pamphlets are also included along with the original S&W wrapping paper. The box rates in Fine condition with only light storage wear.
Our Assessment: The Smith & Wesson Model 18 is also known as the K-22 Combat Masterpiece. It is the understudy to the Model 19 .357 Combat Magnum. This is a beautiful, blued six shot .22 Long Rifle with a full size frame and adjustable sights. With its wide target trigger and hammer, it’s a great gun to teach new shooters the fundamentals of marksmanship, or to practice those fundamentals yourself, in the (once) affordable .22 Long Rifle caliber. This one is in Excellent condition and retains its original box making it a prime collector’s piece as well.
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: Model 18-3, the K-22 Masterpiece
Serial Number: 15K7080
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Caliber: .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The yoke cut is marked “15K7080 / MOD. 18-3”. The yoke is marked “22009 / B9”. The right side of the barrel is marked “.22 LONG RIFLE CTG.” The right side of the frame is marked with the four line Marcas Registradas address. The right side plate is marked with the S&W logo. The butt is marked “15K7080”. The underside of the right grip is marked “7080”. The left grip frame is marked “9 / 22009 B9 B14 B23”. The right grip frame is marked with a “G” in a circle and an “L” in a triangle.
Barrel Length: 4” Pinned Barrel
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp. The rear sight is an S&W micrometer click square notch adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with brass S&W medallions. There are light handling and compression marks on the grips. The grips rate in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is distinct. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is a faint dragline on the cylinder. There are a couple of handling marks on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions Correctly and features a wide serrated target trigger with a wide target hammer. We did not fire this handgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in its original blue two piece cardboard box with blue metal corner reinforcements and matching end label. Inside the box is the original cleaning kit with loop cleaning rod, bore mop, bore brush, and screwdriver. The original owner’s manual and various informational pamphlets are also included along with the original S&W wrapping paper. The box rates in Fine condition with only light storage wear.
Our Assessment: The Smith & Wesson Model 18 is also known as the K-22 Combat Masterpiece. It is the understudy to the Model 19 .357 Combat Magnum. This is a beautiful, blued six shot .22 Long Rifle with a full size frame and adjustable sights. With its wide target trigger and hammer, it’s a great gun to teach new shooters the fundamentals of marksmanship, or to practice those fundamentals yourself, in the (once) affordable .22 Long Rifle caliber. This one is in Excellent condition and retains its original box making it a prime collector’s piece as well.
S&W introduced their first K-frame .22, the K-22 Outdoorsman (or K-22 First Model), in in 1931. They manufactured it until 1940. There were about 20,000 of these made. They are easily identified by their prewar hammers and the lack of a barrel rib. These are not Masterpieces in the marketing sense, but they are the direct precursor of the K-22s that got the Masterpiece designation.
In 1940 they introduced the K-22 Masterpiece (K-22 Second Model, or K-22/40), which had a shorter action and an improved adjustable rear sight. It was manufactured for only a year before the company suspended commercial production and converted to production under military contracts. Fewer than 1100 of these were made. Serial numbers are in the high 600,000 range.
After WW2, the company reintroduced the K-22 Masterpiece with some design changes and a new serial number sequence beginning at K101 in late 1946 or early 1947. The K-22 was manufactured continuously under the Masterpiece designation thereafter. In 1957 the company introduced model number designations and the K-22 Masterpiece became more commonly referred to as the Model 17.
The K-prefix in serial numbers identifies the adjustable sight K-frames of whatever caliber, so K-22s and K-38s of any barrel length, as well as the rare K-32s are all numbered together. Model marked guns were introduced around serial number K325000, but that is not a crisp dividing line. Some non-model marked guns may be found with higher numbers, and lower numbers may be found on guns that are model marked. The model marking is found on the frame under the yoke.
A couple of quick indicators: Any five screw guns (easily identified by the presence of a sideplate screw at the top of the plate near the hammer) are NOT model-marked guns. The earliest four screw guns (top sideplate screw not present following a design change) are not model-marked guns and are few in number, because they were made for only a few months before the Model-stamping began.
If you have a five screw gun with a single line address block (MADE IN U.S.A.), it was made before late summer 1948. The four line address block (MARCAS REGISTRADAS, etc.) is found on guns manufactured in late 1948 and afterward.
There were probably about 150000 non-model marked postwar K-22s manufactured. I have only four, so there are presumably lots left for interested parties. They are great revolvers. Good luck in the hunt.
In 1940 they introduced the K-22 Masterpiece (K-22 Second Model, or K-22/40), which had a shorter action and an improved adjustable rear sight. It was manufactured for only a year before the company suspended commercial production and converted to production under military contracts. Fewer than 1100 of these were made. Serial numbers are in the high 600,000 range.
After WW2, the company reintroduced the K-22 Masterpiece with some design changes and a new serial number sequence beginning at K101 in late 1946 or early 1947. The K-22 was manufactured continuously under the Masterpiece designation thereafter. In 1957 the company introduced model number designations and the K-22 Masterpiece became more commonly referred to as the Model 17.
The K-prefix in serial numbers identifies the adjustable sight K-frames of whatever caliber, so K-22s and K-38s of any barrel length, as well as the rare K-32s are all numbered together. Model marked guns were introduced around serial number K325000, but that is not a crisp dividing line. Some non-model marked guns may be found with higher numbers, and lower numbers may be found on guns that are model marked. The model marking is found on the frame under the yoke.
A couple of quick indicators: Any five screw guns (easily identified by the presence of a sideplate screw at the top of the plate near the hammer) are NOT model-marked guns. The earliest four screw guns (top sideplate screw not present following a design change) are not model-marked guns and are few in number, because they were made for only a few months before the Model-stamping began.
If you have a five screw gun with a single line address block (MADE IN U.S.A.), it was made before late summer 1948. The four line address block (MARCAS REGISTRADAS, etc.) is found on guns manufactured in late 1948 and afterward.
There were probably about 150000 non-model marked postwar K-22s manufactured. I have only four, so there are presumably lots left for interested parties. They are great revolvers. Good luck in the hunt.
- Below is a Pre-War First series K-22 Outdoorsman of mine that shipped in September 1936, as well as an early Four digit Post-War Third series K-22 Masterpiece that shipped in the spring of 1947, and a Model 17-2 series shown at the Bottom that shipped in 1964 with a Special King Red Post Patridge style sight and special order single action.
- We try out a K-22 Masterpiece from Smith & Wesson, serial number K2831xx, made in 1956. This is a four screw model, with a 6 inch pinned barrel, target hamme.
K 22 Masterpiece Serial Numbers
Serial Number: K181752: Caliber: 0.22: Model: K-22: S&W K-Frame K-22 Masterpiece. Pre-17.22 Six-Shot Revolver with 6″ serrated and tapered rib barrel pinned to the.